Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Sat, 6 Dec 2008 04:33:39 -0600
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (Dec. 7); BP: Jn. 6:60-71; RBTTY: II Jn; Dan. 5-7
December 7 &n bsp; “The One Who Has It All”
“Then Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life’.”
John 6:68
Truly, He’s our “one-stop Savior.”
Peter’s answer to Jesus’ question of “Will you also go away?” is truly one with which we should grapple. If we had an audio tape of the conversation, it’d help—for tone and inflection of voice have a way of helping us grasp the speaker’s intent. But, since we have none, we can only engage in “spiritual speculation” in light of other passages related to Peter’s personality and behavior.
Thus, we are probably safe in assuming this self-appointed leader of the 12 is speaking in words in his usual, self-confident bravado. Perhaps there’s even an almost contemptuous tone to his words “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,” to which he adds “And we believe and are sure that you are that Christ, the Son of the living God” (v.69).
Basically put, he was throwing Jesus’ question back into His court and asking, “How could You even think we’d fall away? Don’t You know we know You’re the One we’ve been looking for and have everything we need?!?”
Good ‘ole Peter.
Just like us, wasn’t he?
Sinful pride has a way of blinding us to who we really are and what we’re capable of when the chips are down (Lk. 22:31-34, 54-62). Yet, so often the road upward is preceded by the road downward, with “pride going before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18). No wonder “humility” and “humiliation” both come from the same Latin word “humilis.” So often they travel hand-in-hand.
Even so, Peter’s words are true and we never should forget them:
“Lord, to Whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
Or, another way to put it is “Lord, to Whom shall we go for peace-of-mind? It’s only found in You. Or, to Whom shall we go for forgiveness of sin? It’s only found in your blood on the Cross. Or, to Whom shall we go for hope and light when everything’s falling apart? You’re the only One Who’s promised to always be there. You’re everything we need—and more.”
Assuredly He is, isn’t He?
Most certainly so.
That’s why we should always say “Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in Heaven” (Ps. 119:89). In this day-and-age of multiple options, easy-believism and “I’m my own authority,” it’s imperative that we be rooted-and-grounded in Christ and God’s Holy Word (Col. 1:23). Only then can we rest assured that we’ll still be standing when everything and everyone else is falling away (Mt. 7:24-27). May the Holy Spirit help us today to “be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks us why we believe as we do” (I Pet. 3:15). And, may all of our answers point them to Jesus, telling them that He’s all they’ll ever need.
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