A Searching Question

From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, Do you also want to go away? 

John 6:66-67 

After many of His disciples departed from Christ, He asked those who were closest to Him the searching question, ‘Do you also want to go away?’ This was the appropriate moment to ask it. Others had already left Christ. If the twelve had sufficient misgivings about following Him now was the time to give voice to them. Thus, Christ affords them that opportunity. This was a critical moment for self-reflection. If we had been there, what kind of questions might we have asked ourselves about following Christ? Is this really the Messiah?  Can I truly trust this man, and all He is teaching, especially the hard things? How far am I willing to go with this person? These were the kinds of questions thinking people would have been asking themselves when others were departing. Those questions are as relevant today as they were when Christ asked the twelve His searching question. We do not follow Christ blindly. It behooves us to be clear in our own minds as to why we are following Him. 

Our Gracious Master and our God, 
we rejoice at what You have shown us of Yourself. 
We praise You that all You have shown us, 
has given us greater confidence in You. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning