At that, the whole town went out to meet Jesus. When they saw Him, they begged Him to leave their region.
Author’s note: It is a convicting thing to read an article that I myself wrote years ago and have it leave me feeling somewhat desperate. This article was written over three years ago and still, even as I repost it today, it causes me to tremble inside and question my fat, lazy, wandering, apathetic heart. I am strongly reminded that without the saving grace and mercy of Lord Jesus Christ my life is worse than worthless. I am dead to Hell without Him. O for a deeper respect and a growing confidence in the love and power of Jesus Christ. He has the words of life. May we continue to have the heart to follow these words.
Can there be a sadder event ever recorded in Scripture regarding those who directly encountered Jesus? Granted, He didn’t present Himself to them as they might have expected but still, those who needed Him the most went to meet Him only to beg Him to leave. They went out to Him in order to beg Him to go.
“Please leave.”
The presence of Jesus demands a response. He may not present Himself as we might have expected. He may shake up our world in ways we did not imagine. Yet, there is no other option. He will be welcomed or refused. He will enter or exit. The choice is ours.
John 6:66-69
After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
Come Lord Jesus and stay.
Ventanas 