Will Ye Also Go Away?

Many are awakened to follow Christ, but when they find that they must be drawn to Christ, that all is of free grace, by and by they are offended.

So here, the persons who had followed Christ had been laborious and painstaking in following Him. They had crossed the sea and listened to His words for many days together; and doubtless they began to think they had done well and that they were worthy to be saved for the pains they had taken. But when Jesus told them that salvation was of mere grace, that they were helpless sinners and needed still to be drawn to Christ by the mere good pleasure of the Father, this offended them to the quick. They turned back and walked no more with Jesus.

So now, many persons set out in religion, thinking that they shall soon bring themselves into a converted state. They take great pains in religion; they confess the sins of their past life, and stir up grief in their hearts because of them. They wait patiently on ordinances, and take much pains to work the works of God. But when they find out that they are not a whit nearer being saved than when they began, when they are told they must be drawn to Christ, that God is not obliged to save them, that they deserve nothing at His hand but a place in hell, that if ever they are saved it is of mere free grace, then they are offended. They cannot bear this kind of preaching; they go back and walk no more with Jesus.

So now, many persons set out in religion, thinking that they shall soon bring themselves into a converted state. They take great pains in religion; they confess the sins of their past life, and stir up grief in their hearts because of them. They wait patiently on ordinances, and take much pains to work the works of God. But when they find out that they are not a whit nearer being saved than when they began, when they are told they must be drawn to Christ, that God is not obliged to save them, that they deserve nothing at His hand but a place in hell, that if ever they are saved it is of mere free grace, then they are offended. They cannot bear this kind of preaching; they go back and walk no more with Jesus. Are any of my readers in this condition? Alas! proud sinners, stop one moment before you leave the divine Savior. Is it a hard saying that an infinitely hateful rebel and worm should be unable to buy Christ with so many tears and prayers? Listen here to two words of warning.

First, many go so far with Christ, who do not go the whole way. Many hear Christ's words for a time with joy and eagerness, who yet are offended by them at last. This is a solemn warning. Do not think you are a Christian because you sit and listen to the words of Christ. Do not think you are a Christian because you have some pleasure in the words of Christ. Many are called, few are chosen. Many went back, and only twelve remained. So doubtless it will be found among you. Those only are Christians who feed upon Christ and live by Him.

Second, those that go back generally walk no more with Jesus. Perhaps they did not intend to bid an eternal farewell to the Savior. Perhaps they said as they retired, “I will go home and think about it; I will hear Him again concerning this matter. At a more convenient season I will follow Him.” But alas! that season never came; they walked no more with Jesus.

Take warning, dear friends, you that are anxious about your souls. Oh! do not be easily offended. Do not lose a sense of your lost condition. Oh! do not grow careless of your Bible and the means of grace. Oh! do not go back to the company of sinners. These are all marks of one who is going back from Jesus. Wait patiently for the Lord until He incline His ear and hear your cry. Still press to hear the words of Jesus. Still cry for the teaching Spirit. “If any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him” (Hebrews 10:38). “No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).

Note the careful anxiety of Christ lest His own true disciples should go away: “Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?” I have no doubt the heart of Jesus was grieved when the multitude went away and walked no more with Him. That good Shepherd never yet saw a lost sheep running on to destruction, but His heart bled for it: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered thy children together!” He could see all the future history of these men, how they would lose all their impressions, how they would harden in their sins, how, like a rolling snowball, they would gather more and more wrath around them. And I doubt not that He wept in secret over them and said, “If thou hadst known, even thou, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.“ He traced their history up to that hour when He would say, “Depart from Me.” But however much Christ grieved over their departure, this only fanned the flame of His love to His own, so that He turned round and said, “Will ye also go away?”

Observe how much love there is in these words. When the crowd went away, He did not cry after them. His soul was grieved, but He spoke not a word. But when His own believing disciples were in danger of being led away, He speaks to them, “Will ye also go away? ye whom I have chosen, ye whom I have washed, ye whom I have sanctified and filled with hopes of glory, will ye also go away?” Oh, see, Christians, how anxiously Christ watches over you. He is walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, and His word is, “I know thy works.” He watches the first decaying of the first love. He speaks aloud, “Will ye also go away?”

Observe that Christ keeps His disciples from backsliding by putting the question to them, “Will ye also go away?” It is probable that some of the twelve were inclined to go away with the rest. We are often deceived by example, carried away from Christ before we think of it. But Christ wakens us by the question, “Will ye also go away?” Think of this question, you that have known Christ, and yet are going back to sin and the world. May God write it on your hearts: “Will ye also go away?” Christians, if you would keep this word in your heart, it would keep you from the thought of going away.

— R. M. McCheyne

(From the Preacher's Heart)

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen