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The Gospel of John, The Period of Controversy, The Claims of Jesus Christ, Jesus as the Bread of Life, Part XVII, John 6:68-71 - Lesson 47
Read Verses John 6:63-67,
There is sadness in the question by Jesus.
Jesus was sad for those who were departing from the light and who were going toward darkness.
He knew what they were leaving and where they were going.
His sadness goes out to those who leave the bread of life, those who return to the manna of this world.
The manna that does not give life.
He knew the heart of man that encourages man to seek comfort with others.
He knew how fragile the connection of many of his disciples was.
He knew that some departing would encourage many to also depart.
So he asks the twelve, Do you want to go also?
He tests their faith.
What are they staying for?
What kind of foundation do they have?
Do they believe that he is the messiah?
What will they do now that many are leaving.
What is their faith built on?
Is it the safety of numbers?
Will they stand for Christ without the vast numbers and crowds that had been coming up till this point?
Verse 6:68,69, Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
"To whom shall we go?" Peter had tasted the heavenly manna.
He had tasted the bread of life.
Once that is tasted there is nothing else that will satisfy.
So Peter encourages the heart of the Lord Jesus.
Some will believe and Peter was one of them.
We know from other passages that Peter was impetuous but when he spoke it was directly from his heart.
He spoke what was uppermost in his mind.
He did not prepare his words with sophistication or a desire to mask his true feelings.
He jumps right in and represents the others.
Peter said to Jesus Christ, "thou hast the words." "we believe and are sure."
He did not say thou hast the loaves and fishes, thou hast the miracles, thou hast the healing powers.
He simply recognized the power of the words of Jesus.
That is what Jesus Christ wants in us.
He desires for us to hear his words.
When Jesus says, "Believe on me," he means hear my words.
Live by my words.
The words that I have spoken unto you, they are life.
Follow me means, follow my words.
Trust my words to be effective in your life.
Peter had the hearing ear.
A work of grace had been done in his heart.
He had grasped that Jesus had said that by believing in him he would have eternal life.
His dwelling was in Christ.
He had found his abode.
The wondrous miracles had attracted the many disciples who left him, but the teachings of Christ had repelled them.
It was the very opposite with the Apostles.
It was not the supernatural works , but the divine words of Jesus Christ which held them, which caused them to abide.
And so it is with every true Christian.
To whom shall we go?
Having heard Christ, who would go to Buddha or Confucius or Mohammed or Krishna?
Who would want to listen to Darwin or Marx or Plato or who would listen to the priests of humanism?
Who would want to go back to the lifeless formalism and traditions of the elders?
Who would want to go back to the darkness and sadness of Judaism? ' ' Formal religious practices and empty ritual?
Peter said there is no place to go but Christ.
He and only he has the words of eternal life.
No other Christ will come!
No one will bring a better word!
There is no other place to go.
Only the ones that hear the word know that!
Once a person knows the light there is no desire to seek darkness.
With Jesus comes life for death, hope for despair, and heaven for hell.
What sane man would turn from these?
Peter says, "we are sure."
We have lived with you, have experienced mighty things, we have sat at your feet and learned of you and we are sure that you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
Where else can we go?
Verse 6:70,71, Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot [the son] of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.
Jesus acknowledges his inner circle of disciples.
The twelve men that he hand-picked including Judas.
Hand picked for the office of Apostle.
These are the ones that you would expect to stand by the Lord.
These are the ones that you would expect to have understanding of the kind that Peter had shown.
Yet even though Peter in his statement of faith used the word "we" to include all of the twelve, Jesus knew better.
No, they did not all believe.
There was one among them that was an adversary or slanderer, described with the word "devil" in the King James version of the Bible.
There was one among them who was appointed by the Lord Jesus in order that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.
It had been written that "Mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me."
Judas was lost in order that this scripture would be accomplished.
Think of it. Jesus knew that a traitor was at his side from the beginning.
Yet he deliberately chose him in obedience to his Father's will.
Even when he was away from his critics and haters he knew there was a devil in his midst.
Yet for three years, knowing that this Judas was poised to sell him for 30 pieces of silver, he patiently taught him and loved him as he did the other 11.
But God makes the wrath of men to praise him.
Remember Judas' testimony of Christ.
Even this traitor witnessed to the deity of Christ when he said in Matt. 27:4, "I have betrayed innocent blood."
Should not the sinner believe the testimony of one of his own?
But Jesus displays his omniscience here.
He shows in the smallest detail his love for the purity of the word.
He corrects error.
He does not ignore Peter's error.
No, the word "we" is too all inclusive.
Peter assumes knowledge that he does not have.
But Jesus knows the heart of each of the twelve.
And one of the hearts is a deceiver.
But Jesus Christ was not deceived by Judas Iscariot even though the other eleven were.
How near a man may come to Christ and yet be lost!
All the things that Judas witnessed and yet was lost.
Do you think you cannot be deceived? Even those who walked with Jesus Christ were deceived.
How near a man may be to Christ and yet be lost.
This choosing of Judas was for a purpose.
It shows us that a man may witness the most marvelous things, may hear the greatest spiritual teaching, may keep company with the most godly people, and yet be lost, not only lost but be an active traitor of God.
Jesus teaches us again that we are to put no confidence in the flesh.
We should have a healthy doubt of self.
Look at the lesson of the disciples!
Beware how you stand.
I Cor. 10: 12, Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
So Jesus concluded this discourse by this ominous revelation about one of his disciples following the God given confession by Peter of the deity of Jesus Christ.
Chapter 6 concludes the Period of Controversy and we will continue next week, Lord willing, with Chapter 7 which begins the Period of Conflict as told by John the Apostle |