Why wouldn’t everyone receive Jesus? Ever thought of that? What is not to like about Jesus? He is gentle. He loves little children. He is also manly. He lived a simple and humble life. And He died sacrificially for the world. What’s not to like?

Strange as it seems, He was hated so much that He was killed! But why? What about Him offended the people so much? Likewise, if we represent Him today, why would some people hate us no matter how nice we are?

Here’s a clue. John 6:66, “From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.”

But what prompted the dissing of Jesus? It’s when He said, “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35)

You have to realize what led to this saying of Jesus is the feeding of the 5000. People started following Jesus by the droves after He had fed them bread and fish. In other words, their physical needs were met. But when Jesus pointed to the fact that He’s not really about making the physical needs, but the spiritual, they stopped following!

Furthermore, when He started demanding that people change their god from themselves to Jesus, they started getting downright vicious. People DO NOT want to be unseated from their thrones!

We would go so far as killing God if it means we can stay in control of our lives…

– God says sex before, after, and during marriage with anyone other than our spouse is wrong.
– God says husbands are to be initiators and wives responders.
– God says homosexuality is sin and detestable.
– God says serving God is more important than taking care of our family.
– God says lovers of money cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven.
– God says the community comes before the individual.
– God says the religious leaders are usually the worst sinners.

Offended? Enough to get Him out of your mind?

I believe it would’ve been entirely possible for me to scream “crucify Him!” along with the crowd if I lived in the 1st century Israel. As a matter of fact, I’m sure I would have. So thankful I didn’t live in the 1st century Israel!

And I still am (yelling “crucify Him”) if I insist that my sophisticated and refined 21st mind knows more than the 1st century Jewish Carpenter.

PH