YOU CAN BE A FOLLOWER/DISCIPLE OF CHRIST. (2)

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*YOU CAN BE A FOLLOWER/DISCIPLE OF CHRIST.(2)*

*Scripture Treasure.*

John 6: 47-71:

v47 *Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.*

v48 *I am that bread of life.*

v49 *Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.*

v50 *This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.*

v51 *I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.*

v52 *The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?*

v53 *Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.*

v54 *Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.*

v55 *For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.*

v56 *He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.*

v57 *As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.*

v58 *This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.*

v59 *These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.*

v60 *Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?*

v61 *When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?*

v62 *What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?*

v63 *It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.*

v64 *But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.*

v65 *And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.*

v66 *From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.*

v67 *Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?*

v68 *Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.*

v69 *And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.*

v70 *Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?*

v71 *He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.*

*Insight and Highlight.*

Are you a wheat or a chaff?

*Scripture Commentaries.*

The Kingdom of God is confronted with the 'wheat and chaff' characters, Matt 3:12, Lk 3:17.

The wheat represents righteous followers disciple-believers.

The chaff represents those who appear to be followers but lack the inward spiritual commitment.

There are people when confronted with the truth, own to the truth change their ways abide and are much stronger.

There are those who resist the truth and are not willing to stand by it. They often leave the fellowship of Christ or stray to find where the truth is not proclaimed or anywhere would do either for the truth or none of it.

They claim to still be in fellowship of Christ but under God's Kingdom, there is still a disobedience hovering over them. Wherever they go or find themselves, this hangs on their necks until they restitute obedience by making amends.

Jesus's ministry with the word of eternal life requires and demands faithfulness and recognition of Jesus as the Holy One.

In every of His gospel, there is test for

commitment to determine those who are followers who make up the numbers and those who are followers and disciples who please and submit to Him.

You can not follow someone you do not wish to submit to.

When He delivered a hard teaching, some of those who followed Him departed from Him and He asked the disciples if they wanted to leave or go away as well. Peter answered Him saying *"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life"* (John 6:68).

The teaching that brought about this

question was when Jesus taught about eating his flesh and drinking his blood, which caused *".....many of his disciples....."* to turn back, (John 6:66-69).

The bible often uses the words 'followers and disciples' interchangeably. However each time they are used the correct meaning of who they are distinguished by their actions and choices.

Those who left though were illustrated as 'disciples' would not be accounted as such or would cease to be disciples by their choices to desert, forfeit commitment and dedication to follow Jesus in the face of His gospel.

Jesus' teaching to all the referred disciples and the twelve was to admonish them about commitment.

After those referred to as disciples left (John 6:66), Jesus's question in John 6:67 to the twelve was to allow them to choose, rather than forcing them to stay with Him.

Peter (and the rest of the 12 disciples) owned up to his commitment by emphasizing that there is no other source of spiritual life, acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah. This is an example of true followers and disciples of Jesus.

Little or no questions should we ask why a wider following of Jesus including men and women accounting up to 70 people were sent out by Jesus (Lk10:1) leaving the closest companions of 12 disciples out of whom, one was a devil (John 6:70)

The answer may be found and explained that while five thousand were fed, (Matt 14:13–21, Mk 6:31–44, Lk 9:10–17, and John 6:1–14) many were not dedicated followers, leaving at times.

While in His trusted and distinguished ministry, some popular crowds numbered in the thousands followed Him, the committed following was significantly smaller. 

Those followers who stayed with Jesus were followers who were committed learners who devoted their lives to becoming like Jesus and be His disciples.

Those followers who deserted Jesus followed for benefits.

You can be a follower and disciple of Jesus!

*Remorse corner.*

The wheat (that is, committed followers/disciples) will be separated from the chaff (thatis, mere followers) who are after gains not Jesus.

*Call to Word action.*

Matt 3:12 *Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.*

*The Christian clarion duty.*

Your choice for Jesus and His ways will determine if you are both a follower and disciple of Jesus.

*Prayer.*

Lord, help me to be Your follower and disciple in Jesus name.

Good morning all and have a blessed day.

God bless you.

Shalom.