Nowhere Else to Go! John 6:67-71

Text:  “Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go?  Thou hast the words of Eternal life.  And we believe (fully trust) and are sure that Thou art that Christ (the Anointed One), the Son of the Living God.”

John 6:68-68.

Good morning, absolutely certain Christian!  You are saved, and you know it.  You are saved, therefore you seek to show it.  You have been Redeemed by the Lamb, Christ Jesus, and NOTHING can pluck you from His Hand.  Praise God for absolutely certain Christians!  Glory to the Living Lamb!

“I (Job) have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eye seeth Thee.   Wherefore I abhor myself in dust and ashes.”         (Job 42:5-6)

Scriptures clearly teach us the stability we Christians have when we become mature enough in faith to fully trust in the Son of God, the Living Jesus Christ.  (Romans 10:17)

Once fully persuaded, nothing can really shift us from our certainty.  The world; the flesh; and that old Devil will all continually try to move us away from our certain grounding in faith.  However, we have God’s Word on the conclusion of the matter - ‘…NOTHING…’ can pluck us from His Hand!

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;  And I give unto them Eternal life (not some temporal existence!); and they shall never perish, neither shall any man (or beast, or demon, or circumstance…) pluck them out of My hand.  My Father, which gave them (regenerate Christians) Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand.  I and My Father are One.”  Now, that’s Eternal life!  (John 10:27-30)

The ’fair-weather’ disciples of Jesus never stay the distance.  These would-be followers of Jesus had seen with their own eyes the miraculous things that the Christ had performed; had listened to Him speak the words of life and truth; had heard clearly how He had calmed the very wind and waves - yet still refused to believe the ’…Spirit…’ words that He spoke.  (Vs. 62-63)

Christ had openly challenged those who’…murmured…’ when He said, “What and if ye shall see the Son of Man ascend up where He was before?”  (V.62) - knowing all the while that ‘…there are some of you that believe not…’  (V.64)

It was no surprise to the Lord Jesus that, ‘…From that time many of His disciples (fair-weather followers and ‘Miracle Gazers’ See previous Lesson) went back, and walked no more with Him.’  (V.66)

When the miraculous show is over, so often we see the fickle followers, the sight-seeing crowds, leave the circus unmoved by God-given faith.

“While we look NOT at the things which are SEEN, but at the things which are NOT SEEN; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are Eternal.”  (2 Corinthians 4:18)

So, into this context we find the Lord Jesus asking His twelve disciples a most relevant question:  “Will ye also go away?”  (V.67)

Can you use your ‘sanctified imagination’ for a moment, beloved reader?  Can you try to empathize with the disciples who were put on this spot by the Living Lord?  Can you feel, just for one moment, the depth and the power of such a question from the Creator Lord of all things, Christ Jesus?  Try to do so!

Can you not almost feel the true believer’s hearts suddenly melt with love for their Master Lord?  Does the tears of adoration not begin to rise up in your eyes at the thought provoked by such a soul-searching question from God the Son?  Is your very soul not suddenly TOUCHED by the hand of the Almighty Lord God?  Mine is.  Praise God, mine is!  Glory, glory, glory!

Now listen to that great big impulsive Peter’s answer; that big, often clumsy, and most fallible believer’s instant clarion call:  “Lord, to whom shall we go?  Thou hast the words of Eternal life.”  (V.68)

Then Peter continues on with a statement that only the ’absolutely certain Christian’ can publicly declare:  “And we believe and are SURE that Thou art that Christ (God’s Anointed One), the Son of the Living God.”  (V.69)

Wow!  When you and I can be as sure and absolutely certain as Peter was that day - NOTHING can move us from the Rock of our Eternal Salvation.

Be of a good cheer, sure and certain Christian, you may be facing what seems like insurmountable oppositions; grave health problems; broken relationships; mountains of Satanic assault.  But KNOW this for sure - the Lord Jesus has already secured for you and for me the absolute Victory.  Hallelujah!  Victory in Christ the Lamb!  Amen.

Thought:  “…Weeping may endure for a night…joy cometh in the morning…’  Up from the grave He arose!  Hallelujah!  (Psalm 30:5b)