Gtcotr/ss012013
Life
is filled with discoveries. All we know was at one time a new discovery and all
we will yet learn are but our discoveries waiting to be made.
To
discover is to uncover what was already there. For example:
Christopher
Columbus did not invent the Americas nor did he create them any more than
Benjamin Franklin invented or created electricity or Sir Isaac Newton invented or
created gravity. No … but rather Christopher Columbus is credited with the discovery
of this wonderful land where now stands the United States of America.
This
brings up an important point. some say that Columbus discovered America but to
the people who were already living in the Americas in the late 1400‘s,
Christopher Columbus did not discover a thing. They already knew that they and
their native lands existed, it was only a discovery for those who were not as
yet enlightened in this matter.
So,
the greatest discovery of the 15th Century embraced by so many important
and well educated people was already known and being taken advantage of by those
thought to be some of the poorest and most illiterate people in the world.
However, it was not the indigenous Native Americans who were poor and stupid –
it was rather those who had lived their whole lives thus far not knowing the
wealth, peace, joy and beauty this land affords which bountifulness others had
enjoyed for ages.
This
reveals an important principle:
Others may be experiencing bountiful riches which we are yet to
personally discover.
So
it was in the lives of a group of disciples who were following Jesus in the
Galilee near 2000 years ago. Let’s discover this truth together …
John 6
44 "No one can come to
Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last
day.
47 "Most assuredly, I
say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.
48 "I am the bread of
life.
51 "I am the living
bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever;
and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of
the world."
54 "Whoever eats My
flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last
day.
60 Therefore many of His
disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying; who
can understand it?"
61 When Jesus knew in Himself
that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, "Does this
offend you?
66 From that time many
of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
67 Then Jesus said to the
twelve, "Do you also want to go away?"
68 But Simon Peter answered
Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
69 "Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son
of the living God."
·
For
one group of disciples it was a “hard saying”
·
For
the other group – Jesus spoke the “words of eternal life”
One
group said “Amen!” while the other said, “Oh Me!”
What
is the definition of a “hard saying”? ~
·
A “Hard Saying” is a truth we have yet to discover and embrace.
Those
who had already discovered the life giving power of the Bread of Life were
satisfied with the requirements – those who had not yet discovered who Jesus is
were a bit uncomfortable committing to His requirements.
What
does John 8:32 say? “… you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”
The
Greek word translated “know” means “learning to know” or “to come to know” or
in essence, “to make a discovery”. (ginosko ~ an idiom used for sexual intercourse
between a man and a women in the sense of the process of getting to know
someone) – (John 6:69 & John 8:32 – know)
Of
course there are many truths from the God’s Word which we have yet to “come to
believe and know” - discover and embrace. Allow me to share three of the most
important and least threatening, but three of the hardest sayings of the Lord
which many are yet to discover and embrace.
Look
with me at the end of a familiar passage in 1 Corinthians 13 for a moment.
Specifically: 1 Corinthians 13:12 & 13
1 Corinthians 13
12 For now we see in a
mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know
just as I also am known.
13 And now abide faith, hope,
love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
I
simply ask you this morning: Have you yet discovered:
·
Faith
o For today – faith that
keeps you trusting in God’s grace
o This trust can be
found today by coming to know Jesus
o Others are
experiencing the bountiful blessings which can only come from an abiding faith
in Him – Discover faith
·
Hope
o For tomorrow
o Which hope is the
anchor of our soul both sure and steadfast
o This is a “hard
saying” for some who have yet to discover and embrace the truth concerning the
eternity which awaits all men
·
Love
o For God – above all
else
o For yourself – we
must love ourselves before we can love …
o Others – and then,
we must love others as much as self
There
are many other hard sayings which we may have yet to discover however, if we
will begin to embrace and begin to exercise these basics … no doubt we will come
to believe and to know more.
