ARE YOU FOLLOWING JESUS CHRIST

ARE YOU FOLLOWING JESUS CHRIST

FOR THE RIGHT REASONS?

If your motives in pursuing the Master are for anything less than a desire for intimacy with

Him, you are sadly on the wrong track:

“Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. He who

eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life.” (John 6:53, 54)

It is a mystery as to exactly what Jesus meant here. At the very least He conveyed the idea of

total involvement with Him at the most intimate level.

A little steep? He meant it that way: “As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were no

longer walking with Him.” (John 6:66)

The Gospels communicate at least four wrong reasons as to why people followed Jesus:

1. Curiosity over His miracles

“And a great multitude was following Him, because they were seeing the signs which He was perform-

ing on those who were sick.” (John 6:2) (Also: Luke 9:9; 23:8; John 2:23-25)

2. The Material benefits

“Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me… because you ate of the loaves, and were filled.” (John

6:26)

3. The Political benefits

“Jesus therefore perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force, to make Him

king, withdrew… ” (John 6:15a) (Also: Luke 24:21)

4. Status

“Grant that we may sit in your glory, one on your right, and one on your left.” (Mark 10:37) (Also:

Mark 9:31-37)

We need to search our hearts as to why we profess allegiance to Him. If our motives are

ulterior, we solicit His rejection:

“Jesus… was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men… .for He Himself knew what

was in man.” (John 2:24, 25)