AWOL

John 6:66 Staes, “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.”

George Washington had a hard time keeping an army together when fighting the British. A volunteer force of men that had no uniforms, often no shoes or enough food to eat, served for the hope of freedom. When things got extremely demanding, many chose to go home. There will always be deserters. We owe our freedom today to men “…who more than self their country loved…” (“America, the Beautiful”) and laid down their lives to prove and purchase it. I must ask myself if I am that kind of man. What about you?

I would ask another question. Are you a disciple of Jesus? How tough does it have to get for you to give up your walk with Him? The disciples in John 6:66 had been following Him or they would not have been called “disciples.” Jesus said of them, “…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” (John 6:26). It is interesting how many people will come to a church gathering if there is food offered.

Jesus used their physical hunger to call them to a total commitment to Himself. He challenged them to eat His flesh and drink His blood. Some of them responded with, “…This is a hard saying; who can hear it?” (John 6:60). Even though many disciples quit following Him, it was a necessary challenge that needed to be presented. Too often churches avoid preaching a total commitment—a commitment that costs something—for fear of losing their flock. 

The sooner the message gets out the better. Jesus knew that many that were standing there were going to betray him (V. 64). When we are witnessing to people, friendship is the slow, often ineffective route. Often we never go beyond friendship. Jesus lost a crowd of “friends” in this passage. George Washington had men that were committed to him for awhile. The battle was won however, by men that were committed to a far greater cause. They were tired of living in bondage to England. 

There are plenty of people tired of the bondage of sin, looking for something that works. When Washington rode out among his men on his big white horse leading them against the enemy, it had the effect of ten more men added to the flanks. The men were ready to follow a man that was charging into victory. 

Along with His call to total commitment, Jesus offered a great reward. John 6:54 says, “Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

The promise of a new life, a new beginning with great opportunity, caused many families to join a wagon train and take the great risk of crossing the continent. Many were discouraged. Some died along the way. Some did turn back, but many walked the whole distance. Little did they know that the footprints and wagon wheel ruts they left would one day be thoroughfares where many trucks and cars could travel at 70 miles an hour.

The disciples that quit walking with Jesus gave up everlasting life. They not only gave that up, they set out to destroy Him. They could have been the very people that started the early church and were filled with the Holy Spirit. Please don’t join them. Don’t be a deserter, AWOL!