John 6:67-71 (WEL) Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Will you also turn away?”
68 Simon Peter then answered him, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 “We are convinced and have come to know that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Didn’t I choose you twelve? Yet one of you is a devil?” 71 He was speaking about Judas Iscariot (Simon’s son), for he was intending to betray him, even though he was one of the twelve.
V67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Will you also turn away?”
Jesus sees many leave then asks the twelve Apostles, “Will you turn away and leave?” Jesus knows their hearts. The Apostles have heard Jesus’s teaching, heard the questions and answers, and seen the response of the greater part of those present. So, Jesus tests them with a question, not to learn something but for the 12 to learn about themselves, so see themselves as He sees them.
Principle: Will we turn away when we read a difficult-to-understand passage of Scripture?
Principle: Truth reveals who is loyal to Jesus or not, whether they stay with Him or leave Him.
V68 Simon Peter then answered him, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life.
Good old opinionated and quick-to-answer Peter, “Lord, no one else has the words of (for) eternal life.” Jesus has life within Himself because He is God. He can give eternal life upon the condition of believing Him, who He is, what He says, and His daily life.
Peter doesn’t want condemnation, eternal destruction, and torment in Sheol because of rejecting God, His words, and His commands.
V69 “We are convinced and have come to know that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
The Greek word convinced is G4100 πιστεύω pisteúō, which means to believe, place their full trust in someone or something. It has the sense of dedication to the person, etc.
Peter makes a bold and emotional statement that he strongly believes. He states, “Jesus, you are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”
He states 3 things:
Jesus is the Messiah
Jesus is the Son of God
God is the living God vs a god made of porcelain, wood, metal, or stone.
V70 Jesus answered them, “Didn’t I choose you twelve? Yet one of you is a devil?”
Peter had said, “We…” But there was one who did not believe—Judas Iscariot. Jesus implied Judas Iscariot as a devil, having similar characteristics as the devil, as we now know; Jesus knew because He is God the Son and a prophet.
Judas is called a devil. This is a person who knowingly lies to emotionally influence to hate an innocent person. The Greek word for devil is G1228 διάβολος diabolos, which means an adversary, a traducer (WordHippo) “One who harms another’s reputation through false or malicious statements.”
Comments:
(Olive Tree Enhanced Strong’s Dictionary) “metaphorically applied to a man who, by opposing the cause of God, may be said to act the part of the devil or to side with him Satan, the prince of the demons, the author of evil, persecuting good men, estranging mankind from God, and enticing them to sin, afflicting them with diseases by means of demons who take possession of their bodies at his bidding.”
(CWSB Dictionary) “the Devil. Satan is called by that name because originally he accused or slandered God in paradise, being averse to the increase of man’s knowledge and happiness (Genesis 3:5; John 8:44, the children of the devil).”
Principle: Do not lie about another person to manipulate public opinion.
V71 He was speaking about Judas Iscariot (Simon’s son), for he was intending to betray him, even though he was one of the twelve.
John clarifies whom Jesus is speaking about. At the time of this situation, John did not know this, but he writes decades later and knew what Judas did and why. When Jesus said this, Judas was already plotting against the Lord Jesus to betray Him.
John states, “…even though he was one of the twelve,” as if he is still shocked that Judas had done this deed. By the time John, the Apostle, wrote these words, Judas had been in Hades, in torment, for over 60 years.
Principle: Sin has consequences.
We learn:
- Why many people turned away from Jesus—He wasn’t their personal idea of the Messiah.
- Don’t be a slanderer.
Questions:
- Do you agree with Peter’s statements?
- To whom do you go for the words of eternal life?
- Whose words of eternal life do you believe?