67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)
(James J. J. Tissot 1886-94- Jesus Teaching Disciples)Thoughts: The old joke is today is "Noah's Day." Noah after being in the ark forty days and nights with a bunch of animals. God opened the door and Noah said, "March Forth!"
Today we are looking at a passage in which some retreated from Jesus. Jesus said one would betray Him. He wanted His disciples to know this did not surprise Him. But then Jesus asked if his disciples also wanted to desert Him. They responded that He was the only place to go. He responded, "Have I not chosen you the Twelve?" They were standing firm on what they had come to believe and know- that Christ had the words of life. In a time when many are deserting Christ out of rebellion ethically, morally, and theologically, Christ calls His elect to stand firm- knowing that He has the wods of eternal life. But later Jesus would tell these twelve not just to sit there but to march forth!
Prayer: In a faithless age, help me to be faithful to you, Lord. Give me energy to march forth in obedience to you.
John Calvin Abridged: After seeing many leave, Jesus directs his discourse to the twelve. He encourages them to remain steady though they are a remnant that watched a multitude leave. He confirms their faith and resolve by asking them this, so that they would not join in with the apostates.
6:53-56..Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
ReplyDelete6:61..When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? (Does what offend them?)
6:66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. (These were those disciples that were offended at what Jesus had taught earlier.)