The Parting of the Ways

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Opening Prayer

Holy One of God, You are the way to God, the truth about God, and the life in God. I praise Your name.

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.)

Meditate

In evangelism, we speak to and continually pray for our friends, believing that God is already reaching out to them (65).

Think Further

The crowd continued to react against Jesus and the claims he was making. John tells us that some had regarded themselves as disciples up till this moment, but no longer (66). Jesus turned to the twelve and gave them the chance to leave with the others (67). This is the first time “the Twelve” are identified as such in this Gospel. We learn that Jesus had chosen them. When Peter replies, he calls Jesus “Lord” (68). This is another first, the first time by a named disciple in John’s Gospel. We are at a watershed moment where the twelve acknowledge Jesus as the Holy One of God, and seal their identity with his. This is a corporate confession. Peter speaks on behalf of the whole group. Where else could “we” go?

Throughout these dialogues Jesus has been fully aware of those who believe and those who do not (64). His strong words had merely brought the real situation out into the open. Underlying this parting of the ways is the distinction, which first appeared when Jesus spoke with Nicodemus (John 3:1-21), between the “flesh” (human life lived apart from God) and the action of God, the “Spirit.” Jesus’ words are Spirit. They are God’s anointed words. They have the power to give life. But they have fallen on some spiritually deaf ears. Human nature, apart from God, “loved darkness instead of light” (John 3:19).

If men and women are to find God, then the Spirit must take the initiative, the Son must call, as he did the twelve, and the Father must make a response possible. This emphasis on the Father’s sovereign action echoes throughout this Gospel (cf. 37,44, and 65). God’s sovereignty, however, is never used to negate human responsibility. Human beings make real choices in John’s Gospel.

Apply

What teaching did Jesus’ followers find so unacceptable (6:54-56)? What words of Jesus are hard for you to accept?

Closing prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that Your words have come alive to me. I stand in awe of the mystery of Your ways, calling me to Yourself.

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