We must always guard against falling away.
The Gospel of John: John 6.60-71
Read and meditate on John 6.67-71.
Jesus wants His twelve disciples to make sure they are following Him for the right reason. They are. Most of them.
67Then to the twelve He said, “Do you
want also to turn back?” 68But Peter to
Him answered, “Lord, to whom else shall we go?
You have the words of life; 69and this we know,
and all believe: You are the Christ, the Son
of God.” 70Then Jesus answered, “Every one
of you, the twelve, I chose to follow Me.
And one of you a devil is.” 71Now He
referred to Judas, son of Simon; he
it was who would betray the Lord, though he
was one of His disciples.
– John 6.67-71
Reflect
1. Apparently, the twelve either hesitated or did not immediately go with Jesus as He left the synagogue. Or could something else be happening here? What do you think? Complete the following brief prayer: Lord, let me never hesitate to walk with You, even when…
2. Look at Peter’s response to Jesus. How would you describe his heart? What seems to have been motivating at least eleven of these disciples? Do you suppose these fishermen, tax collectors, and assorted everymen fully understood all this? Yet they believed! How does this counsel us? Make me like those first disciples, Lord, so that I always…
3. And yet, even in this august bunch, one was a devil! How could this be? He was still with Jesus, and hadn’t turned back. He would continue to walk with Him, at least, up to that evening in the upper room. But he was a devil! There is counsel for us as disciples of the Lord here. How should we use this to encourage one another in our walk with and work for the Lord? Help me to persevere every day, Lord, and never let me…
4. How would you describe the mood of John’s story at this point? Reflect on all we’ve read and observed in John 6. How does John want us to feel at this point in the story? What emotions is he trying to stir in us? Does it matter? How does what we know about Jesus relate to how we feel about Him, and about following Him? How do each of these – mind and heart – relate to believing in Jesus? Being a disciple is a whole-person calling, Lord. I know this. It demands all my thoughts and all my affections, as well as…
5. Who is a true disciple of Jesus? Bring together your prayers from questions 1-4 into one prayer.
Summary
“For it is not the number of worshipers but rather those who excel in the right faith, though they are few, that are precious in the sight of God.” Cyril of Alexandria (375-444AD)
What do we learn from Peter about what it means to “excel in the right faith”?
Closing Prayer
Those who trust in the LORD
Are like Mount Zion,
Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So the LORD surrounds His people
From this time forth and forever.
For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
On the land allotted to the righteous,
Lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity.
Do good, O LORD, to those who are good,
And to those who are upright in their hearts.
Psalm 125.1-4
Psalm 125.1, 2 (St. Gertrude: Onward, Christian Soldiers)
All who trust in Jesus, strong as Zion stand!
Naught shall ever move them from their promised land!
Like the hills surrounding safe Jerusalem,
Christ surrounds His Church and holds her in His mighty Hand!
All who trust in Jesus, strong as Zion stand!
Naught shall ever move them from their promised land!
T. M. Moore
Jesus is the Centerpiece of all Scripture, as He Himself explained (Jn. 5.39). But how can we learn to see Him there? How do the primary themes of Scripture revolve around Jesus? Our online course, Introduction to Biblical Theology, shows you how best to get at, get into, and get with the Word of God, so that you can grow more consistently in the Lord. It’s free, and you can study at your own pace. For more information or to register, click here.
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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.
