who can accept it?

Holding onto the truth is the responsibility of every Christian. How are we faring?

On hearing it, many of His disciples said, “This is a difficult teaching. Who can accept it?” Aware that His disciples were grumbling about this teaching, Jesus asked them, “Does this offend you? (John 6:60-61). From that time on many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him.… (John 6:66).

I sometimes wonder about the people who turned back and no longer walked with Jesus. Were they more honest than many of us today who claim to follow Jesus? Many of His disciples could not accept what Jesus was teaching them, so they decided to part company. Christians today sometimes don’t like what they read in Scripture, but instead of walking away, we, in our superior knowledge and wisdom change what the Bible teaches, so that we can live with it comfortably. Leaders do it so that it not only doesn’t challenge their lives, it also protects the flock from becoming upset and disturbed by something Jesus said. It might be to protect a friend, or it might be the fear of losing the gifts that a person has if they are offended and leave. This done, we can all live happily ever after. However, God desires truth (Psalm 51:6), obedience and attentiveness (1 Samuel 15:22); and it is the truth that sets us free (John 8:32). However holy our hiding from the truth appears to us, God is not impressed.