Sermon – When Following Jesus Gets Hard

Sermon – When Following Jesus Gets Hard

Scripture - John 6:66-69 “At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”

Introduction: “Follow me and I will make you a fisher of men” sounds so simple, and almost too easy. Without knowing where, how far or how long, without knowing the cost or the sacrifice, these disciples were so convinced, they left all to follow Jesus. What an exciting adventure! What happens when following Jesus gets hard? It is easy to join a crowd. We all want to be a part of something big and exciting. Many rejoiced to see his miracles and listen to his parables, but now Jesus speaks plainly. The crowd had just finished eating a banquet of fish and loaves, shaking their heads at such miracle. Then Jesus shocked them with these words in John 6:56-59,

“Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.” He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.” Many turned from following Him."

Jesus' teaching challenged their beliefs about who he really was and what he can to do. These words of Jesus did not match their understanding of who He was and what he came to do. Today preaching has a way of domesticating Jesus to fit our mold. Many tend to compartmentalize follow Jesus to acts of worship on the Sabbath day. Others caricaturize Jesus into a God that came to make them happy and comfortable. They create a version of Jesus that is unreal. This simple plain teaching of Jesus was too much to bear. Rather than change their minds, they walk away. This is the fundamental reason people reject Jesus Christ: He doesn't coordinate with their own selfish interests.

See their excitement about physical food, Jesus turns their attention to spiritual food. When Jesus said we must “eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood”, He spoke in symbolic term. All must receive Him by faith (John 1:12). “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6). We understand that we need physical food and drink; Jesus wants us to understand that we also need spiritual food and drink—and that is what He provides. All must feed on Him to become what he is. Many people want blessings, happiness, and fulfillment, and most expect a certain amount of ease. Jesus does promise blessing and fulfillment to those who follow Him, but many people have been surprised that the way of Christ is not as easy as they had hoped. Sometimes, following Christ can be downright difficult. Believers are called to deny themselves, pick up their cross daily and follow Him. That means when we deny ourselves and submit to Jesus, we do not return to rebellion for a time, then consider whether we will deny ourselves again. Every day, we need to make a definitive decision and not back away.

1. Following Jesus Gets Hard Because Hardship and Blessing are a Part of the Journey. Hardship and Blessing are not mutually exclusive. The disciples “left everything” to follow Christ, and the Lord promised them “a hundred times as much” blessing in return. (Mark 10:28-30). Jesus warned that all who follow Him must deny themselves and bear a daily cross (Luke 9:23). Hardship, to be sure, but hardship with a purpose and leading to the joy of the Lord.

2. Following Jesus Gets Hard Because of Worldly Resistance and our spiritual Adversary. Followers of Christ will face resistance from the world. “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). Jesus did not promise His disciples that everything would be easy for them; just the opposite—He promised that they would have trials in this world (John 16:33). “But take heart!” He told them, “I have overcome the world.”

1Peter 5:8 “Be ye sober, and wake ye, for your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion goes about, seeking whom he shall devour”

Our enemy the devil desires to devour us, to cause real and lasting harm. The Greek word here is katapiein, literally meaning to "swallow," or to "drown." Peter has made it clear that our place in eternity with our Father is secure. The devil cannot take that from us, but he does seek to damage our faith. Believers must constantly cast every care on the Lord, who cares for us and knows our struggles.