Which Side Are You On?
Opening Prayer
Lord God, when Your Word challenges me and my faith, may I have the courage to accept that challenge.
Read John 6:60-71
[60] On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” [61] Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? [62] Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! [63] The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you-they are full of the Spirit and life. [64] Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. [65] He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.” [66] From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. [67] “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. [68] Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. [69] We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” [70] Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” [71] (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.) Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Why did Simon Peter choose not to leave Jesus?Have you ever been forced into making difficult decisions amidst a roar of conflicting opinions and pressures swirling around in your head? How do you handle such situations? Do you try to reason it out? Do you go with your gut instinct? Do you follow the crowd? Or do you turn around and walk briskly in the opposite direction? Jesus knows that this is a decisive moment for his followers. Things have arrived at a crisis point and he knows what awaits him in terms of desertion, betrayal, false comfort and vacuous promises of loyalty. People are desperately fickle and sometimes appallingly cruel and disloyal. Simon Peter seems to be a man who works on gut instinct. He follows his heart, though he is not simply irrational. He has worked out two things: that any known alternatives to following Jesus are worthless; and that Jesus really does speak words which deliver life (68). Verse 69 recalls his similar acclamation in Mark 8:29 at Caesarea Philippi. Peter feels ready to acclaim Jesus as Messiah. Jesus knows, however, that the arch-betrayer, Judas Iscariot, will take a different line and take Satan’s side (64,70,71).
Apply
What have you “worked out” about Jesus? How would you “acclaim” or describe him to someone you met today?
Closing prayer
Pray for the folks you encounter today, that they may be challenged by Jesus and be able to respond like Peter.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.