Questions Jesus Raised: "Does this offend you?"

[Note: this post corresponds to the sermon for Sunday morning, September 21, 2008]

One of Jesus' greatest miracles was the feeding of the 5,000. Yet it led to a crisis in His ministry, after which many of His former disciples deserted Him. How could this be?

First, a little background. John's gospel, chapter 6 describes crowds following Jesus due to His healing ministry. They even followed Him into a desolate place when He was trying to get away for some rest and spiritual recovery time. (A later sermon will deal with His question to Phillip about where they would get food to feed the people). Jesus miraculously feeds the 5,000 people.

Overnight, He sends the disciples back across the sea of Galilee, and goes to pray. During the night, a storm arises, and He comes to the disciples, walking on the sea.

Next day, the crowd starts looking for Jesus, but can't find him. They crowd onto boats and follow across the sea. Surprised to find Jesus there, they ask, "When did you get here?" Notice that Jesus doesn't really answer them. God has no obligation to answer our questions!

Instead, Jesus cuts to the heart of the matter. The crowd is simply hungry for another free meal.

Today, many people still "seek Jesus" for worldly reasons, just like the crowd looking for a handout. But Christ is interested in us not just for the moment, but for eternity. He wants a relationship with us in which He becomes our entire sustenance...food and water for all of life.

The crowd has a typical response: Prove it to us. What sign will you give us? They referred to the miracles of Moses, the great lawgiver, but didn't perceive that one greater than Moses was in their midst.

When Jesus used the parable of Bread coming from heaven, they were offended. The Creator of the universe stood before them, and all they could see was a poor carpenter's son! But the people murmured against Jesus' teaching...which led to the question: DOES THIS OFFEND YOU?

Many things about true Christianity will offend those who want to live "according to the flesh." What does that mean? It's not just indulging in "worldly pleasures." A self-righteous person who doesn't "smoke, drink, cuss, or chew, nor go out with women that do" might still be living as much in the flesh as the most notorious public sinner. How? By basing his or her life on "what I want" instead of on "what Jesus wants."

At this point, many of Jesus' "fairweather disciples" desert Him. After all, Jesus is headed toward a cross. Where's the profit in that? It's heartbreaking to hear Him ask his innermost group of disciples, "Will you also leave?"

In a shining declaration of faith, Peter says, "Where would we go? You have the words of life."

But in a warning for all time, Jesus notes that, even within the circle of the 12 is one who, at the last extremity, will desert and betray Christ.