Walking Away

It isn't easy to follow Jesus.

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? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father." Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?" Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve? Yet one of you is a devil." He was speaking of Judas son of Simon Iscariot, for he, though one of the twelve, was going to betray him. - John 6:60-71

In John's Gospel, we learn that some found the teaching of Jesus to be too difficult for them, and they walked away.

Jesus tells his disciples that no one can come to him unless the Father grants them access, so it sounds like even some who have been called by the Father chose to turn away.

This is how our free will works.

We have the ability to choose, even if called.  We can always say, "No, this is not for me."

Now, I have always felt that if God wants us for something, He will find a way to convince us to do it, but Jesus makes it sound like that is not the case.

If we simply turn away, we can go and no one will run after us to bring us back.

That is different from the message of the lost sheep, isn't it?

In that case, someone who wants to be a member of the flock can be found and returned home if he strays.

I guess the way to look at this is to think of the Prodigal Son.  

Once the son chose to come home, he found the father waiting for him, eager to accept him back and celebrate his return.

So, maybe John is trying to tell us that the same is true for us.  If you choose to stay, you can stay and be accepted, even if you plan to do evil.

But if you leave, and you don't want to come back, you are gone.

It is only those who choose to come home again that the shepherd will go out and find.

More to come...