Men choose their own destiny

 

Delineating choice          John 6v59-71

 

There comes a point where spiritual truth is accepted or rejected.  God is not playing games, He sent His Son into the world for a very distinctive purpose, to redeem fallen man and reconcile him to Himself.  It must be on His terms, and when His truth is expounded it finds out people where they are.  In these closing verses of the chapter we shall find true disciples struggling with the teaching; we shall find some who go away, and even one who was in league with the devil!

This was a hard saying even for the disciples to take in-“This is a hard saying who can hear it?”  Jesus knew that His disciples struggled with this and murmured one to the other. There's nothing He doesn't know about what we're thinking and so He says “Doth this offend you?” What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where He was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing.  The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.  But there are some of you that believe not.  For Jesus knew, from the beginning, who they were that believed not, and who should betray Him.” 

 

Heavenly things, the things of the Spirit are only discerned by faith in the word, not by the flesh.  If they found it difficult to believe His words, what will it be when He is glorified, ascended back to heaven as judge of the whole earth?  These things are spiritually understood, human logic is worthless in the things of God.  It was not lack of knowledge that was the problem, it was lack of faith, for some so-called disciples did not really believe Him.  In the band of followers there were unbelievers, and at least one traitor.  What we are is exposed when faced with the living Word of God.  Paul addresses this in second Timothy 2v19 when he says, “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal: the Lord know them that are His and let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”  The reality of where we all stand is known to God. The measure of that reality is our faith in His word-faith that is expressed in actions.  Yet again we are presented with his omniscience His manifest Deity.  He concludes, “Therefore said I unto you that no man can come unto me except it were given to him of my Father.”   Favour from God is the gift of God, not something we deserve: and only when we accept Him as the Son who was sent by the Father will we be blessed.

 

Some depart and one is demon possessed  

 

“From that time. Many of his disciples went back and walked no more with Him.  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, will ye also go away?  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go, thou hast the words of eternal life.  We believe and are sure that thou art the Christ, the son of the living God.  Jesus answered them., have not I chosen you twelve and one of you is a devil?  He speak of Judas Iscariot of Simon, for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.”

 

Nice words from Simon, Peter, but Jesus keeps their feet firmly on the ground almost as if to say don't get too carried away.  For one of your number is in league with Satan.  Words are sometimes cheap, actions reveal the reality.  The whole book is presented “that we might believe.”  This chapter ends with those who ceased believing, and one who had never truly believed.