To believe or not to believe

John 6:60-71 ESV

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, "Do you take offense at this?  Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?  It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.  But there are some of you who do not believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father."  After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?"  Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God." Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil."  He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the Twelve, was going to betray him.

Rev. Dwight Yoo

This passage is challenging, not only philosophically, but also theologically. As background, Jesus has just explained that he was God and that they needed to follow Him.

Jesus is addressing his disciples. Not only the Twelve, but also those who were sincerely following Him. Jesus says that this teaching was hard to accept. He was asking people to submit their very lives to Jesus. Jesus was claiming to not only be greater than Moses, but also asked them to "eat his body". Many stopped following Jesus. Why?

Challenges to belief

Intellectual
Emotional
Volitional

This is not only for unbelievers. True followers also deal with the same challenges.

Every belief system has challenges to belief

Simon Peter replies to Jesus in a somber tone. He is not scoffing at those who have left. He has also struggled with some of Jesus' teachings. He has seen and experienced enough to know that Jesus is the Messiah.

This is an honest question to ask ourselves: to whom shall I go? Every belief system has challenges. This is what we shall we find. For those who believe, we shall find the Gospel as the most compelling story. It does not answer all the questions, but all the important ones. We do not claim omniscience.

This is not just an intellectual issue. Some choose to disbelieve because they don't wish to submit to God. If God exists, then we are obligated to listen to him. But it goes deeper, we are, by our fallen nature, anti-god. We don't want to submit to God at all. This is why God must intervene to save. We cannot and will not come to God unless He draws us.

The beginning and sustaining of belief

There are times where rational arguments fail. When all intellectual exercises benefit us nothing. This is when we should lean on others and listen to their simple faith stories. The dark night of doubt will pass.

Jesus is asking, are we disciples or are we Disciples? We should know their belief by their fruits. What is this fruit? This is the common theme. If Jesus was not raised and this was all a lie, then the lives of the disciples was all for nothing. They have been left with nothing.

So what would a true believer lose (if Jesus was not the Savior)? Their identity. Their joy. Their sense of security. Their time and money. Their reputation.

"If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied." - 1 Corinthians 15:19 ESV