Converted or Deserted?

Brian R. Kenyon

Some think that following Christ requires little or nothing on their part. They only see what they consider the benefits and blessings of being a “Christian.” However, when these same people learn that God actually requires their all, they often lose interest in following the Lord. Such was the case with many “disciples” who followed Jesus while He walked upon this earth. Let us examine the incident recorded in John 6:60-69 and ask ourselves three questions to see what category to which we belong. Are we truly converted to Christ or have we deserted Him?

Are We Cleaving?

In John 6:1-14, Jesus miraculously fed “about five thousand” men with “five barley loaves, and two small fishes.” When Jesus “perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king,” He left their presence and went into a mountain to get away from them (Jn. 6:15). At this time, they certainly wanted to cleave to Jesus, but for the wrong reasons. When they finally caught up with Jesus, He told them, “Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled” (Jn. 6:26). Some people only want Jesus for “what’s in it for me”! The word “disciple” simply means a “follower,” or “learner,” of another (cf. Jn. 1:35). In the Gospels, the word can either refer to true disciples (cf. Jn. 8:31) or, as here, to “fair weather” disciples. In Acts and the epistles, “disciples” almost always refer to either the apostles or to true followers of Christ (cf. Acts 11:26). As long as their bellies were full of food, they wanted to cleave to Jesus, but after the Master gave the discourse on “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you” (Jn. 6:53-58),

Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? 61When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? 62What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? (Jn. 6:60-62)

Jesus’ requiring their all was a “hard saying” because, in their minds, following Jesus was supposed to be all about physical satisfaction, with no hint of any possible inconveniences. This is also a reason why some would be offended by Jesus’ ascension—they were looking for an earthly kingdom, which could not be possible if the King returned to heaven to sit on a throne there (cf. Acts 2:29-36)!

Why do we follow Jesus? Are we cleaving to Him because of “what’s in it for me,” not wanting to be inconvenienced? Or, do we cleave to Him because we know we are spiritually destitute without Him (cf. Mt. 5:3; Jas. 4:6-10)?

Are We Believing?

Jesus continued, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (Jn. 6:63). Note that it is the words of Jesus that give spiritual life (cf. Jn. 5:39-40; 7:37-39). Not even the flesh of Jesus by itself could give this kind of life! Earlier in the chapter, Jesus said,
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. (Jn. 6:51)

Jesus was contrasting the manna of Moses’ day with Himself, the true “bread from heaven” (Jn. 6:32-51). In both cases the “bread” had to be eaten to be of any benefit. The main difference was that the manna only temporarily sustained physical life—the people still eventually died (Jn. 6:49)! However, the true “bread from heaven,” Jesus Christ, sustains spiritual life eternally. This was made possible because “the bread I will give is my flesh,” an allusion to His death on the cross. Though Jesus “tasted death for every man” (Heb. 2:9), “every man” will not receive eternal life (cf. Mt. 7:13-14). The reason why? All men will not “eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood” (Jn. 6:53-558). This is not an allusion to cannibalism (cf. Gen. 9:4; Lev. 7:26-27) nor to the Lord’s Supper, which is a memorial of the crucifixion of Christ (cf. Mt. 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 11:23-26), not something that imparts spiritual life as the eating and drinking here do (Jn. 6:51, 55 cf. Jn. 6:40). Rather, the allusion to eating and drinking the body and blood of Jesus is a figurative way of saying that unless we “digest” Jesus, by continually learning and practicing His will, and allow His word to permeate every aspect of our being, we cannot have eternal life (Jn. 6:54 cf. Jn. 6:40).What hinders people from “digesting” Christ? They do not believe! Jesus said, “But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not” (Jn. 6:64). Because Jesus knew some would not believe does not mean He made then not believe. Some were simply too selfish to be drawn by Jesus from proper motives (Jn. 6:26-27)! The words of Jesus are only beneficial when they are believed (cf. Jn. 5:39-40). The only way the Scriptures can give eternal life is when people are drawn to Jesus through them! Jesus continued, “Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father” (Jn. 6:65 cf. Jn. 12:49-50). The Father draws by the teaching of His word,

For no man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. (Jn. 6:44-45)

Do we believe Him enough to make His word our constant spiritual diet? Are we hungry enough to allow His will to completely guide us in all aspects of life?

Are We Leaving?

In one of the saddest notes in all the Bible, John wrote, “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him” (Jn. 6:66). How could followers of Jesus who so diligently sought Him earlier now walk away? The answer is simple, but, unfortunately, all too common: they were not willing to live up to the expectations of Jesus. Again, all they wanted from Jesus was “full bellies” for themselves (Jn. 6:26), but not full commitment to His will. However, a true disciple of Jesus is one who must “deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Mt. 16:24). Jesus then turned to the apostles and asked, “Will ye also go away?” (Jn. 6:68). Peter answered,

Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. (Jn. 6:69)

Peter’s threefold answer still echoes loudly through the centuries. First, there is no where else to go for spiritual sustenance than Jesus. He is the “living water” of life (Jn. 4:10), and He is the “bread of life” (Jn. 6:48)—the essential elements of spiritual life! No wonder salvation cannot be found in any other name (Acts 4:12)! Second, Jesus has the “words of eternal life” (Jn. 6:63 cf. Jn. 17:8). Is it any wonder that included in the post-resurrection mission of the apostles was to “speak...to the people all the words of this life” (Acts 5:20 cf. Mt. 28:19-20; Acts 1:8)? Third, Jesus is the only one in whom we can have complete confidence. Jesus is “that Christ, the Son of the living God” (Jn. 3:1-2; 5:36 cf. Acts 2:32-36). Jesus is the “faithful witness” (Rev. 1:5), whose word is so certain that though “we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself” (2 Tim. 2:13)!

Concerning our life as “disciples” of Christ, we only have two choices: either we are fully committed to Christ, willing to be a “living sacrifice” for Him (cf. Rom. 12:2) or we are leaving Him by virtue of the fact that we are not willing to do all of His will. Jesus still says,

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Mt. 6:24)

Conclusion

Are we still living for Christ or have we, like many so called “disciples,” walked away from Him? We must cleave to Jesus for the right reasons, not because we desire a physically “full belly.” In order to spiritually cleave to Jesus, we must continually believe His word to the point that we practice it in every aspect of our thoughts and deeds. If we are not 100% with Jesus, then we are against Him (Mt. 12:30). Are we converted or deserted?

"Ghana" Comes To FSOP

Brother Addo Adela, whose nickname among some of his peers is “Ghana,” preaches for the church of Christ in Prampram, Ghana, West Africa. He has worked with Ted Wheeler and Bob Bauer for many years. He and his wife, Alice, have been hosting Bob Bauer’s annual mission team for several consecutive years. He became the first Ghanaian to actually be granted a visa in time to speak on our lectureship. About a week before the lectureship, Addo preached a lesson in chapel on the example of Ezekiel and answered questions about the work in Ghana and the cultural challenges he faces in spreading the Gospel. It is encouraging for us to hear faithful men such as Addo. Among other things, it once again confirms that the one Gospel works for all people! Thanks for helping us train preachers!