From Background Notes [BN] for July 20th & 21st
written by Pastor Bob Brown:
The operative words are: “difficult” and “accept.” What Jesus teaches is often hard to hear and even more difficult to accept. This word for “difficult” is the Greek term sklēros which can mean, “harsh, terrible, strong,” as well as “hard or difficult.” When meaning “strong,” the word often appears with “wind,” as in a “harsh wind” — one that blows unrelentingly. That’s how the words of Jesus might impact us:
The operative words are: “difficult” and “accept.” What Jesus teaches is often hard to hear and even more difficult to accept. This word for “difficult” is the Greek term sklēros which can mean, “harsh, terrible, strong,” as well as “hard or difficult.” When meaning “strong,” the word often appears with “wind,” as in a “harsh wind” — one that blows unrelentingly. That’s how the words of Jesus might impact us:
like a strong wind, catching us off
guard and throwing us off our feet. When Jesus speaks, we might lose our
bearings and our orientation. Jesus didn’t intend to reinforce what his
disciples already believed, and thereby win their approval as a person-pleaser.
Few of his teachings were applause lines, and he grew increasingly suspicious
of the crowds when they too easily came along for the ride. But when the chips
were down, and the stark reality of Jesus’ mission hit the masses, the Bible
tells us: “From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer
followed him” (John 6:66). [BN, 1]
Join us this week in Study, Worship, Praise and Celebration at Chicago First Church of the Nazarene:
* Saturday 6:00pm
* Sunday 8:30am & 11:00am
Join us this week in Study, Worship, Praise and Celebration at Chicago First Church of the Nazarene:
* Saturday 6:00pm
* Sunday 8:30am & 11:00am
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