It is sad when a friend turns his back on you and walks out of your life.
But far sadder were the disciples who left the Savior once He described how He would die to secure eternal life for His people who trusted in Him.
They were not looking for eternal life, but rather a political savior, a Messiah who would overcome all Israel's foes and restore the glorious kingdom. They had no interest in everlasting life, even bought by the price of their Redeemer, God's Lamb slain for sinners!
One can see the outlines of a parting of ways: as the crowd insisted on free bread, manna from heaven, and action by Christ, He gently urged them rather to seek after the eternal life that He promised by faith in Him. His insistence upon this as His primary purpose finally drove most of His disciples away.
Imagine: these people had seen the miracles! God forbid that any of them had actually been healed by Jesus, and then turned their backs on Him when He offered to redeem them eternally by dying for them!
What grace is shown in the apostles, that they valued eternal life, and stuck with the Savior, for He alone had the Words of eternal life. Not that they agreed with the death He would die - Peter tried desperately to forestall Christ's dying, and opposed it bitterly.
Peter was willing even to sacrifice his own life fighting to save Jesus from a host of armed men, but the Lord stopped him and surrendered Himself. Then they all forsook Him, with Peter denying Him.
Praise God, our salvation never depends upon the strength of our friendship to Christ! Rather, our salvation depends upon Christ's faithful dying work to save us.
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John Pittman Hey was born in 1961 in Jackson, Mississippi, to Godly parents who from the beginning raised him in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. With child-like faith he came to Christ on his fourth birthday at his mother's knee. He received his education at church...
#14 - Top Played Sermon (48-Hours) on 3/6/2016
