Enduring Commitment: Following Jesus Through Trials

Today’s reflection centers on the question: “Are you still down?”—a challenge to examine the depth and endurance of our commitment to Jesus Christ. Drawing from John 6:66-71, we see a pivotal moment when many disciples turned away from Jesus after His hard teaching about being the bread of life. Jesus then asks the twelve, “Are you also going to leave?” Peter’s response, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life,” reveals a faith that is rooted not in what Jesus can give, but in who He is.

It’s easy to follow Jesus when the blessings are flowing—when the “fish sandwiches” are abundant and miracles are visible. But the true test of discipleship comes when the path gets difficult, when the crowd thins, and when Jesus calls us to a deeper, more intimate relationship that requires more than just receiving. Many are content with a transactional relationship with God, but Jesus desires something far greater: a relationship marked by abiding, trust, and surrender.

Life in the church and in faith is marked by seasons of change. Some who start the journey with us will not finish it. Friends drift away, some lose faith, and even those who remain may not always walk closely with us. Yet, our commitment must be to Christ above all, not to the crowd or even to the community. The call to “eat His flesh and drink His blood” is a call to radical intimacy and commitment—a willingness to let Jesus into the deepest places of our hearts, to trust Him with our wounds, our secrets, and our desires for belonging and love.

Even among the twelve, Jesus acknowledges that betrayal and hardship are inevitable. Judas’s presence reminds us that not everyone who walks with us is truly with us. But Peter’s declaration stands as a model: when we have truly encountered Jesus, there is nowhere else to go. The world offers no alternative that leads to life. The journey will include loss, betrayal, and hardship, but the words of eternal life are found only in Christ. The challenge is to remember our “why”—to hold fast to the One who alone is worthy, and to keep following, no matter what comes.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Not Everyone Who Starts With You Will Finish With You The journey of faith is marked by change and loss; some companions will drift away, and others may even betray us. Our commitment must be rooted in Christ, not in the presence or approval of others. The endurance of our faith is tested not by who walks with us, but by our willingness to keep walking when others fall away. Endure, even when the crowd thins, for it is those who persevere to the end who will be saved. [80:20]
• 2. God Desires More Than a Transactional Relationship Many follow Jesus for what He can provide—miracles, provision, blessings—but He calls us to something deeper. A relationship based only on what we receive is shallow and will not survive hardship. Jesus invites us to abide in Him, to seek intimacy and trust, and to let Him transform our most basic desires for love and belonging into a holy communion with Him. [77:26]
• 3. Deeper Commitment Requires Vulnerability and Trust Jesus’ call to “eat His flesh and drink His blood” is a metaphor for radical closeness—He wants us to bring our wounds, secrets, and longings to Him. True intimacy with Christ means letting Him into the places we often hide, trusting that He is a friend who will never betray us. The journey to deeper faith is not always comfortable, but it is the only path to true transformation and peace. [83:45]
• 4. Betrayal and Hardship Are Part of the Journey Even among the closest followers of Jesus, there was betrayal and pain. Judas’s actions remind us that suffering and disappointment are inevitable, even in the community of faith. Yet, these hardships do not negate the presence or faithfulness of God; rather, they refine our trust and remind us to anchor our hope in Christ alone. [87:57]
• 5. Remember Your “Why”—There Is No Life Outside of Jesus Peter’s response to Jesus—“Where else would we go?”—is a declaration that true life is found only in Christ. When doubts, losses, or hardships come, recall the moments you have seen God’s faithfulness and power. Let your commitment be rooted in the conviction that Jesus alone has the words of eternal life, and that following Him is the only path that leads to resurrection and hope.
  
  ** [89:41]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [71:11] - Honoring Leadership and Community
• [71:56] - Scripture Reading: John 6:66-71
• [72:46] - The Question: Are You Still Down?
• [74:19] - Hip-Hop, Culture, and Commitment
• [76:00] - Following Jesus for the Right Reasons
• [77:26] - Beyond Transaction: True Relationship with God
• [78:13] - The Crowd Leaves: When Faith Gets Hard
• [79:20] - Growing Apart: Enduring When Others Don’t
• [80:20] - Commitment to Christ Above All
• [83:45] - Deeper Intimacy: Abiding in Jesus
• [87:57] - Betrayal and Hardship in the Journey
• [88:32] - Peter’s Declaration: Remembering Your Why
• [89:41] - No Life Outside of Jesus
• [91:41] - Closing Blessing and Challenge

Bible Reading

John 6:66-71 (ESV) — 66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.
67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”
68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,
69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.”
71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.

Observation Questions

1. In John 6:66-71, what was the reason many disciples stopped following Jesus?
2. How did Peter respond when Jesus asked the twelve if they would leave too?
3. According to the sermon, what did Jesus mean when He talked about “eating His flesh and drinking His blood”? [01:18:13]
4. Who does Jesus say will betray Him, and how does this affect the group of disciples? [01:27:57]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus’ teaching about being the bread of life was so hard for people to accept? What does this reveal about the kind of relationship Jesus wants with His followers? [01:17:26]
2. Peter says, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.” What does this statement show about Peter’s understanding of who Jesus is? [01:29:41]
3. The sermon mentions that not everyone who starts the journey with you will finish with you. How might this reality affect someone’s faith or sense of community? [01:20:20]
4. How does the presence of Judas among the twelve challenge our ideas about what it means to be part of a faith community? [01:27:57]

Application Questions

1. The sermon says it’s easy to follow Jesus when “the fish sandwiches are abundant and miracles are visible.” When have you found it hard to keep following Jesus, and what helped you stay committed? [01:16:00]
2. Have you ever experienced friends or church members drifting away from faith or community? How did that impact your own walk with Jesus? [01:20:20]
3. Jesus calls us to a relationship that is more than just “transactional.” In what ways do you sometimes treat your relationship with God like a business deal, and how can you move toward deeper trust and intimacy? [01:17:26]
4. The sermon talks about bringing our wounds, secrets, and longings to Jesus. Is there an area of your life you find hard to trust God with? What would it look like to invite Jesus into that place? [01:23:45]
5. Betrayal and hardship are part of the journey, even in the church. How do you respond when you feel let down or hurt by other believers? What helps you keep your focus on Jesus during those times? [01:27:57]
6. Peter remembered his “why” for following Jesus. What is your “why”? Can you recall a moment when you knew Jesus was the only one with the words of eternal life? How does remembering that help you today? [01:29:41]
7. The sermon challenges us to keep following, no matter what comes. What is one practical step you can take this week to strengthen your commitment to Christ, especially if you’re facing doubt, loss, or disappointment? [01:29:41]