Does this offend you?

John 6:53-58 The Passion Translation (TPT)

Jesus replied to them, “Listen to this eternal truth: Unless you eat the body of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will not have eternal life. Eternal life comes to the one who eats my body and drinks my blood, and I will raise him up in the last day. For my body is real food for your spirit, and my blood is real drink. The one who eats my body and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him. The Father of life sent me, and he is my life. In the same way, the one who feeds upon me, I will become his life. I am not like the bread your ancestors ate and later died. I am the living Bread that comes from heaven. Eat this Bread, and you will live forever!”

People gathered in the Capernaum synagogue to hear Jesus. For some, maybe it was their first time to see the Master. Others had been following for some time. The things Jesus said and did had filled them with amazement and wonder. They had heard the story that Jesus touched a leper, and he was cleansed! Many of them knew the lame man who was healed when his friends interrupted Jesus’ teaching by tearing a hole in the roof. Some even heard that Jesus had walked upon the sea!

But today, they didn’t see Jesus heal a blind man. Instead, He preached a message called, “Eat my flesh, and drink my blood.” The crowds that had gathered with excitement, they hit the “unsubscribe” button.

“This was the point of departure for many of His disciples. They turned away from Jesus and stopped following Him” (John 6:66 The Truth New Testament). When they gathered that day, they didn’t plan to depart from Him – to no longer be His disciples. What happened? Jesus asked, “…Are you offended at my teaching?” (John 6:61 TPT). The truth that Jesus shared that day caused them to leave.

Question: Did Jesus share the wrong message? Another question: Did Jesus apologize and change His sermon to keep the crowd? No. He turned to the twelve, His team, and asked, “And you – do you also want to leave?” (John 6:67 TPT).

As we follow Jesus, we can expect to see the miraculous and be amazed by His love. However, as we hear the truth of His Word, we will be required to give up the way we think and what we want. As we look at the reading this week, ask yourself, what message are you not willing to hear?

The reality is in our hearts; sometimes, we want to “unsubscribe” from the Word of God in an area rather than make changes in our thinking or actions. Maybe it is serving in the church, tithing, or being a bold witness in the workplace.

I want to point something out that the crowd missed that day in Capernaum. Jesus said, “The Holy Spirit is the one who gives life, that which is of the natural realm is of no help. The words I speak to you are Spirit and life. But there are still some of you who won’t believe” (John 6:63 TPT). What Jesus was offering was access to the God kind of life, but they tripped over the way it was presented. What I want to share with you is that inside the message that offends you is a supply of the Spirit of God for your life. The sermon your pastor shared you didn’t like, if you will go back and receive it, the divine life in it will cause you to grow.

Let me encourage you, go back to that message you “unsubscribed” from and listen again. Look up the verses in the Bible for yourself and ask the Lord to open His Word to you so you can receive all the light and life He has for you.

Pray this: Lord, I love your truth. I ask that you give me a Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of you, that the eyes of my heart will be flooded with light. Help me to have ears to hear and grace to change.

QUESTIONS :

Day 139

Have you ever been offended by a sermon?

Day 140

Jesus affirms His identity and His relation to the Father throughout this passage. Let’s hear your confession – according to the New Testament, what is your identity?

Day 141

The religious leaders couldn’t understand Jesus because of their preconceived ideas. What religious views are preventing you from receiving His Word?

Day 142

Simple question, in arresting the woman “caught in the act” … shouldn’t there be another suspect for them to stone? Jesus ignores their demand for an answer until He was ready. Do you answer problems too quickly?

Day 143

Verse 29: “… I always do what pleases Him.” (TPT) Is that your goal? Will you make that your aim for today?

Day 144

According to verse 44, what is the devil, and what does he create? So, if we tell a lie, where does it originate?

Day 145

The Truth New Testament of verse 3, “This was not the direct consequence of sin in either this man or his parents. Although this happened, God can work a miracle in his life.” Bad things happen – what miracle do you want to see God do?