Chad Coley
The Gospel According To John
The Rejection of Christ, Part 2
John 6:59 - 71
8 August 2021
Superficial belief doesn't last, although it may seem genuine at first. In John 6, we see the crowds leave Jesus because of His teaching, proving where their hearts truly were.
False disciples will reject Jesus Christ. The crowds who followed Him did so because of His signs, and because He fed them. But when confronted with His divine nature and teachings, they rejected Him outright. Although they wanted God's Kingdom, they did not want a suffering Messiah.
False disciples are offended by Jesus' words, because they don't have the ability to grasp truth. They are disappointed when they don't get their way. False disciples are offended by demands. Jesus crushed their hopes of a political Messiah when He had made it clear who He was, and that all who follow Him must suffer as well.
False disciples are not chosen by the Father. God is sovereign in saving; our response is to believe and follow. Many of His disciples decisively turned back, but the twelve knew who He was. Although Judas was a false disciple in their midst, the others trusted Him, because He chose them.