JOHN 6:66-68 – After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
THEME OF THE DAY: ABANDONMENT TO CHRIST. The context of today’s scripture is found in John 6:60-65 and summarized with Jesus stating “No one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father” (John 6:65). Basically, the Lord is identifying two groups of people – false and true disciples. The first group is revealed in verse 66 – After this many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him. Jesus made it clear there are no “self-made disciples.” True disciples are called by God, enabled to come to Christ by Him, and will continue to follow Him. This hard saying was rejected by the false disciples and as expected, they walked away. Now the true disciples . . .
Jesus asked His disciples an important question that is asked of us as well – “Do you want to go away as well?” The answer Peter gives is the answer all true Christians will give – “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” From his answers, three applications . . .
First, true Christians know there is no other place to go for truth than the Lord Jesus. When our Lord said, “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6), He is exclusive and absolute. This means we stand uncompromising in a world of relativism and do so with unflinching boldness and confidence. To do otherwise, would make us disingenuous.
Next, true Christians know the path to know God is through Christ alone. Peter says, “You have the words of eternal life.” It is important we properly define eternal life. We cannot mistake it with immortality. Immortality applies to all human beings. We were created to exist forever. Eternal life is not about time and duration. It is about relationship. The Lord Jesus defines it in His High Priestly prayer – When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent (John 17:1-3). And this is the very purpose for our existence. In J. I. Packer’s classic book, Knowing God, he wrote, “What were we made for? Knowing God. What should our aim in life be? Knowing God. What is the best thing in life? Knowing God. What is the eternal life Christ gives? Knowing God. What in us gives God the most pleasure? Knowing God.” The Apostle Peter would close out his second letter with this exhortation – But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (2 Peter 3:18). And the Apostle Paul would proclaim this was his passion in life – to know Christ – that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death (Philippians 3:10).
So, when it comes to the Christian life, and being a true disciple, it really is all about abandonment to Christ – totally and that lived out each day walking with Him who is truth and invites us to a progressive relationship with Him.
PRAYER: “Lord, help me to live a life abandoned to You in trust, love, and obedience.”
QUOTE: “When we arrive to the point in our lives that Jesus is everything, all the time, we have discovered the Christian life.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim