Are You At A Crossroads?

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him. — John 6:60-71

So last time, we saw that the Jews were all worked up about the teachings of Jesus. They found his teaching too challenging to consume. But here we learn some disciples who also had apparent issues with his teaching were present. They liked the idea of him being King as long as he gave them what they wanted — food. But given what they just heard, they are not too sure anymore. Some walk away. And we discover that Jesus knows exactly who is going to do this. He knows who believes and who does not believe. This is what makes him a perfect judge. But while Jesus knows this, he is still graciously teaching to all. He even allows Judas to travel with him knowing full well he does not believe.

The combination of all these things is very unsettling. It leads to all kinds of profound questions. We will not have answers to some of these on this side of eternity. And yet, as I was thinking about it, we all encounter moments that test the limits of our belief in Jesus. And in the confusion, chaos, and complexity of those moments, we are given a choice. Either let belief consume our unbelief and take another step in following Jesus. Or we turn back and no longer walk with him.

Today if you are at this crossroads, let your belief in Jesus consume your unbelief. Take another step. And another. And another.

ASK THIS: Are you at a crossroads?

DO THIS: Believe again today. And repeat it the next. And so on.

PRAY THIS: God, I am at a crossroads, and I need spiritual strength from spiritual food to help my unbelief.

PLAY THIS: God of the Breakthrough.