Friday, February 10th
66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
– John 6:66-69
If Not Jesus, Then Who?
Verse 66 states that, “After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him”. So what is “the this”? Jesus made some unpopular statements that upset the crowd and some of his disciples. So much so that they ceased to follow him. They decide that following Jesus is no longer worth it.
In verse 67 Jesus asks an honest question, “Do you want to go away as well?”
If we’re honest, we’ve all found ourselves in the camp wondering if Jesus is the real deal. Christianity can feel like it runs against the grain of our culture, some would say that our beliefs are outdated or even worse oppressive and hurtful, and it’s no longer socially advantageous to be Christian. These realities cause us to wonder…should we no longer walk with him? I know that I’ve had those doubts.
Simon Peter’s response to Jesus in verse 68 is what I have continually come back to when I am experiencing doubts. He says this, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Let’s think critically about this statement.
Fundamentally, Christianity is not just a belief about what happens to us when we die, it is a lens at which we make sense of the world.
Christianity is a framework that allows us to understand our existence on planet Earth. It answers the fundamental questions:
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How did we get here?
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What is the purpose of my life?
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What is truth?
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What is our problem?
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What is the solution?
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What happens when we die?
Every worldview (including Christianity) must answer these questions. I’ve come to the conclusion that Christianity answers these questions most thoroughly, honestly, and experientially.
Be encouraged today, that when you experience doubts, which you will, we can ask the question…”To whom shall we go? For you have the words of eternal life!”
PRAYER
Our Father,
Thank you for your Word. We pray that by your Spirit, John 6:66-69 would change us into the likeness of Christ. We praise you as the one who has the words of eternal life. Thank you for loving us even when we doubt. Father, we pray this now through The Son and By the Spirit. Amen.
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