Bible Thoughts April 11, 1999
"Upon this many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him"(John 6:66).
Some teachings of Christ are hard to receive. So difficult, in fact, that men will cease to follow the Son of God because they cannot accept what is demanded. Such was the case in the passage just quoted.
Earlier in this chapter in John, Jesus told them, "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have not life in yourselves. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me, and I in him"(6:53-56).
This difficult teaching of the Lord dumbfounded those to whom he was speaking. Their minds were focused on the flesh and not on the spirit. It was not within their thoughts to consider the spiritual meaning of what the Lord is teaching them. Jesus explained to the doubters that he referred to "the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life"(John 6:63). Those listening to the Lord could only think in a material sense, neglecting to see the lessons of the spiritual.(Incidentally, Jesus is not speaking of the Lord's Supper, even though the supper would focus on remembering his death, burial, and resurrection.)
The ones of the Lord's day needed to place their minds upon what Jesus is saying and the example he is setting. Materialism has always been a problem with man and has overthrown the faith of many. The lack of understanding of Jesus' teaching caused "many of his disciples" to forsake him.
It is not easy, from a human standpoint, to be a disciple of Jesus Christ(even though his yoke is easy and his burden is light). The cost of following the Lord is too much for some to pay. Like those who did not appreciate nor understand the Lord's teaching in this scripture, they walk "no more with him."
Men give up Christ on many occasions because of the attractions of the world. Satan is not asleep nor idle. He is constantly enticing those who would serve the Lord with every possible means. Using the desires of the flesh, the Devil will entice such ones to love the world and follow the "lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vainglory of life"(I John 2:16). The things of this world has led many souls to walk "no more with him."
Others will turn their backs upon the Lord in order to follow the commandments of men. "Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God; he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the father and the son"(II John 9). Satan has done his work well; he entices men in every age to follow teachings that are not in the Word of God. The master of perversion and twisting leads people into beliefs and activities that have no Bible basis. When one becomes dissatisfied with the simple and plain messages of the scriptures, he/she becomes fodder for Satan's entrapments. Even among brethren, many walk "no more with him."
There are folks who will walk with the Lord until there is a demand upon their time and efforts. Jesus did teach that disciples of His are to "...seek first his kingdom, and his righteousness"(Matthew 6:33). If everything is convenient, if it is not too much trouble, if one does not have to go out of one's way, if there is not something more attractive and enticing--some will try to be servants of Christ. If the demands interfere with one's own desires and activities over a process of time, they will walk "no more with him."
Over the years, there have been those who walk "no more with him" because of the anger they have toward others. A brother or sister may have said something(or done something) that upset them, the preacher may have preached something that infuriated them, the Bible class teacher may have stepped on their toes, or a brother may have mistreated them. Rather than settle the matter with others, such folks harbor their anger, ready to strike out at Christians and choose to walk "no more with him."(Note: This anger can lead to animosity toward others, eating away at the soul until it finally destroys one spiritually).
It is also unfortunate that some will walk "no more with him" because they did not have their own way. It is not wrong, in itself, to be strong in one's desire to accomplish good and offer suggestions for improvement in the work of the kingdom. However, if brethren do not always favor nor comply with one's personal suggestion, such does not give a disciple the right to quit the Lord and His kingdom. It is right to contend earnestly for the faith; it is not always right to contend for one's personal opinion to the disruption of the kingdom. And--if the brethren choose to do work differently from the way I think it should be done, I have not received a license to disrupt the church and cause a problem. It is always right to do right; just make sure that I am contending for the right and not just my feelings or opinion.
This started as a lesson on why men give up Christ. It is the lesson: when men give up that for which Christ died, they have given up Christ. Over the years it has been an astonishment to see how men will permit Satan to rob their spirituality with his devices. And yet, there are still many who have not yet learned that when they quit the Lord's church and stop following the New Testament, they have given up Christ. Let it never happen to any of us. Always, under all circumstances, let us abide in the teaching of Christ.