Thursday Devo
Scripture Reading:
John 6:60-68
60 Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?”
61 Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again? 63 The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.) 65 Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”
66 At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. 67 Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”
68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”
60 Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?”
61 Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again? 63 The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.) 65 Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”
66 At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. 67 Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”
68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”
Commentary from the ESV Study Bible:
6:63 The flesh (i.e., human nature including emotions, will, and intellect) is completely incapable of producing genuine spiritual life (see Rom. 7:14–25), for this can only be done by the Spirit. But the Holy Spirit works powerfully in and through the words that Jesus speaks, and those words are spirit and life in the sense that they work in the unseen spiritual realm and awaken genuine spiritual life.
6:64 Jesus’ divine omniscience is shown by the fact that he knew the status of everyone’s heart and therefore he knew who those were who did not believe. He also knew the future because he knew who it was who would betray him. Only God could know these things.
6:66 Many of these early disciples were not genuine disciples of Christ, for they turned back. Their initial “faith” was not genuine and they were perhaps following Jesus only because of the physical benefits he gave, such as healing and multiplying food.
6:67 This is the first reference to the Twelve in this Gospel (cf. vv. 70, 71; 20:24). Their existence and appointment are assumed from the Synoptics (cf. the reference to Andrew as “Simon Peter’s brother” in 1:40).
6:68 To whom shall we go rightly implies that there is no other teacher who can lead people to eternal life and to true fellowship with God himself.
6:64 Jesus’ divine omniscience is shown by the fact that he knew the status of everyone’s heart and therefore he knew who those were who did not believe. He also knew the future because he knew who it was who would betray him. Only God could know these things.
6:66 Many of these early disciples were not genuine disciples of Christ, for they turned back. Their initial “faith” was not genuine and they were perhaps following Jesus only because of the physical benefits he gave, such as healing and multiplying food.
6:67 This is the first reference to the Twelve in this Gospel (cf. vv. 70, 71; 20:24). Their existence and appointment are assumed from the Synoptics (cf. the reference to Andrew as “Simon Peter’s brother” in 1:40).
6:68 To whom shall we go rightly implies that there is no other teacher who can lead people to eternal life and to true fellowship with God himself.
Study Questions:
- In Luke chapter 6, as we've been studying, Jesus gave the illustration of the house built on the sand. He is making the point that it makes no sense to call him "Lord" if you don't follow his teachings. That person is just fooling himself and is building a house on sand. He's not a true follower. Now in John 6 we see the dividing line between pretender and follower come more into focus. Jesus had massive crowds of people following him around. Some in the crowd were true followers, but most were not. Most were there to see the show, get healed, get fed. When his teachings got more difficult they bailed on him. We can also fall into this trap as Christians. Too often we can start to see our relationship with God through the lens of what God can do for us. We can reduce him to some kind of spiritual Santa Claus in the sky that we bring our wish list to, and then we throw a fit like a spoiled toddler when we don't get what we want. Are you ever tempted to view God this way? Have you ever been angry with or questioned God when things don't go the way you expected?
- As the masses of people started to turn away from Jesus, he asks the disciples if they're going to also abandon him. And I love Peter's response so much! “Lord, to whom would we go?" Oh that we would be so desperate for his presence! That we would hang on every word of Jesus. That we would leave everything the world holds dear in order to go with him. How desperate are you for God's presence in your life? Is he really the first priority? Do your actions prove it?
Pray:
- That you wouldn't have a "what's in it for me" kind of faith.
- That you would build your life on the Rock.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
6. Is the Bible God’s word? Jesus proved He is God by rising from the dead and said the Old Testament was God’s word and gave authority to the Apostles to write the words of the New Testament under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit so that all the words of the Bible are God’s Word.
(Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; John 14:25-26, 15:27, 16:12-13, 17:20; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)
(Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; John 14:25-26, 15:27, 16:12-13, 17:20; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)
No Comments