In 2014, a man opened fire with a handgun during a meeting with his caseworker and psychiatrist at a hospital. Sadly, the caseworker was mortally wounded, while the psychiatrist—who returned fire with his own handgun—received minor injuries. The gunman, who was subdued at the scene, indicated that he opened fire because he’d been offended by the hospital’s “no guns” policy.
Jesus once offended a crowd of disciples with some difficult words (John 6:61). Many of His followers “turned away and deserted him” (John 6:66). What caused them to bail? Jesus stated that only those who would “eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood” would receive eternal life (John 6:53). Perhaps stunned by His cannibalistic-sounding words or upset that Jesus wasn’t going to be the militant, conquering Messiah they had expected or unwilling to surrender completely to Him, they turned away.
Jesus, of course, wasn’t speaking of literal flesh and blood. He was simply exposing the deserters’ lack of faith and their unwillingness to accept His life and ways as their own (John 6:64). As He watched the doubting disciples walk away, He “turned to the Twelve and asked, ‘Are you also going to leave?’ ” (John 6:67).
That’s a question we must all answer: Will we turn away from Jesus when His words and truth offend others? Will we deny His teachings to avoid conflict, pain, or embarrassment?
Peter replied, “To whom would we go?” (John 6:68). Jesus is the true Son of God who alone provides eternal life.
Some people, like the deranged gunman, will take offense for the wrong reasons. But as God helps us lovingly present the claims of our faith, it will allow the message to be the point—not us or the way we share it.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 4:1-42
More:
Read 2 Timothy 3:10-13 and consider what Paul says about suffering for Jesus.
Next:
What hard teachings of Jesus do you have difficulty accepting? What will help you to not bail on Him—even when others take offense?
BearPair on June 21, 2015 at 4:53 am
Good words, Tom… and you’re right: the message should be the point. Somewhere there must be a balance between the ones who shake the Bible at their potential convert & demand, “Repent or else!”, and the opposite extreme, those who are so mealy-mouthed, both in word and manner, that the person in need has extreme difficulty finding the message. I’ve always liked Chuck Swindoll’s word of admonishment that we should be “winsome.” We do have the responsibility to at least meet our listener in such a manner that the Word, i.e., the message, actually can be heard. Then, and only then, can our listener rightly claim offense at the Word, or not; the choice is now theirs. Thanks Tom!
Gary Shultz on June 21, 2015 at 8:41 am
Good statements on all accounts. Jesus made it very clear, it was always about the message. Thanks
gary1schelvan on June 21, 2015 at 8:44 am
Hello Brother Tom, Always love it when you post something on this site. I believe you are so right on, when you say as “God allows us to lovingly present the claims of our faith, it becomes the point.” I’m 64 yrs old, been through quite a lot in my years here on earth, many of them not of the scrapbook type nature. I think I could use my life experiences in a loving way, to tell people that if they are looking for fulfillment, peace, meaning in life, value, purpose in the very temporal things of this world, they are truly looking in all the wrong places. Through my early experiences with illegal drugs, then alcohol, then prescription drugs, then work, acquisition of personal property/money, good standing in other’s eyes, it all came to nothing, never a feeling of that empty God void, going away for any length of meaningful, lasting time. I can relate through my life experiences, in a loving manner, that Jesus is truly the Way, the Truth and the Life, the path to our heavenly Father and eternal salvation. Only Jesus can fill the empty holes/voids, and bring in the light of His love to one’s life. From Him, flows the living water of life, it’s so peaceful and fulfilling to drink from that spring of life he offers so freely. So thanks again Tom, hope you had a good Father’s Day…Blessings to you from Gary in Tianjin, China!
BearPair on June 21, 2015 at 10:23 am
Amen, Tim! Your “in a loving manner” is the key, isn’t it.
Winn Collier on June 28, 2015 at 3:23 pm
This is a disturbing question for me. Sometimes being true to Jesus offends the religious, sometimes it offends those who want nothing to do with the Kingdom. Staying true to the person of Jesus really does cut against the broad ways.