To Whom Shall We Go

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

TO WHOM SHALL WE GO

John 6:61-71

61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? 62 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 are spirit and they are 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 him."  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 believe and 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.)

NIV

Here is where it is told to us that there were more than just the twelve who were disciples of Jesus. At least it appears all who followed him were called disciples. Jesus knew who the true believers were and who was just there for the miracles. Evidently, all his talk about eating his flesh and drinking his blood were too much for them for they did not get the spiritual significance and could only see in the physical. Jesus makes it clear he is talking about spiritual matters, the, in fact, the flesh or the physical life means nothing. It is the spirit of man which is important. That almost sounds a bit gnostic, which is the belief that all matter is evil and only the spirit is good. In fact, those who adhere to Gnosticism believe there is a lesser god of physical matter and a Supreme God of the spirit. But this is not what Jesus was speaking of, but rather than our spirit has to be born again, as he told Nicodemus. The flesh or the physical body is corrupt and it will die, but the spirit, who we really are, will live on. It is also true our bodies will be raised up from the dead, incorruptible, or resurrected just as Jesus was in the physical in a glorified state, and ascend into heaven, just as Jesus said he would. We are also given proof here that Jesus is divine and has either foreknowledge or was given that knowledge by the Spirit. Either way, he already knew many would betray or turn back, leave him, not being able to grasp the spiritual truth of his teaching. Then he turns to his twelve, the one he specifically called to follow him. Here another verse the Calvinists grab onto about being only the elect are called when Jesus says that only those who the Father enables can come to him. If the Father does not enable then a person cannot come to Jesus, so then we have to be enabled or called or elected. It sounds good, but only if you discount all the rest of scripture. There is a spiritual awaking in a person when after being convicted by the Spirit and responding to that conviction. We know the Spirit came or was sent to convict all men of sin and the need to repent. But some refuse to respond. The Calvinist would say that is because they were not elected. The Wesleyans would say all are called, but God gifted each man with the freedom to choose and he knows who will choose him, and who will not and turn back, betraying his him. It is a matter of having faith in who Jesus is and what he did for our salvation. He asked that very question of his disciples, the one he specially called if they wanted to turn back as well. This again shows us that he knew what they would answer, but he has given them the freedom to choose. Although the Calvinist would say the twelve were elected, Jesus has given them the choice to leave, to turn back, to betray him. Peter, as usual, speaks up and it appears he is speaking for all twelve. “Lord, to whom shall we go?” Yes, Peter got it, Jesus was the Holy One of God. Jesus has the words of eternal life. Jesus knew they would stay, they would get it, and again with his foreknowledge of their choice, he chose to call them specifically because they would be the ones who would carry his gospel to the ends of the earth. All except the one who would betray him, Judas, and he too was called to follow Jesus just as the others were, but he chooses to betray, Judas chose wrong, yet that still was known because it had to be, Jesus had to be betrayed, turned over for crucifixion by the Romans. However, Jesus lives, he was resurrected and sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us. So then, we made that same declaration. Lord, to whom shall we go? You are the Holy One of God, We choose you, Jesus.