When I was kid, about nine in ten Americans claimed to be Christian. Now that I’m middle-aged, only six in ten Americans stand with Jesus. If trends continue and I die an old man, less than five in ten of my fellow citizens will claim to follow Christ. Perhaps you’ve seen that reality among your siblings, friends, kids, or grandchildren. Why would that be?

While there are many answers to that crucial question, near the top of the list has to be Jesus himself. The unedited, unfiltered Jesus was, without a doubt, offensive and divisive. Despite his ability to heal the sick and raise the dead, the vast majority of his original audience didn’t like him due to his extreme claims of divinity (I’m God) and authority (I always get the last word).

How about you? When Jesus’ words are hard to embrace personally and even harder to endorse publicly, will you remain with Jesus? John’s gospel, which retells the story of some of Jesus’ most offensive moments, gives us a compelling reason to follow Jesus: “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).

Yes, Jesus is divisive. Yes, Jesus is offensive. But the name of Jesus is the only way to be fully forgiven, completely pure, and absolutely good enough to live with God. So no matter how many of your friends stay or go, I pray that you stick with Jesus and find eternal life in his name.