John 6:60-71 New King James Version
Many Disciples Turn Away
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a [a]hard saying; who can understand it?”
61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples [b]complained about this, He said to them, “Does this [c]offend you? 62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
66 From that time many of His disciples went [d]back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”
68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the [e]Christ, the Son of the living God.”
70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” 71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
At some point in every Christian’s life, we come face-to-face with doubt.
Something happens that we did not expect, and even the strongest among us begin to question everything about what and why we believe.
The enemy is non-stop relentless in the presence of our pain, and he begins to apply pressure with three specific questions:
“Is it true?”
“Is it worth it?”
“Is it remotely believable?”
These questions are followed by countless others.
Did God really say what’s in His word?
Is all this really going to be worth it?
If God really loved you, would you be suffering as much as you are now?
Why am I bothering myself with my effort – I only achieve more confusion?
This Biblical stuff is too hard to grasp, and it seems like you are worse off than before; wouldn’t it be easier to just run as the wind away or walk out on Jesus?
In the scripture above, Jesus relays the utmost importance of “drinking His blood” and “eating His flesh.”
This was a difficult lesson and many walked out on Him because it made them uncomfortable – is Jesus only looking for cannibals’ to become His followers?
Jesus then asked His disciples if they were going to quit, too. But Peter answered Him, “To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
When the tsunami’s of doubt come and the enemy starts to ask hard questions, answer him with another: Where else could I go? Jesus has the words of eternal life, and no matter how utterly difficult life becomes, I will not walk out on Him.
Words of Eternal Life
John 6:67-69Amplified Bible
67 So Jesus said to the twelve [disciples], “You do not want to leave too, do you?” 68 Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You [alone] have the words of eternal life [you are our only hope]. 69 We have believed and confidently trusted, and [even more] we have come to know [by personal observation and experience] that You are the Holy One of God [the Christ, the Son of the living God].”
Crowds can be fickle, switching quickly from enthusiasm to rejection and even violence. Sometimes these dramatic swings are triggered by just a few words.
Jesus’ teaching in John 6 shows his words can trigger rejection or lead to life.
As Jesus’ reputation grew, the crowds of people around him dramatically increased.
Why?
Because he was a wonder worker.
Just a day or two earlier, Jesus had fed a huge crowd of several thousand people (John 6:1-15).
But while the crowds were drawn to his miraculous works, they didn’t always like his surprising teachings.
At the synagogue in Capernaum, he had told the crowd that if they wanted to have eternal life, they had to eat of his body and drink of his blood (6:53-59).
Turned off by that vision of cannibalistic behavior, many people rejected Jesus.
Jesus asked his closest disciples if they wanted to leave too.
Speaking on behalf of them all, Peter asked, “Lord, to whom shall we go?”
And then he made this bedrock confession: “You have the words of eternal life.”
When the Holy Spirit softens our hearts and opens our eyes to faith in Christ, we can see Jesus for who he really is, just as Peter did and, affirm our faith in Him.
John 14:1-6 Amplified Bible
Jesus Comforts His Disciples
14 “Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and I will take you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also. 4 And [to the place] where I am going, you know the way.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “[a]I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Jesus is the Son of God, our only truth for faith and life.
Affirmation of Faith – Apostles’ Creed I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
And then, like Peter, we can also unconditionally trust him as we live and serve.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit …
Praying …
Psalm 29 Complete Jewish Bible
29 (0) A psalm of David:
(1) Give Adonai his due, you who are godly;
give Adonai his due of glory and strength;
2 give Adonai the glory due his name;
worship Adonai in holy splendor.
3 The voice of Adonai is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
Adonai over rushing waters,
4 the voice of Adonai in power,
the voice of Adonai in splendor.
5 The voice of Adonai cracks the cedars;
Adonai splinters the cedars of the L’vanon
6 and makes the L’vanon skip like a calf,
Siryon like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of Adonai flashes fiery flames;
8 the voice of Adonai rocks the desert,
Adonai convulses the Kadesh Desert.
9 The voice of Adonai causes deer to give birth
and strips the forests bare —
while in his temple, all cry, “Glory!”
10 Adonai sits enthroned above the flood!
Adonai sits enthroned as king forever!
11 May Adonai give strength to his people!
May Adonai bless his people with shalom!
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 