With the lock-down caused by the coronavirus, finding something to relax with at home can take some doing. So after a fairly hectic day, winding down usually takes the form of reading or watching a DVD. Today it was my choice of DVD, and I choose 'Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang'. It's a film that has stood on our shelves for years (and doesn't appeal to the kids, as much as it did to me), so I thought it was time to go all nostalgic.
While it has lots of very nice songs, my favourite is 'From the ashes of disaster grow the roses of success'. It seems to strike a chord we me, and it also relates to the majority of my favourite Bible chapters and verses. The ones I like tend to be those that refer to the resurrection (following Jesus' crucifixion), the second coming (following a time of hardship and worry - like now) or the restoration of the age of peace as it was in Eden (following the abuse of the world - like now). It seems that overcoming a bad situation, leads to a greater outcome.
One that I have printed out, and that I wrote in my wife's Bible when she was baptised, is John 6:68. It comes at a difficult time for Jesus; when many of this followers left him. So before we look at verse 68, here's a few verses for context;
From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
It sounds as if there was a lot of feeling in this question and his aim of saving everyone had taken a step backwards.
But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
He had just given a difficult lecture and many people had forgotten the simple fact that Jesus wanted people to think for themselves, hence giving the lecture as another parable. Instead of telling a story like the others, he had given a living parable. And people had misinterpreted the lesson. They expected a free lunch, had also wanted to make him king by force, but had failed to take in the important lesson; God gives us life, food, everything.
Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of
the loaves, and were filled.
Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
I wonder if Jesus thought everyone would leave him, but then we have Peter's reply in verse 68.
Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.