So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” John 6:67

After Jesus gave the crowds difficult teachings , many left Christ because they couldn’t handle either the truth or the obedience of truly being a Christian. So Jesus gave his hand picked disciples an opportunity also to leave or discuss their thoughts.

Jesus is expressing the Free Will God has given all of us. Many atheists or skeptics will argue that God doesn’t grant Free Will , however Jesus is clearly offering this , not only to his disciples but everyone. We have a choice whether we want to be in Gods presence or not. God doesn’t force us to do anything!

Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. “We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” John 6:68-69

Despite all the people falling away from their faith and despite the difficult teachings  from Jesus, Peter (who’s name means Rock) would not waver in his faith. He knew that Jesus was the Truth, Life, and Way and the only salvation

You have a choice also! Which will you choose, eternal life with God or total separation from God? You cant have both! Choose wisely because eternity is a long time to be wrong!

For your husband is your Maker, Whose name is the LORD of hosts; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of all the earth. Isaiah 54:5

Throughout The Bible God is described as our Husband and we “Christians” as his bride. This is obviously not just a New Testament concept , as the prophet Isaiah reveals this also to Israel. So as we reflect on our relationship with God we should view it as a marriage.

What makes a good marriage?

• Commitment- are you committed to your relationship with Christ?
• Communication- are you in continual prayer with God?
• Trust- Do you trust in God? Should God trust in you?
• Honesty- Are you being honest with God? Are you transparent or hiding things?

I could probably do a sermon about each one of these characteristics, however you get the point. The seriousness that we put into our marriages, should be the same seriousness we put into our relationship with our Maker. It shouldn’t be a casual weekend visit, God wants full custody!

“For the LORD has called you, Like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, Even like a wife of one’s youth when she is rejected,” Says your God. Isaiah 54:6

Have you been rejected or forsaken by someone or many? God is calling you home! Your Heavenly Father wont leave or forsake you, he wants a relationship with you, he is calling you home like the prodigal Son

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” Revelation 19:7

Heaven rejoices when the “Gods Wedding” is completed, the marriage of Jesus Christ and The Bride (Christians) but have you made yourself ready?

Just as a Bride/Groom get themselves ready for a marriage, we as Christians need to get ourselves ready for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Are you Ready?

Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? Isaiah 53:1

Again The Arm (Jesus Christ) being revealed again as in total connection with God (Trinity) Who has believed Gods message of Salvation?  Will You?

For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. Isaiah 53:2

Jesus born in a manger, worked as a Carpenters Son. He lowered himself below the angels to become our suffering servant, poor with no outward beauty.

He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Isaiah 53:3

The world still hates Jesus today, because he is the Light of The World, who brought Truth and Grace into this world and set the captives Free! Anyone of this world will still continue to hate him because God is not in them

Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. Isaiah 53:4

They considered Jesus cursed by God because he took his wrath, but that wrath was for Our Sins and not His. Because Christ was sinless yet dies for all the sinners

But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

Pierced by Crucifixion, prophesied 700 years before Christ birth. Prophesied before Crucifixion was even invented, Jesus was nailed to the cross for our Sins

All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him  Isaiah 53:6

We are all sinners and have rebelled from God, yet Jesus willingly allowed the wrath of Our Sins to Fall On Him because he loves us

He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.  Isaiah 53:7

Even though Jesus was beaten and abused, he never cursed any of his enemies. Instead he took their evil and used it to bring salvation to the world

By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due? Isaiah 53:8

Innocence was murdered, God in the flesh was murdered, yet nobody protested. Because of our sins he was killed