Dealing with Our Doubters
04/24/10 05:15 Filed in: Faith
All of us, at one time or another, are tempted to turn are back on Jesus. But the good news is that, Jesus never turns away from us.
"Upon this many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” (John 6: 60-69)
Satan was Jesus’ most “faithful” follower, always at His side, mingling with the crowds, whispering in the ears of all who would listen to his carping. He kept trying to get a word in edge-wise, twist the meaning of Jesus’ message and raise doubts about His divinity. Doubt is Satan’s middle name.
When Jesus healed people on the Sabbath, Satan said it was sacrilegious. When Jesus dined with tax collectors, he said it was scandalous. When Jesus fed the multitude, Satan had to admit it was miraculous, but complained that it ‘just wasn’t good enough.’ He insisted on seeing more signs and wonders and many people went along with what he said. When Jesus refused to meet their demands, they began to doubt His powers. When Jesus said that they had to eat of His flesh and drink His blood, they began to doubt His sanity. They scoffed at His message. They walked off in droves.
As the crowds deserted Him, Jesus turned to His apostles and asked, “Would ye also go away/”
Peter answered for all of us when he said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”
But, Satan was never far from Peter’s side, too. He kept tempting him just as he had tempted the dwindling crowds until Peter denied Jesus three times. However, Satan’s victory was short-lived. Peter didn’t abandon the Lord for all time. He got the best of his doubts.
All of us, at one time or another, are tempted to turn are back on Jesus. It might be an occasional lapse in judgment such as failing to attend Mass on Sunday. It might be something more persistent such as a drug or alcohol problem. And, like the people in the crowd, we might one day hear a harsh word that sorely tests our faith. It may be a doctor’s diagnosis, a banker’s loan appraisal, a police report, a letter of rejection – something, sometime that causes us to re-examine our beliefs. We may even turn away from Jesus for a time. But the good news is that, Jesus never turns away from us.
We can always retrace our footsteps just as Peter did.
Satan was Jesus’ most “faithful” follower, always at His side, mingling with the crowds, whispering in the ears of all who would listen to his carping. He kept trying to get a word in edge-wise, twist the meaning of Jesus’ message and raise doubts about His divinity. Doubt is Satan’s middle name.
When Jesus healed people on the Sabbath, Satan said it was sacrilegious. When Jesus dined with tax collectors, he said it was scandalous. When Jesus fed the multitude, Satan had to admit it was miraculous, but complained that it ‘just wasn’t good enough.’ He insisted on seeing more signs and wonders and many people went along with what he said. When Jesus refused to meet their demands, they began to doubt His powers. When Jesus said that they had to eat of His flesh and drink His blood, they began to doubt His sanity. They scoffed at His message. They walked off in droves.
As the crowds deserted Him, Jesus turned to His apostles and asked, “Would ye also go away/”
Peter answered for all of us when he said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”
But, Satan was never far from Peter’s side, too. He kept tempting him just as he had tempted the dwindling crowds until Peter denied Jesus three times. However, Satan’s victory was short-lived. Peter didn’t abandon the Lord for all time. He got the best of his doubts.
All of us, at one time or another, are tempted to turn are back on Jesus. It might be an occasional lapse in judgment such as failing to attend Mass on Sunday. It might be something more persistent such as a drug or alcohol problem. And, like the people in the crowd, we might one day hear a harsh word that sorely tests our faith. It may be a doctor’s diagnosis, a banker’s loan appraisal, a police report, a letter of rejection – something, sometime that causes us to re-examine our beliefs. We may even turn away from Jesus for a time. But the good news is that, Jesus never turns away from us.
We can always retrace our footsteps just as Peter did.
blog comments powered by Disqus