John 6:60-71 – “Jesus has the words of eternal life”
(David Bacon)
John 6:60-71 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.
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As discussed in our adult Sunday School class (taught by Dr. Josiah Hall) on Sunday, March 16, John places a great emphasis on “belief” in his gospel narrative. Today’s passage from John chapter 6, gets at the very heart of this belief that John repeats in his gospel. The question of belief is not just a momentary belief in a temporary subject, but the steadfast belief in Jesus that leads to life. To believe is to remain.
Jesus’ strange words earlier in the chapter about eating his body and drinking his blood have caused many to become offended. Jesus then asks the ultimate question of his closest twelve disciples in verse 67. “Do you want to go away as well?” Those words are cutting. He is testing the belief of his disciples. Peter responds the way each of us needs to respond “You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” Peter is proclaiming his belief and reliance upon Jesus because he has shown to have the words of eternal life. Recall to mind what Jesus said to the Jews in Chapter 5:39-40: “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.” I get the feeling that Peter was listening hard when Jesus said this and therefore knew this would be the right response to Jesus’ question.
Peter is also committing to remaining at Jesus’ side. Believing requires that we remain. Later in John, Jesus will talk about abiding in him. As I mentioned earlier, belief in Jesus must be steadfast. It cannot be temporary.
So, we also must take heed to what Jesus says. He truly does have the words of eternal life. All of Scripture has led to Jesus. He is the culmination of the promise that God made to the serpent in Genesis 3. “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” Jesus is the long awaited Messiah and in addition to his life giving sacrificial death, his words have the power of eternal life. And if we believe, we must then abide in that belief and heed his words of eternal life.
But thankfully we are not alone. Jesus explains that the (Holy) Spirit gives us life and that we are granted to Jesus by the Father. The entire trinity is at work in saving us and enabling us to abide in him. Hallelujah and praise be to this amazing triune God!
Weekly Prayer Focus: Capital Campaign
Daily Prayer Request: “Generosity.” Please pray that God would make us a generous people as we continue in our planning to raise money for a new building project.