Last Sabbath, our pastor taught on John 6. It gave me something to contemplate and I'll share that with you in a moment. First, let's make sure we understand correctly the meaning of the word attention.
Researching...
Webster's 1828 Dictionary:
1. The act of attending or heeding; the due application of the ear to sounds, or of the mind to objects presented to its contemplation. [Literally, a stretching towards.
They say the tongues of dying men
Enforce attention like deep harmony.
2. Act of civility, or courtesy; as attention to a stranger.
The key word contemplation means:
CONTEMPLATION, noun [Latin]
1. The act of the mind in considering with attention; meditation; study; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject.
CONTEMPLATION is keeping the idea, brought into the mind, some time actually in view.
2. Holy meditation; attention to sacred things; a particular application of the foregoing definition.
To have in contemplation to intend or purpose, or to have under consideration.
 |
| {Still-Life-With-Bible Vincent Van Gough: Courtesy Public Domain} |
Toward the end of John 6, Yeshua is talking with His disciples (students). There is a multitude of disciples which Yeshua is giving a challenging teaching to.
With all that these Jewish disciples of Yeshua knew from the Old Testament (especially of the Prophets), they did not grasp what was being said. We learn that most of them murmur among each other about what is being taught; it's difficult for them to understand. Instead, they became offended, stopped listening and...
As a result, "From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him."
As I reason from Scripture...
Yeshua had many students who followed Him around and heard what He said. Not all of them accepted His teachings. They were clearly familiar with Hebrew Scriptures; the Written word of God.
However, it appears that they did not really give their attention to what Yeshua was saying. They did not contemplate... they did not consider with attention; meditation; study to see how the written word of God agreed with the Word made Flesh (that is to say Yeshua).
Again, they became offended. They stopped listening and walked away...
As I relate to this...
I wonder if many of us (myself included) hear the teachings from Scripture but don't give full attention to what is being taught. Do I fully contemplate each passage? Do I consider each word with attention; meditation; and study to see how the front of the Bible and the back of the Bible agree with each other? Do I seek to make sure of the context for myself?
God's word cannot contradict Itself. The whole of the Bible is truth. 2 Timothy 3:16 instructs us that, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" Therefore, as a student of Yeshua's teachings, it's important that I endeavor to understand His teachings from the Hebrew Scriptures that He Himself followed and taught.
What about the twelve? After those many other disciples went back and walked no more with Yeshua, what happened? John 6:67 tells us, "Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?"
Would they? What was their answer to Him?
We learn the answers in verses 68 and 69, "Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God."
The question for each of us is, "Will ye also go away?"
What will your answer be?
Blessings,
No comments:
Post a Comment