HOLD FAST THE WORD OF LIFE (3)

“Lord, to who shall we go? You have the WORDS of ETERNAL LIFE” – John 6:68b

To HOLD FAST the WORD of LIFE is one irrefutable Mark of the True Believer in Christ: “But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to who shall we go? You have the WORDS of ETERNAL LIFE. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Jh.6:68-69). Peter was responding to Jesus’ question as to whether he and the other disciples would also go away like many others (v.66). Real Believers will affirm like Peter: “Lord, there is nowhere else to go because only You have the WORDS of ETERNA LIFE. Help me to cling to Your words, to search them out, understand them, obey them and believe that they alone are the WORDS that give LIFE.”

Jesus plainly told the disciples that He is the true satisfaction of their souls; but many of His disciples couldn’t follow, because they were shallow of understanding: “Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” (v.60). Jesus knew that many of those who hung around him were yet to truly believe. Their attitude to His Words made the difference: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe” (vv.63-64a). Verse 66 describes the response of the unbelieving followers: “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.” That was when Jesus said to the twelve: “Do you also want to go away?” (v.67).

Think of this: Just when Jesus had fully revealed Himself, when He was at His most vulnerable, people walked away! As soon as He revealed who He really was, many people couldn’t bear Him any longer – they walked away. It must have been hugely relieving and confirming to hear the response “Lord, to who can we go? You have the words of eternal life.” The message of Jesus was revolutionary and challenged the hearers. Many, including some disciples, chose to walk away. His words caused a split among His followers and some ceased to follow Him. But it provoked a great act of faith from Peter. His answer was full of faith and trust. He abandoned himself to Christ.

Undoubtedly, the twelve, having had a relationship with Jesus were connected to a deeper knowing, having found their home in Him. However, only Peter was audacious enough to declare his commitment and loyalty to Christ. How great it would be for us Believers to stay with these words and let them resound in our hearts, encouraging us on this Pilgrim’s Way. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life (Jh.14:6a). If we believe, He will surely give us the strength to withstand the world’s ridicule, the courage to follow our convictions, and the grace to carry them through. To follow Jesus is to walk forward in faith, knowing that other would-be bearers of truth can never satisfy us.

Peter recognised that the Lord had two things that they could not deny: His Words and His Character. His Words had met their deepest need, delivered them from their sins and freed them from their fears. They were the most remarkable words ever spoken. Nobody had ever spoken like He did, and nobody understood life like He did. Peter and company had also seen the Character of Christ: “We have come to believe and know” (v.69a). That implies a process which had gone on over the course of months and years. They had watched Him, and had come to appreciate His uniqueness as the Holy One of God, the Sinless One who fit the prophecies and fulfilled the predictions. He had drawn and compelled them. Truly, this was the incomparable Christ! There was no place to go.

The True Believer cannot quit! To hold fast the Word of Life is to say, “Whatever happens, You have the words of eternal life”!