day 2: hard words

"on hearing it, many of his disciples said, 'this is hard teaching. who can accept it?' from this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him."

john 6:60, 66

i went to calvin college. i know about "hard teaching". as a religion minor (though not officially, but i had enough credits to be) who survived countless discussions and debates about various theological topics that use big word with big meanings i know how it feels to experience hard teaching. i had an interest in it though, so a desire to understand made it easier. talk to me about concepts of economics and microfinance though and my eyes will glaze over. no matter how good you are at teaching, i very well might not ever fully grasp the subject. is that what john means here when he refers to "hard teaching"?

in another reference to our bible study discussions i will share that we often confess that if we were there with Jesus as he taught we probably wouldn't have understood a lot of what He said either. in fact, the disciples probably look good in comparison to how poorly we would follow the teaching. sometimes, Jesus' words are difficult because we do not have the overall understanding and knowledge and intimacy with God that is necessary.

but more often than not Jesus' teachings are hard because we don't want to hear them. the disciples had just witnessed some pretty amazing miracles - feeding of the five thousand (which we learn is actually probably more like fifteen to twenty thousand people including the women and children), walking on water, healing an invalid. following Jesus then was easy. but when Jesus challenges the people with his teaching of him being the bread of life, it isn't so easy anymore. as john reports, many of his followers leave him. i would like to think that i would have been like one of the twelve disciples staying with Jesus. but if i were honest with myself i would admit that i, too, would have left.

i have often found myself thinking that if i had been there, rather than here in the United States in the twenty-first century, it would be easier to be a Christ-follower. they had the advantage of being there with Jesus, to see the miracles, to hear his words. clearly, by the reaction of the crowd, that was not the case. i wouldn't be surprised if the twelve disciples still had their doubts at this point. when Jesus asked them, "you do not want to leave too, do you?" (john 6:67), their hearts must have been pounding. but they pushed aside those fears and doubts and stuck beside him, with the exception of judas of course.

in reality, it should be easier to be a Christ-follower now. we have the advantage of having the Bible. we in the United States do not face the reality of persecution. we know the outcome - that Jesus died on the cross and rose again, all to glorify God and fulfill His plan to redeem us from our sins. but we still face "hard teaching." i know i do. not in the sense that the crowd following Jesus did, but He still calls us to follow him and be obedient in ways that often go against what culture tells us is right.

He is the bread of life. culture tells us to fill up on everything else. go after success and money. eat, drink and be merry. fill your bodies with temporary pleasures. yet we are never satisfied and always craving more. it is nothing but empty calories - money, fame, drugs, sex, unhealthy relationships, workaholism, etc.

when we have everything and yet still feel empty, or when everything (or maybe even just that one thing that we value so much) is taken from us, it is a "hard teaching." Jesus wants to fill that spot. sometimes we need to hurt until we get that right.

Lord, as a father who disciplines their children when they are doing something harmful, thank you for loving me so much that you would hurt me with hard teachings in order to get me right with you.