True and False Disciples – John’s Gospel chapter 6 verses 60 to 61
Before there was mass enthusiasm
“Jesus gives us political security, universal health care and economic security. Make him King!” Jesus’ focus is different – “I am the bread of life.” So there is grumbling and unbelief from the religious leaders. Now the disciples are at a crossroads.
The offence of Jesus:
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.
John 6:60-65
Does this offend you? A hard saying. Told they are guilty with nothing they could do to save themselves. This offends. It still does! Some say “A stumbling block, foolishness!”
The defection of false disciples
66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
John 6:66
Many disciples turned back. “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us.” (1 John 2:19)
The devotion of true disciples
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.’
John 6:67-69
Faced the same offence, but behaved differently. “To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” “We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” Whatever else we can’t understand, we know this. A Christian is someone with no where else to go. A few, but God’s work is not defeated. He always gets the job done.
The deceitful disciple
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.)
John 6:70-71
Here is a counterfeit disciple, but not even a devil can change the work of God.
Are you a Peter or a Judas? True or False? There is no neutrality. But thank God, for ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ (Romans 10:13)
