While watching a British program, I saw for myself, just what it is that those of GOD's resistance party struggle with, themselves! What it is for them to live, at odds to His program under the LORD-ship of Christ by denying His place and right. In our next sect of John's chapter 6 we see that many of Jesus' own disciples leave his side to return to their old habits of hardness of heart and the practice of an external religious system. Within which men's hearts no longer receive the light of the Word. Picking up with verse 59 to catch the flow. Now two of my study Bibles have descriptions of the following these are; "Many Disciples Desert Jesus" and "Words to the Disciples" and "Words of Eternal Life," after which comes Peter's confession of faith.
John 6:59, 60-65, 66 "These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, "This is an hard saying; who can hear it?" When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, '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. And he said, 'Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.'
From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him." (KJV)
John 6:59, 60-65, 66 "Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.
When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, 'Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.' (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, 'This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.'
After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him." (ESV)
John 6:59, 60-65, 66 Jesus said these words in a synagogue while teaching in Capernaum.
Many of his followers said, "this teaching is to tough to chew on! Jesus perceiving what they were murmuring about and said, 'So you take offence at this? What if you see [1]humanity's Son [perpresenting the human race] ascending to where he was [2] before? (The word for the [1]human species, male or female is anthropos, from ana, upwards, and tropos, manner of life; character; in like manner. See John 1:51 abd 3:13, "No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, even humanity's Son." "In the beginning [2]was the Word [2]am] and the word was [2 I am] face to face with GOD.") It is the Spirit that quickens the poetry of life - the flesh (muscle and willpower) is useless without the spirit. The words that I speak to you they are spirit and life! I communicate from a different dimension and perspective giving voice and substance to every prophetic shadow and purpose. I notice that there are those among you who are not persuaded about me. It was clear from the start that even among Jesus' close followers there were signs of unbelief and treason. (And who it was that should betray him - kai tis estin ho paradoson. Same use of estin and note article and future active Participle of paradidomi, to hand over, to betray. John does not say here that Jesus knew that Judas would betray him when he chose him as one of the twelve, least of all that he chose him for that purpose. What he does say is that Jesus was not taken by surprise and soon saw signs of treason in Judas. The same verb is used of John's arrest in Matthew 4:12. Judas was given his opportunity. He did not have to betray Jesus.) I was addressing your hesitance to believe in me when I said to you that no one is forcing you to see yourself [1]mirrored in me - it is the Father's gift to you!' (When you hear the words that I communicate with your heart you will encounter life=quickening faith. To try and decipher my words with your religious reasoning in your head is to miss the entire point of my mission and message. The preposition [1] pros - face to face, is translated here as mirror in me.)
Because of this conversation many of his followers went back to their old ways and would no longer be associated with Jesus." (The Mirror)
Now for Peters confession:
John 6:67-71 "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. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus answered them, 'Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?' He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve." (KJV)
John 6:67-71 "So Jesus said to the Twelve, "'Do you want to go away as well?'" Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God." Jesus answered them, "'Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.'" He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the Twelve, was going to betray him." (ESV)
John 6:67-71So Jesus said to the twelve, 'Don't feel obliged to stay - you are also free to go if you wish!' Simon Peter said, "Lord, who is there to go back to - which mirror should we gaze into? Your words resonate the life of the ages! We believe and know without a doubt that you are the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the living GOD! I have [1]pointed all twelve of you to your source and yet one of you remains trapped in the fallen mindset! (The word eklego has traditionally been translated to mean election - I would prefer to emphasize the fact that ek is a preposition always pointing to origin or source and the verb lego, is associated with its noun logos as in the context of John 1:1. The original conversation! Look at Hebrews 1:1-3) He spoke of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon who was a man of Kerioth. (He was not Galilean like the rest of the disciples and seemed to have struggled more than any of them to see the significance of the mirror likeness of Jesus as defining his true sonship.)
With our next post we will begin our look at John chapter 7, the LORD willing.
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