66 As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew, and were not walking with Him anymore. 67 Jesus said therefore to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?" 68 Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. 69 And we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God." 70 Jesus answered them, "Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?" 71 Now He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray Him.
Message: Persevering Disciples
Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."
What the Lord is Saying: I still am amazed by the last lesson and the acknowledgement that the Spirit gives life and opens people's minds and many do not respond in faith and people may profess a faith in God but there life needs to have works in it and when it doesn't people will leave eventually as it now says they have done in verse 66.
And then Jesus turns to the 12 making sure through a question that they do not want to also go away. This reminds me that the people that were following Jesus was many more than 12 as "disciples" are mentioned and then also "multitudes." Within these groups, these followers, there were some that Jesus acknowledged were not part of His kingdom. So following Him did not guarantee that they would be part of His kingdom. This is important and yet also sobering even today to realize that simply going to church or attending regularly and having the appearance of being a follower of Jesus does not guarantee that someone is indeed a follower.
For example, yesterday, I was remembering a study from Mark in which Jesus speaks about people who follow Jesus with wrong motives. Some people come to Jesus for motives of their own, to be seen by other people or for selfish reasons.
And yet, here, it seems odd that Jesus would ask the question to the 12 - "You do not want to go away also, do you?" And yet perhaps God is also asking me, "Will you go away?" When the going gets tough and when the questions come up that you don't like the answer, will I go away? Jesus does not answer every one of my prayer requests for His sovereign reasons and so when this happens, what is my response, to turn away or will I continue to follow. Peter responds, "Where else shall we go?" Jesus is the only to offer eternal life. And He is the Holy One of God.
Gill's Exposition states here:
He was promised by God of old, spoken of by the prophets, and expected by the Jews; that anointed prophet Moses had spoken of, that should arise out of Israel, like unto him that anointed priest, who, according to the oath of God, was to be priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek; and that anointed King, whom God has set over his holy hill of Zion.
He is the Holy One. He is the Messiah, the Christ. And yes, Jesus confirms as well, just as He is the Chosen One from God, the disciples are also chosen and yet among these chosen one will not respond in faith. There will be one that will turn away. God chooses but some do not respond. One will betray him. One is of the devil, the accuser, is actually against Me. One who is following Me will at some point not follow Me.
Jesus is intending for all to check themselves, to examine themselves. We need to do this often and regularly always and not ever assume we have made it. And yet I have questions about this one betrayed: Does Jesus choose some that don't respond in faith and believe Him all of their days? It makes me wonder again the process of salvation among these disciples as there is a calling but at what point did they become part of His kingdom? Can one be saved and then turn away later?
Summary: After some have left following Jesus, Jesus turns to the 12 for them to examine themselves as he knows one will betray Him at some point and will they all continue to follow Him.
Promise: Daily, I need to commit myself to Christ and His teaching, to persevere in faith and show that He has chosen me.
Prayer: Father God, your ways are right and true. You choose people to be Your vessels, to be Your people. You ask Me to follow You but I also need to respond in faith to You and follow You all of my days. You show yourself as the One, the One who gives eternal life and the Holy one of God. I am thankful for those that surround me that remain faithful and I pray Lord that You will continue to bring back many to that saving faith. I think of friends who start out in this way of following You but have not always continued for various selfish reasons. Bring them back to the joy of their salvation. And Lord guide me to never give up and to continue to follow You all of My days.
Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.
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