day 2...Hard words

"ON HEARING IT, MANY OF HIS DISCIPLES SAID, 'THIS IS A HARD TEACHING. WHO CAN ACCEPT IT?' FROM THIS TIME MANY OF HIS DISCIPLES TURNED BACK AND NO LONGER FOLLOWED HIM"

-JOHN 6:60,66

So how would you describe Jesus? How about a 'rock star'? That's how Mr. Nasser describes Him in the middle of his ministry. Did you know that when he fed the fish and loaf to the thousands that we are not talking about around 2 or 4. We are talking anywhere from 15 to 20 thousand people! Thats a big following considering the time! But if you think about it, everywhere he went the blind were seeing, lame were leaping to their feet, people of their deathbed were walking around like nothing ever happened! Of course people were amazed, wouldn't you be? But then His teachings got harder, like when he claimed to be the son of God. It was too bold a statement for some. Healing people was cool and all, but claiming diety?

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. -John 6:53

That's when the thousands dwindled. He looked to the disciples and asked them, "don't you want to leave too?" Imagine standing in their shoes, how easy is it to support someone when everyone agrees? In our day, Jesus in mid-minstry being the rock star, would be on the wheaties cereal box! Or as Mr Nasser put it, have a Nike sponsor-ship at least! But suddenly, instead of being a roadie for KISS, your suddenly looked at like a follower of a crazy person. But it was my favorite disciple, Peter who spoke first, saying this "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." And then there were 12.

Mr. Nasser makes an excellent point in the fact that Jesus didn't come bringing "fun news" but brought "good news" instead. If we expect to be entertained by the news, we will leave the minute God asks anything of us. Jesus' goal in  coming wasn't to entertain us but to bring Glory and Honor to the Father. So hard words are apart of the faith. Mr Nasser put it this way, "if you don't hear any hard words from God, it's a good sign that you aren't his child at all."

"My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,

and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

because the Lord disciplines those he loves,

and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son"

Hebrews 12:5-6



It's like the young man that came to Jesus. He was very wealthy and asked Jesus how to obtain eternal life. Jesus first told him that he must ovey all the 10 commandments, the young man knew all the commandments and said he had kept them. He then looked to Jesus looking for more. So Jesus told him to sell all his possesions and give all his wealth away to the poor. The bible states that it was then that the young man walked away very sad because he had a lot of wealth. Mr. Nasser made the point that a lot of ministers will use this to try and convince you to open your wallet, but really, the point Jesus was trying to get across was, are you willing to give it all? Or do you have idols in your life?

God will shine light on your idols in His own time, yes yours! Mine, yours, everyones! We all have idols, whether you want to admit it or not. It could be that you love your spouse more than him. You could put your job before His purposes. You could love hanging out with freinds more than spending time with Him. God wants you to be the child He intened. As Mr Nasser put it, "you joined the team are you really not going to listen to the best coach in the world?"

I know this post has been long, but if you've made it this far, I want to finish it with a quote from Mr Nasser, again I feel like I have been hit with a ton of bricks.

"Our "etertain me" culture has made us spiritually soft and emotionall mushy. We expect hings to happen simply by pusshing a button or clicking a mouse. Repenting of spiritual idolatry is hard, brutal work, and this culture has not prepared us for it. Still it is essential if we intend to walk with God. When God shows you that something besides him is occupying the center of your life, don't expect it to just melt away. It won't. Don't expect it to step down graciously. It won't. Don't expect it to come out without a fight. It won't." -David Nasser