John 6

John 6 is an important chapter. For the disciples, for the Pharisees and for us. Jesus goes into a long discussion about how He is the bread of life and how if we are to have eternal life we must believe in Him and eat of this bread. Then something very interesting happens.

"When many of his disciples heard it, they said, 'This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" verse 60

How often do we say that? I feel like that is quite a common response in my life. "Lord, that is really hard, do you really want me to do that?". In this text, Jesus says very specific things to people. And He tells them a very simple thing to do. "Believe in me". As I am reading John, I am seeing how the mark of a disciple is truly obedience to the Master. Do we believe what Jesus says, and do we do it?

Following verse 60, Jesus asks one of the most significant questions of His disciples. "Do you want to go away as well?" In other gospels He says "Who do you say that I am?". And Peter responds, "Lord to whom shall we go. You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and come to know, that you are the Holy one of God!" verse 68-69

Do we really believe Jesus has the words of eternal life? Do I? I think sometimes I forget. I forget that the God I pray to is the source of life. True life. I can only experience this eternal life now if I am abiding in this word. When Jesus talks about eternal life, there are two aspects of it. It is, of course, life with Him in heaven for eternity. But it is also a quality of life here on earth. We are saved to eternal life now. If I am not abiding in the Word, being obedient to the word, listening for Christ's voice and obeying Him, than I am a disciple that is not experiencing eternal, abundant life, and fullness of joy. Living to gratify my desires is settling for earthly pleasures. Why do we settle for earthly pleasures when eternal joy is offered to us. C.S Lewis was right when he said

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

Application: As a disciple of Christ, is your life defined by your believing in Him, abiding in Him, and obeying Him? Do you realize that you have the words of eternal life? Are you experiencing this quality of eternal life now, and fullness of joy?