Sunday 22 August 2021
- Bible Book:
- John
When many of his disciples heard it, they said, ‘This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?’ But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, ‘Does this offend you?Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?' (vs 60-62)
Background
It must have been difficult to have been a disciple in Jesus’ day. They were choosing to follow someone who was radically different to the norm and whose teachings were also radically different. For me, this passage shows Jesus at one of his most radical moments: he was speaking about this new relationship we have with God through him, through his death and the Resurrection. Many of Jesus’ followers were understandably shocked by the way Jesus was talking, especially the way he spoke about their ancestors, and felt unable to follow him.
In many ways, Jesus’ teachings are also fundamentally different to the society that we live in today. Like the disciples who turned away from Jesus, there are many people who find this new relationship we have with God through Jesus a challenging concept, and I have felt challenged by this in my own faith journey. It’s not just the belief in this new relationship that is radical but also the way it calls us to respond. That isn’t to say that all those who don’t identify as followers of Christ are heathens or terrible people, but that choosing to live out God’s calling today does require us to be radically different. Whether this is in how we speak to people, the way we choose to use resources or what our priorities are, there are many ways that gospel living is counter-cultural. It is through this counter-cultural living that others can see the light and love of Jesus.
God is always at work in people’s lives, whether it is recognised or not. Jesus teaches us that we are loved unconditionally, and that we can have a relationship with him, and with God knowing that we are forgiven. That is pretty radical.
To Ponder:
- How are you called to be 'radically different' in your own everyday life?
- How easy do you find it to trust God? Who or what helps you to trust?
Prayer
Heavenly creator God, you made me in your image. You made me with love. I pray to trust you and live out your calling within the love and light of Jesus.