Do You Want to Leave Also?

John 6:67
Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”

Hard times and harsh sayings have a way of separating fans from followers. Being a leader is one of the hardest things to do because you often have so many people with different agendas. Even when God gives you a vision and people are seemingly excited about the direction you are headed sooner than later you will hit a speed bump when the real are separated from the fake, the strong from the weak.

Can you imagine what it’s like being the President of the United States? Trying to please all the different interest groups at the same time? Can you imagine the pressure of turning around a sinking economy and work with a Trillion dollar deficit, it’s like making bricks without straw? Can you imagine every night people from different news networks dissecting your every word to get different interpretations out of what you really said?

Nobody knew this more than Jesus. The Sixth Chapter of John is a pivotal point in the public ministry of Jesus. The multitudes come to him and they need food. The disciples are overwhelmed because they don’t have the finances to feed thousands of people, they are operating in a deficit. Jesus knows he’s going to work a miracle but he tests his disciples to see if their faith is up to par.

One of his disciples points out a little boy with his lunch. Jesus tells them to sit the people down on the grass. He prays and distributes the food and five thousand people are fed. Not only that but they have leftovers. Jesus tells them to gather the fragments because he doesn’t want anything lost. During this recession you need to hold on to your leftovers, don’t waste anything.

Jesus leaves with the disciples across the sea at night. Well he catches up with them in the middle of a storm and then gets in with them. As soon as he gets in the storm stops and the boat reaches the other side. Make sure you receive Jesus in the middle of your storm so he can get you over.

The next morning the people discover Jesus has moved on. They follow him to the other side not because they want more Word but because they want more bread. Jesus tells them in verse 27, “Do not labor for food which perishes but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the father has set his seal on him." Then he broke it all the way down, by saying, “If you do not eat my flesh and drink my blood you can’t be my disciple." Now this was a hard saying they didn’t know anything about crackers and grape juice that would symbolize his body and blood they took him literally and Jesus didn’t tell them any different because he was tired of people following him for bread. He knew who was following him for real and who had hidden agendas. The most hurtful thing being a leader is knowing that everybody following you don’t really love you and at any minute, at any sign of offense they will leave you. The bible states that day many of his disciples stopped following him. Jesus turned to the people he started with he turned to the 12 he had chosen and asked them will you leave also? They replied where else can we go to get word like you give? Jesus said, “Have I not chosen you yet one of you is the devil?" The burden of leadership is knowing that even amongst your closest there is one who will sell you out. But the question is, “Do you want to leave also?”

As Post modern Disciples of Christ more and more people are being offended by the words of Christ. God’s Word doesn’t change. Jesus gave a hard Word that was offensive talking about eating flesh and drinking blood. That was cannibalism. Why would Jesus use offensive language?! Because he was tired of carrying people who only wanted him for his Juice and what he could give them. Because he knew the religious Pharisees and Sadducees would have a fit but he never thought his true disciples would leave but he still had to turn around and ask them, “Do you want to leave also?

As post-modern disciples, we have a choice when more and more people are leaving the church because of offensive words that are the truth, we have a choice. When people walk away from Christ for an alternative life style contrary to the Word of God, we have a choice. When people love their money more than they love Christ, we have a choice. Do you want to leave also?

Dear God, don’t let me be a fair weather follower. There are times when I do not understand you but yet I trust you. Help me to represent you in a way that doesn’t betray who you are. Lead me so I can lead them. Forgive me for not being clear but thank you for letting me be bold. Hold me close...I don’t want to leave you and please don’t leave me alone. In Jesus name.

Amen.