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Peter's Belief - 9.24.2023 Bulletin
Bold Statements of the Bible
Peter’s Belief (John 6.66-69)
The Bible is filled with accounts of normal people doing and saying extraordinary things. We can look to these people and their actions to build our faith and gain strength in the present age knowing they are just like us. Our third installment of “Bold Statements of the Bible” brings us to Peter’s example of belief. In John 6.68-69, Peter says, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Before we get into what Peter said, let us first turn our attention to what is said in verse 60, “Many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, ‘This is a hard saying; who can understand it?’” This statement is in response to a couple of different statements made by Jesus earlier in the chapter. In verse 51 Jesus says, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” Also, in verse 56 Jesus says, “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.” On the surface these are difficult statements, but they are not to be taken literally, but figuratively. What Jesus means is to abide in His teaching. Jesus is the “bread of life” in that He provides the spiritual sustenance all mankind needs. To obtain this bread, it requires us to believe for the right reasons and motives.
After Jesus said these things, many turned away and left. Why was this difficult to understand then, and now? Because people don’t want to do what is necessary for proper belief. They are following from the wrong motivation. They like the easy parts of Jesus teaching, but not the things that challenge us as individuals. Read through Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and you will find that kingdom citizens are called to live by a higher standard. Disciples of Christ are called to live in a manner that goes against human nature. Discipleship is something we must work at; it doesn’t come naturally. Jesus requires of his followers, self-denial, humility, and servitude. Things that are difficult but not impossible.
In the second part of Peters statement, he says in response to Jesus, “you are the Holy One of God” (v. 69, ESV). Peter acknowledges Jesus was sent by God. Earlier in John chapter 6 the people wanted to see a sign to prove that Jesus was sent by God. They thought their leader Moses was the one who provided the manna in the wilderness and wanted to see a similar sign from Jesus. But Jesus corrected them, it was God who sent the manna, just as it was God who sent Jesus. Jesus further proves His superiority to Moses. Those who ate the bread in the wilderness sent by God died. But those who partake of the living bread given by Jesus will never die. Jesus is greater than the physical bread. Peter recognizes Jesus was sent by God when others didn’t. It was always and will always be God who provides for His creation. God always gives in the best way, we need to recognize all blessings come from Him, especially the gift of Jesus.
Peter’s belief is shown in the first part of his reply to Jesus. After Jesus had finished speaking, the text tells us that “many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him” (v. 66). So, Jesus turns to the twelve apostles, His most loyal followers and asks, “Do you want to go away as well?” (v. 67). That’s when Peter replies, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (v. 68). What a bold statement in a moment of heartache. It must have been difficult for Jesus to see so many turn away and now longer follow Him. Just like it must be difficult to see so many reject and turn away from Him today. But Peter’s response shows His belief that his only hope for life was in Jesus, he wasn’t going to find it anywhere else. We should start each day envisioning Jesus asking us the same question, “Do you want to go away as well?” and our belief should make us respond as Peter did, “Where else would I go?” Like in this passage many have turned away and are no longer following Jesus, so we must make the choice are we going to be like them, or are we going to stand with Jesus knowing He is the only way to inherit eternal life?
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