The Second Sunday of Advent, December 5

WILL YOU ALSO GO AWAY?

John 6: 60-71

In John 6, Jesus asks the question, “Will ye also go away?” (vs. 67b)  Jesus’ question to His disciples is the exact opposite of “Will you let Him in?” the title of this advent booklet.  However, His question could not be more appropriate in this Christmas season.

In order to fully absorb why Jesus asked this question, the reader must first understand the events that were taking place at this time in Jesus’ life.  Jesus had just finished telling the twelve disciples, and others, that He was the bread of life, and that those who feed on Him will have everlasting life.  Jesus’ statement confused many of His followers, because His followers were not trusting God to reveal the truths of what Jesus had said.  These disciples relied on worldly knowledge and logic in an attempt to decipher Jesus’ message.  John records that “From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.”  Yet, many of His disciples continued to follow Him.  Why, you ask?  They believed in the Son of Man, and did not waver or rely on their own logic or reasoning.

Jesus then prompts His twelve disciples, “Will ye also go away?  Then Simon Peter answers, Lord to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.” (vss. 67, 68)  However, not all of the disciples are like Peter.  Judas Iscariot later betrays His teacher, even though he was one of the twelve.  Judas’ later treachery shows that Satan and self continue to tempt Christians throughout their lives.  Some of the disciples, who continued to follow Jesus in this story, may have gone away later, if they ever relied on SELF, rather than GOD.

You and I are at a crossroads.  Perhaps you are saved; maybe you are not.  The question is “Will you also go away?”  For the unsaved, the question is “Will you continue to ignore Jesus and His calls for your salvation?”  For saved Christians, the question is, “When God tests you with a difficult situation, will you continue to rely on HIM, or will you rely on YOURSELF to solve the problem?  Sure, the answers to these questions seem easy enough, but they can be the hardest decisions you will ever make.  And you know what?  YOU cannot do it by yourself.  Seek God to give you the strength to choose EVERLASTING LIFE.  When we think of Christmas, we think of a little baby born in a manger (new life).  The baby born in that manger died on a cross so that He could give you and me a NEW LIFE, life in Christ Jesus.  I pray that we make the choice for a NEW LIFE this Christmas season.

~ Ben Simcik, age 18