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Enjoy Life, Enjoy God


Dale Patterson

HARD

May 7, 2010

Speaking the Sermon on the Mount to droves of people on a hillside, and feeding the 5000 leads us to the mistaken conclusion that Jesus' teaching led to great popularity. But a careful reading of the gospels may lead us to another conclusion.

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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 TNIV
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The initial inspirational thrill of following Jesus, gives way to substantive challenge. When Jesus defines his relationship with his father, and to interpret what it means to "believe," to "follow," the people say, "This is hard." And about the time they learn it hard, true or not, they quit in droves.

Which begs the question, "What of us?"
Joyfully,

Dale Patterson