TO TRUST JESUS WHEN HIS TEACHINGS ARE HARD I MUST…
1. ADMIT THAT SOME OF JESUS TEACHINGS ARE HARD FOR ME.
• I can confess this to Jesus. (A good thing)
On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”
John 6:60 NIV
• I can complain about this to others. (A bad thing)
Jesus was aware that His disciples were complaining, so He said to them, "Does this offend you?
John 6:61 NLT
“And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
Matthew 11:6 ESV
2. ANTICIPATE JESUS REFUSING TO RELAX HIS STANDARD.
Then what will you think when you see the Son of Man going up to where he came from? It is the Spirit that gives life. The body is of no value for that. But the things I have told you are from the Spirit, so they give life. But some of you don’t believe.” (Jesus knew the people who did not believe). And he knew the one who would hand him over to his enemies.) After Jesus said these things, many of his followers left and stopped following him.67 Jesus asked the twelve apostles, “Do you want to leave too?”
John 6:62-66 ERV
3. ASK WHY THE TEACHING IS HARD AND ANSWER HONESTLY.
• Is the teaching difficult to understand?
Paul talks about these same things in all his letters, but part of what he says is hard to understand.
2 Peter 3:16a CEV
They are darkened in their understanding… because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
Ephesians 4:18 NIV
• Do I disagree with the teaching?
Jonah was very upset about this, and he became angry. “… That’s why I tried to run to Tarshish in the first place. I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God …always ready to forgive… So now, LORD, take my life. I’d rather be dead than alive.”
Jonah 4:1-3 GW
• Does the teaching disclose a motive problem?
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs.
John 6:26 NLT
Do not work for food that does not last. Work for food that lasts forever. The Son of Man will give you that kind of food. God the Father has shown He will do this.”
John 6:27 NLV
• Am I focused on personal blessing or becoming like Christ?
4. ACKNOWLEGE WHO JESUS IS AND THE IMPLICATIONS.
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.”
John 6:68, 69 NLT
• Jesus is the Lord of Lords.
for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess[a] to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Romans 14:11, 12 ESV
• Jesus alone provides the words that bring salvation.
This is My Father’s will and His purpose, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in and cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up [from the dead] at the last day.
John 6:40 AMPC
The LORD our God commanded us to obey all these laws and to fear him. These laws are for our own good as long as we live so that he will preserve our lives. It’s still true today.
Deuteronomy 6:24 GW
• Jesus is the “Holy one of God.”
For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day."
John 6:40 NIV
5. ANALYZE THE VALIDITY OF MY FAITH AND ADJUST ACCORDINGLY.
My friends, what good is it to say you have faith, when you don't do anything to show you really do have faith? Can this kind of faith save you? … You surely believe there is only one God. That's fine. Even demons believe this, and it makes them shake with fear.
James 2:14, 19 CEV
Is my trust the kind of trust the crowds had?
Is my trust the kind of faith Judas had?
Is my trust the kind of trust Peter had?