Sermon 25th August 2024 – 14th Sunday after Pentecost
Text: John 6:56-69 – When the
going gets tough
There is the saying – when
the going gets tough the tough get going. In today’s Gospel reading we see 2
examples of “when the going gets tough the tough get going” The first example: Many
of Jesus’ disciples said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?”
Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with
him. The going got tough – and many got going away from Jesus. The second
example – Peter and the Apostles: Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to
go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the
words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy
One of God.” The going got tough and Jesus’ apostles got going – continuing to
follow Jesus. The difference? Faith. Jesus
had the words of eternal life.
It’s not such an easy task
to follow Jesus at times. That’s why Jesus said – pick up your “cross” and
follow me. That’s why Peter, when told about what following Jesus meant –
arrest, humiliation, death – he said – never Lord, this will never happen to
you. To which Jesus said – get behind me Satan. The Israelites in the Old
Testament are another example of the people falling away from following the
Lord when the going got tough. Israel had a series of prophets who were
constantly calling the people back to the way of the Lord when they would
stray. Even before they got to the Promised Land they continued to grumble and
begged to go back to Egypt – hard labour was easier than trusting and following
the Lord. As Joshua was about to lead them into the Promised Land he warned
them that following the Lord, though the right thing to do, would be difficult
at times: He said to them: But if
serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day
whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the
Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as
for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
I’m often intrigued as to
why the teaching of the Christian faith is so difficult for people to accept. The
Christian faith offers what humanity is truly seeking. It offers eternal life
in heaven. People today want to live longer. They exercise – eat healthy – the
market for alternative remedies is booming. We push carbon neutral to save the
planet even though God sent Jesus to save the world. People try to look younger
with cosmetic surgery. But none of these offer what Jesus offers. As Jesus said
- This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your
ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live
forever.”
Jesus offers relief from
suffering – a new heaven and new earth where there will be no more suffering. People
look for all sorts of remedies – traditional and alternative. Jesus offers an
answer to death – I am the resurrection and the life – whoever believes in me
will never die. There is talk of AI (artificial intelligence) that will allow
us to live forever consciously in the cloud as opposed to the one who ascended
to and will return with the clouds. As Peter said – where are we going to go –
only you have the words of eternal life
So what is it that causes
the rejection and often hostility when a person tried to witness to someone. Why
do we find it so difficult at times to witness to other people? I believe it
has to do with the reality of what is being offered. If this was just another
marketing gimmick or one of those TV shopping miracle products then it wouldn’t
be so hard. As the saying goes – a fool and his money are soon parted. But the
reality is that this is a spiritual battle we enter whenever we enter the front
line and follow Jesus. And therefore our enemy is spiritual – or as we often
call it – spiritual warfare. If you can remember the parable of the sower that
Jesus once told: He begins that parable by saying:
When anyone hears the
message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and
snatches away what was sown in their heart. And so we see the work of the evil
one whenever we or anyone follows Jesus – he is right there behind us to battle
against what we are doing.
Likewise in the Parable of
the wheat and the weeds: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good
seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed weeds among
the wheat and went his way.
So Paul encourages us – in
fact urges us to put on the armour of God because he knows exactly the battle
we enter when we choose to follow Jesus Christ. Be strong in the Lord and in
the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be
able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against
enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual
forces of evil in the heavenly places. Let us remember, Jesus and Paul are
speaking to the church here. Satan’s front line is in the church.
We often think that Satan is
working in the likes of Kings Cross and other seedy places. No, that’s just
human nature at work. Satan’s work is to attack Christians – God’s children as
seen with Adam and Eve and Jesus with the temptations. He has ‘flaming arrows’
that can hit with precision which is why Paul say put on the “FULL” armour of
God. If there’s a weakness he will find it. And we all have a weakness he
targets – our anger – our jealousy – our addictions – our false idols –
anything that gives him a foothold. And so we have seen people, like the first
group, who have left Jesus – either their faith or the church while retaining
their faith. And it’s quite often because of a mis-spoken word – a
disagreement. Often it’s complacency or other demands on our time – work and
sport.
So our task, as Paul says -
keep alert and always persevere in prayer for all the saints. St Peter in his
letter also told us to keep alert – Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the
devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. But Paul
also asks for a prayer for himself: Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a
message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the
gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it
boldly, as I must speak. So please pray for me and also Pastors and Bishops of
our church as we put the shoes for our feet that will make us ready to proclaim
the gospel of peace.
Friends, the cross gets
mighty heavy at times and at times we might feel like giving up – but as Peter
reminds us – where will we go – only Jesus Christ has the words of eternal
life. And what beautiful words they are as Isaiah the prophet says:
How beautiful on the
mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who
bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say “Your God reigns!”
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