Was It Something I Said?

As Christians, we all recognize the importance of regularly reading our Bibles. After all, our faith is based on the words we read in the Holy Scriptures. In Romans 10:17 we read, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." As believers, we understand that words that come from God are very important to us. When Jesus was engaged in His earthly ministry He often tried to teach His disciples the importance of remembering what was written in the Law and the Prophets. Reading the Bible equips us for the journey toward spending an eternity with God.

When we read the Bible, we may often encounter certain texts that prove confusing or downright troublesome. This, I always tell my fellow believers, is very normal. Yet, many who come across these texts are often offended and horrified by what they read. I always say, "If you haven't come across some troublesome texts in the Bible then you're not reading it right!" Yes, the Bible does contain some stories that will leave even the most learned Christian with a disturbed heart. I trust you are probably no exception.

However, you should know that you are not the only person to find God's word troublesome or even offensive. In chapter 6 of the Gospel of John, we read a story about the time Jesus was preaching a sermon and He said some things that caused Him to lose a large number of disciples. Yes, Jesus lost His audience when He dared to say something that was just too much for many people to hear. Allow me to tell you the story.

It was just shortly after Jesus walked on water during the storm in the Sea of Galilee. Jesus and His disciples had landed at Capernaum, and a large crowd had congregated there to hear Him speak. A day earlier Jesus had fed over five thousand men with just five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus began to tell them that although they were following Him because He had fed them when they were hungry they should focus on getting a better kind of bread - bread that leads to eternal life! He then went on to tell them that He was that bread that would give them eternal life. He told them that He was the true bread of God that came down from heaven. Now, at this, people started grumbling because they knew Jesus as having come from Nazareth. His dad was Joseph the carpenter. How can He now say that He came down from heaven?

Well, this grumbling did not stop Jesus from continuing to say things that were problematic to the people. He went on to say the unthinkable. He actually told them that if they were to enter the Kingdom of God they were going to have to eat His flesh and drink His blood! Say what??? Now you should know that while there is no direct command in the Bible to abstain from cannibalism, the eating of human flesh was strongly associated with the results of sin and the forsaking of God's way (Leviticus 26:29; Deuteronomy 28:53-57; Jeremiah 19:9; Lamentations 2:20; 4:10; Ezekiel 5:10). Dietary restrictions were very abundant among the Israelites. So, imagine their shock when Jesus advocated for them to eat His flesh and drink His blood! No way!

After hearing these words the Bible says that "From this time many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him." (John 6:66). After such mass desertion, Jesus turned to the twelve and asked if they were going to leave Him too. They didn't and it proved to be the best decision they could have made.

There is a very important lesson for us to learn from this story. When I read this story I realize that there will be times when I will come across words from God that may be very difficult for me to accept. Words that just seem to not be in line with the God I know and love. The Bible says that when these disciples left Jesus it was because they were offended by His words. So, I ask myself, how do I react when I read something in the Bible that I find offensive? Am I like the many disciples that turned back and no longer followed Jesus or am I like one of the twelve that, although not fully understanding what Jesus was saying, still decided to stay with Him because they knew He was the Son of God?

I must confess that my stomach churns and my heart aches when I read about the time God commanded the Amalekite children to be slaughtered along with their mothers (1 Samuel 15:3). I am shaken when I read about the Levite that cut up his dead concubine in pieces to make a point to the rest of the tribes of Israel (Judges 20:6). I shake my head when I read about Lot offering his own daughters to be raped by the men of Sodom (Genesis 19:8). Yes, I know there are theological explanations for all of these stories but it doesn't relieve my sense of horror every time I read them. I may not fully understand these decisions. You may not fully understand them either. If I were to give you an exegesis on the theological explanations Bible scholars have for these actions it would probably do very little to assuage your sense of horror as well.

And so today, when you read things that are difficult to accept in the Bible, how do you respond? I must ask you the same question Jesus asked His disciples. "Do you want to leave me too?" What is your answer? Do you find God's words in these Old Testament stories too horrific to swallow? Will you leave Him or will you stay?

Was it something I said? Yes, Jesus, your Holy Word contains things I find difficult to accept. But Lord, to whom shall I go? You have the words of eternal life. I believe and know that you are the Holy One of God! I trust that one day you will explain all things to me. Until then, I will not speak of things I do not understand. For I remember the words you spoke to your servant Job, "Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me if you understand." (Job 38:4).

Until next time my fellow pilgrims!