Today’s Scripture:
“Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’” — John 6:68 (ESV)
Reflection
This passage shows the harsh reality and reception of Jesus’s teachings. Many people found it hard to accept his teachings, but Jesus did not change what he taught, but he challenged them, asking them if they took offense at this. Jesus implied that it was better to be offended now, than see Jesus in his glory before them on judgment day. It is the Spirit who gives life, and the flesh does not profit anything. We see all these people leaving, but the reason they leave is because they love their flesh so much. In Jesus, the flesh does not profit, but our spirit gains life. Just like Jesus said before, he grants life to those who the Father has given him. At this point, Jesus turns and asks his 12 disciples if they would leave too. I love Peter’s response to Jesus’s question, where he says ““Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” That’s such a brilliant sentence because it shows that Peter’s foundation, and our foundation, is built on Jesus, and that without Jesus, he is nothing. I love the humility and the confidence that Peter had, submitting himself to the knowledge and wisdom of the Holy One of God. Jesus then spoke of Judas, who would betray him.
I touched on this in the last paragraph, but the people who love the flesh cannot come to Jesus. There are so many passages that say this: you cannot serve two masters, the rich young ruler, etc. All of them say that to follow Jesus, you have to sacrifice the flesh, and many people aren’t willing to do that. Matthew 16:26 says, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” There is nothing that can satisfy our spiritual needs on this earth, so why do we seek help from the things of the flesh? Even if we had the whole world, we would not profit, but if we have Jesus, we have everything we need.
I just want to appreciate Peter’s response one more time. Peter truly saw the value of Jesus at the time. He saw that Jesus is more important than anything that the world can offer, and he chose Jesus, who is Lord and king, and he has the words that last for eternal life. When I think of Jesus, I want to think of him in the same way. I want to make Jesus the thing that I can’t live without. I want to echo the words, “Lord, to whom shall we go?” because Jesus is the only one who provides truth, care, and eternal life. I hope we can all say these words in one, unified voice one day, acknowledging Jesus’s sovereignty, greatness, and protection.