uncomfortableness

have you ever noticed that Jesus made people uncomfortable alot? usually the people who were uncomfortable were operating in opposition to Him but even His friends were uncomfortable with Him some times. i love this quote: God loves to offend the mind to reveal the heart. He uses offense to show what spirit(s) we are partnering with. (ie. religious spirit/spirit of fear/etc...)

you see Jesus making people uncomfortable all through the gospels but one of my favorites is in john 6:41-59 where the jews are upset with Him because He said "I am the bread which came down from heaven". these guys start off upset with Him in verse 41 then Jesus goes on to reiterate His message in 48-51 saying that He is "living bread which came down from heaven. if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread which I give is My flesh..." interesting to point out that Jesus didn't soften the message. normally when people are uncomfortable we try to explain it in such a way as to lower the level of uncomfortability. Jesus didn't do this and those people who were uncomfortable, got even more uncomfortable. in verse 52 it says that they "quarreled among themselves saying, How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?" you have to remember these are guys who won't eat certain foods much less human flesh!

so after pressing on them a little bit Jesus backed off, right??? wrong. in verse 53 Jesus goes even further and tells them that not only do they have to eat His flesh but they have to drink His blood! this was so offensive that in verse 66 it says that many of His disciples turned away. Jesus moves from offending His enemies to now losing friends. but this does lead to one of the great answers of all time. when Jesus asks His remaining disciples if they want to leave as well, Peter says: "Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life". WHAT AN ANSWER!

peter basically said: "Lord, even though You are making us incredibly uncomfortable and we don't understand what You're talking about, when You speak we come alive and since no one else can offer that, we're sticking with You."

start asking the Lord regularly what heart attitudes need to be revealed and changed.

He makes all things new. what a great promise.

peace.