False Disciples Versus True Disciples

Laurel Bible Church

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False disciples versus true disciples. Picture the scene described in these verses.

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Crowds, once eager to follow Jesus, begin to drift away.

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This was a moment of decision, a moment that revealed the true nature of each follower's heart.

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The message that Jesus shared had cut deeply. He declared himself as the bread of life, meaning the only source of true and eternal sustenance, requiring a faith that embraces his very sacrifice, but to many, this was too much.

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Unable to accept the cost, they left him. In contrast, we see the

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Twelve, led by Peter, stand firm. Peter's response is striking.

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He confesses their faith, calling Jesus the Holy One of God. To them, Jesus wasn't just another teacher or a prophet.

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He was their only hope, the one who held the words of eternal life. And here lies the divide between genuine disciples and those who follow only for what they can gain, between those who have surrendered to Jesus as the

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Holy One and those who merely admire him from a distance. This passage invites us to examine our own hearts.

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Are we true disciples, willing to follow no matter the cost? Or are we simply attracted to the idea of Jesus without the commitment he requires?

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Charles Spurgeon said this, we must all learn to hear what we do not like.

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The question is not, is it pleasant, but is it true?

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Is it pleasant? Do you disagree? Or is it the truth calling you to agree whether you want to or not?

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It's a good quote from Spurgeon. I would say false disciples today come in two forms.

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Ones that reject completely, they want to have anything to do with it, this is the practical atheist rejection and verbalizing that rejection.

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And also ones that reject, but pretend. They secretly reject in their heart, but they pretend and they actually create a false version of Jesus.

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A version that's acceptable to their own preferences, their own feelings, and their own emotions. I saw this recently in a social media post, so I had this experience online where I posted something about expository preaching.

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And I gave a contrast to topical preaching. Expository preaching reads the scripture, explains the words.

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You have the grammar, all that stuff. The expositor challenges the reader, exposits the text.

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And topical preaching is more reading a verse, maybe out of context, telling a funny story, giving an illustration, reading the verse again, telling an anecdote or another funny story and, hey, that's the sermon today.

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Have a good week. It's very entertaining. It's fun to listen to stories. And there's a big difference between the two.

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And I was putting in this post, I explained that topical preaching is very common, not only in Laurel and Billings in Montana, but in the

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United States, and I'd say around the world. Expositors are becoming more and more rare, because exposing the scripture challenges the listener, because God's Word doesn't tell you what you want to hear.

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It tells you the truth. Actually, it tells you what you need to hear. So anyway, I'm making this post, and I put on there this sort of thing about the church.

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What is the church? Well, the church, ecclesia, just means the gathering, the assembly, the congregation, the called -out ones.

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The word church means believers, a gathering of believers. So I was making this comment, and I had put something about goat farms, and so that maybe got me in some trouble.

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But I had three responses, and the first response was, oh, well, how is this any different from a spirit -led church?

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I said, oh, man, it's a charismatic church. And I'm not here to talk about cessationism versus continuationism, but there's a false dichotomy there.

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Wait a minute. Isn't every believer indwelled with the Holy Spirit? So if you're an expositor of God's Word, you're not a spirit -led church.

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What? The second one was, oh, our church does this, too. Our pastor gets up and reads the scripture and tells us what it means and challenges us.

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And I clicked on that person's profile, and they go to the church that has a woman pastor in town.

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Wait a minute. Egalitarian. So, wait a minute, 1

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Timothy 3, the qualifications for an elder, Titus 1, 1 Timothy 2, who are the elders in the church?

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What is the requirement to be an elder in the church? A man. Oh, no. Now we're going against the feelings.

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Cultural implications from the sexual revolution in the 60s and 70s, evangelical feminism. It's very clear.

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That's not an interpretive challenge passage. Elders are men. That means pastors in the church are men.

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So it's like, oh, cool, your pastor's expositing the truth. It's a female pastor?

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You neither know, you don't have a pastor and you don't have a church. That was the second response. The last response was, well, this is the kind of church that has selective interpretation saying that Jesus didn't come to save everybody, so they just have this country club of believers.

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The word church was not defined by Pastor Rob. It was defined by Jesus Christ when he used the word for the first time during Peter's confession, which we see this in our text this morning, a confession from Peter.

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What does Christ say? I will build my church. Christ defines the church, not culture.

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And so the implication was, oh, well, you know, it's not right to have a church filled with believers. We should be inviting the unbelievers, and unbelievers should be part of the congregation.

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And another person tacked on, oh, yes, Christ came to save all, and all means all.

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And the implication is that everybody's going to get saved, universalism. Is there any record of Christ in the

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Bible, maybe even preaching, giving an expository sermon where he preached from the

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Old Testament and explained it, and then challenged the people to listen? And then when he landed the plane, he maybe said something like, many will come to me on that day, and what?

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They'll say, we did this, we did this, we did this, and what does he tell them? Depart from me.

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I never knew you. The Bible doesn't teach that everyone is going to be saved.

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So that's a church that is universalism, and they don't preach the doctrine of hell. Very common, very common.

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So three areas where we can see the Scripture teaching something, but that doesn't match up with our preferences, our feelings, what we like, what we want in culture, what the culture teaches us.

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We don't have to listen to the Bible, statements like, well, we've learned so much from the time that they wrote that.

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That was 2 ,000 years ago, we're so much more evolved than they are, so we can kind of like do what we want to do.

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Well, in verses 66 through 71, the Apostle John recorded Jesus' question to the disciples who remained with him after the false disciples departed in unbelief.

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So that you can learn from their example of following Jesus by faith despite worldly pressures that disagree with Jesus' clear teaching.

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In the final exchange here of chapter six, we see the false disciples fall away. And in response,

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Jesus asked a follow -up question to the true disciples who stayed with him. And then

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Jesus revealed the full picture of him choosing them despite Judas, who would later betray him.

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And so to understand this morning's passage fully, we need to understand or consider the broader biblical and historical background.

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In this passage, Peter affirms Jesus as the Holy One of God, a title found earlier in some of the other gospels, the synoptic gospels, specifically in Mark chapter one and Luke chapter four, where it was used by demons to address

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Jesus. Let us alone. What do you have to do? What do we have to do with you,

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Jesus the Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the

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Holy One of God. Now here, Peter's confession is genuine, yet it is worth noting that it doesn't fully match the depth of his later confession in what we find in Matthew, Matthew 16.

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And that's the context of Jesus talking about the church. Peter recognizes

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Jesus as the Messiah, Matthew 16, and Simon Peter answered and said, you are the

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Christ, the son of the living God. The choice of words here carries significant weight.

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In the passage from John, Peter says, we believe, but Jesus's response qualifies this we by pointing out that one of the 12 would ultimately betray him.

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In verse 70, Jesus refers to his betrayer as a, quote, devil.

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And then John later clarifies that Judas Iscariot is this betrayer. Of course, we have the later revelation that we understand who he's talking about.

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Jesus's words have, you know, you think about their response, their confession.

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You are the Holy One of God. And then he says, one of you is a devil. That would have shaken the disciples.

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As this statement revealed that betrayal could come from the closest of followers, this revelation coming at a moment when many had already turned away, highlighted that not even all of those remaining of the chosen 12 were his true followers, true believers.

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The historical and spiritual backdrop of John's account shows a progression in understanding

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Jesus's identity. At this point in his ministry, Jesus's teaching had become more explicit, more challenging, and more costly, and causing many of the so -called disciples to depart.

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This passage then illustrates both the depth of Peter's belief and the somber reality that not all who appear to be disciples truly believe that Jesus is the

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Son of God. Jesus, the Holy One of Israel, fulfills the ancient hope of the

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Jewish people, embodying the promises spoken through the prophets and affirming himself as the long -awaited

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Messiah. In verses 66 through 71, when Peter and the faithful disciples confess that Jesus is the

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Holy One of God, they recognize the culmination of centuries of prophetic expectation, a hope, a hope rooted in the promises of the

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Old Testament prophets. Think Isaiah, Jeremiah, over and over again.

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Though many turn away, the true disciples stand firm, knowing that Jesus alone holds the words of eternal life and that he is the only true path to God.

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Their declaration that Jesus of Nazareth is the promised Savior invites us today to stand, to stand with the true disciples, embracing

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Jesus as the fulfillment of every divine promise and the sole source of redemption.

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The Old Testament prophets spoke of a Holy One who would come to redeem and reign over Israel, and Peter's confession in John 6 resonates as a profound acknowledgment that this

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Savior has come in the person of Jesus, calling us to place our trust in him alone.

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And so first we see the false disciples fall away. Verse 66, the falling away.

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As a result of this, many of his disciples went away and were not walking with him anymore.

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In this passage, we find a moment that reveals the true nature of discipleship, a moment of decision and separation.

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When Jesus spoke of himself as the bread of life, calling his followers to partake in his body and blood, he issued a hard truth that many could not accept.

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From that time on, we're told many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

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These were not just spectators, they were people who had walked with him, who had followed him from place to place, and who had even believed themselves to be his disciples.

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But at this point, they reached their limit. They could no longer endure his words, and they abandoned him for good.

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This wasn't just a passing doubt or a momentary hesitation, it was a decisive rejection.

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These so -called disciples gave up on Jesus because they didn't get the

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Messiah they were hoping for. They wanted a conquering king or a political liberator, essentially someone who would cater to their own ambitions.

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But instead, Jesus called them to a life of surrender, a life of faith, to believe in him, not as a temporary

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Savior, but as the Holy One of God. His message demanded everything from them.

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They couldn't bear it. So we might ask ourselves, what was it that drove these disciples to leave?

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Perhaps they couldn't accept that Jesus wasn't the Messiah they had imagined, a figure who would overthrow their enemies, exalt their nation, fulfill all their earthly desires.

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Or maybe they realized that following Jesus wouldn't give them the life of comfort and status they desired.

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They saw that the way of Jesus wasn't about worldly gains or power, it was about humility.

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It was about faith and sacrifice. His words demanded a faith that goes beyond understanding, that goes beyond comfort, and even beyond their own desires.

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And isn't that the challenge we face today? When the teachings of Christ become hard to accept, when he calls us to sacrifice, to deny ourselves, to love those who may not even love us back, will we walk away?

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Or will we remain? The same temptation exists now as it did then, to give up, to selectively ignore the harder truths, or to look for a

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Jesus who fits our own preferences. Let's look to Peter's response as an example of true discipleship.

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When Jesus asked the twelve, do you also want to leave? Peter responded,

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Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Peter recognized that Jesus wasn't just a miracle worker or a wise teacher.

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He was the only hope of salvation. The twelve knew that to leave

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Jesus meant leaving the only path to life, no matter how difficult that path might be.

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Brothers and sisters, this passage urges us to examine our own commitment.

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Do we follow Christ out of convenience? Or are we willing to trust him even when his words are hard?

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Even when his words are hard, when his call seems costly. True discipleship doesn't turn away at the first sign of difficulty or disagreement, or when the demands of faith run counter to our personal comfort.

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First John 2 says this, they went out from us, but they were not really of us.

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For if they were of us, they would have remained with us, but they went out, so that it would be manifested that they are not all of us.

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True discipleship doesn't turn away at the first sign of difficulty or when the demands of faith run counter to our personal comfort.

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Instead, it clings to Christ. It clings to him with a love that endures every trial, every misunderstanding, every hardship.

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And so I ask you today, will you stand with Peter, confessing that Jesus alone has the words of life, or will you turn back like many who walked away?

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Pray that God will give you the courage, the courage and the conviction to hold fast to the truth, to persevere in the faith, to follow

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Christ as the holy one of God, no matter the cost, no matter what the world says.

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Imagine a young athlete with immense talent invited to join the rigorous training program of a world -class coach.

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At first, he's thrilled. He dreams of the trophies and the fame he'll achieve under this coach's guidance.

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But as the days go by, the training isn't what he thought it would be. The training proves to be brutal.

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The exercises are grueling, pushing him beyond his limits. Every muscle aches.

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The lifestyle requires sacrifices he didn't anticipate. Then he starts to see other athletes dropping out, walking away, convinced that the price is too high and the coach's methods are too extreme.

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The young man finds himself at a crossroads. He wonders, is this really worth it? Is this really worth it?

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He thought he was committed, but now he's unsure. Yet deep down, he knows that only by sticking with the program, by enduring the pain and the discomfort, can he reach his full potential.

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The discipline of training is what will transform him into a true athlete. Not just a talented player, but someone molded by commitment, sacrifice, and perseverance.

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And so he makes a decision to stay, even though he can't see the end result yet.

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He trusts that the coach knows what he's doing and that every hardship is shaping him for something greater.

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In verse 66, we see people who came to Jesus eager to follow him, captivated by his miracles and drawn in by his teachings initially.

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But when his words demanded more than they were willing to give, when following Jesus meant sacrifice and letting go of their self -centered expectations, they walked away.

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They wanted comfort, not commitment. They wanted benefits, not burdens.

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They wanted Jesus on their own terms. And when he didn't fit those terms, they left.

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For us, the question is whether we will follow Christ for who he truly is, not just what he might give to us.

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Are we willing to endure the difficult teachings, to walk the narrow road even when others fall away?

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True discipleship isn't easy, and the path requires surrender and sacrifice.

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But here's the encouragement. Listen carefully. Every moment of surrender, every decision to stay, and every test of faith is molding us to be more like Christ.

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The prize is not a trophy. It's not worldly gain. The reward is

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Christ himself, the one who shapes us through every trial, the one who calls us into a life that is fully aligned with God's eternal purposes.

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So when the way grows hard, let's remember that it is our commitment to Christ, not the easy road.

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When the way grows hard, let's remember that it is our commitment to Christ that leads to true life and endurance and an everlasting hope.

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You know, I saw this story, and this was something that happened a few years ago. You may have heard about this individual, his name is

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Joshua Harris. He was a pastor. And so some of you are familiar with the

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Nine Marks ministry, Pastor Mark Dever, there's a pretty well -known book, Nine Marks of a

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Healthy Church. And the foreword was by Joshua Harris. And he was a conservative guy, pastor, preacher, and then he came out, he made a public post and said,

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I've rethought my faith. And he said, I'm no longer a pastor. And then he said,

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I'm no longer a Christian. And then he started doing, he basically said, I'm sorry

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I wrote what I wrote. He had written a book about dating, and it was a pretty common -sense biblical book.

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It's like why we date or why we don't date. And basically, he's saying that, yeah,

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Christians shouldn't be dating because it leads to the temptation of fornication. You should save yourself for marriage, it's pretty common sense.

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You should remain pure before you get married. He said, I'm sorry I wrote that. People should just date and do whatever they want.

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And then as a progression happened, he was posting things online on social media, and he posted he was at a gay pride parade.

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He's wearing like a flag shirt, he had like a cupcake that was rainbow colored, and he's like taking pictures with other men and provocative stuff.

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He ended up leaving his wife. He left the faith. He left the faith. He didn't like that the

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Bible taught about that issue, calling it a sin. He didn't want to put the scripture over somebody's life.

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He said, I can't do that for myself. He left his wife. And then there's speculation that now he's practicing homosexual.

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I don't know that, but I can't think of many straight men that are going to be taking pictures of rainbow cupcakes with other men at a gay pride thing.

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Just absolutely tragic, absolutely tragic. He wasn't a true disciple.

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He was a false disciple, and he was pretending. Until the scriptures made a demand on his life, and he walked away in disagreement.

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The falling away showed that true discipleship requires surrender to Jesus and sacrifice to self.

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That's the falling away, and it shows us what true discipleship is.

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It requires surrender and sacrifice to self. The apostle

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John recorded Jesus' question to the disciples who remained with him after the false disciples left him in unbelief, so that you can learn from their example, the true disciples, of following Jesus by faith, despite worldly pressures that disagree with his clear teachings.

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And so next we see Jesus ask a follow -up question to the true disciples who stayed with him.

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Verses 67 through 69, the follow -up question. So Jesus said to the twelve, do you also want to go?

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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

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Holy One of God. In these verses, we encounter one of the most profound moments in the gospel, where Jesus directly questions his twelve disciples after many others have abandoned him.

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Let's look closely at verse 67, where Jesus, seeing the departure of so many who claim to follow him, turns to his closest followers, his hand -picked followers, and asks, do you want to go as well?

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Do you want to go away as well? This is the first time John refers to them, or records in the gospel, that they are the twelve, emphasizing their unique role as the core of Jesus' followers.

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But this moment isn't about numbers, it's about commitment. Jesus' question isn't casual, it's not rhetorical, it's an invitation to examine their loyalty, to evaluate where their hearts truly lie.

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Imagine the scene. People are leaving by the dozens, offended and turned off by Jesus' teaching on eating his flesh and drinking his blood, which we see that it's a metaphor for the sacrificial nature of discipleship, one that demands a complete surrender to his will, a foreshadow of his coming death and sacrifice.

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But Jesus' words have cut to the core, leaving no room for casual adherence.

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In other words, there is no middle ground. His teachings reveal who his true disciples are, and who are merely following out of convenience.

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The reality is that Jesus wasn't trying to make the message comfortable. He was proclaiming the truth.

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The more he revealed himself, the more he divided his audience into two groups.

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Those who hungered for the truth, even if it was hard to digest, and those who turned away because they couldn't accept it.

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The division here is telling. John points out that these deserters didn't just walk away for a season, they abandoned him decisively forever.

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Their rejection wasn't just a reaction, it was a verdict on Jesus' authority and on his message.

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In a world that wants a Jesus who fits their preferences, a Jesus who doesn't challenge or convict, many still turn away when they see the true cost of discipleship.

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Peter's response in verses 68 and 69 stands in direct contrast to those who left.

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When Jesus asked if the twelve would leave, Peter answers with a bold and sincere confession,

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Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have believed and we have come to know that you are the

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Holy One of God. There's something powerful here. Peter is speaking not just for himself, but for the twelve, acknowledges that they don't have anywhere else to turn.

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They have nowhere else to turn. Notice Peter's wording, to whom shall we go?

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Whom shall we go, Lord? He's admitting there is no other teacher, no other leader, no other doctrine or philosophy that can offer them what

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Jesus offers. Peter recognizes that essentially what the deserters could not,

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Jesus alone has the words of eternal life. This is the one who can tell us about everlasting life.

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And Peter's words resonate because he is saying that in Jesus, they have found life itself.

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No amount of worldly wisdom, religious formalism, or human tradition could satisfy the deepest need of the human soul.

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Charismatic emotionalism that elicits feelings, evangelical feminism that embraces the sexual revolution, and universalism that denies the doctrine of hell will never,

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I'll say it again, never fill the deepest need of the human soul. Peter knew that to leave

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Jesus is to face a life devoid of true hope, of meaning, salvation.

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To compromise to the worldly pressures that disagree with Jesus' clear teaching is to be a false disciple.

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Even in secret, while proclaiming allegiance, a life devoid of true hope, devoid of meaning, devoid of salvation, it's to plunge into spiritual darkness, chasing after empty promises.

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Peter's confession also reminds us that true discipleship isn't about understanding everything perfectly.

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It's not even about agreeing with everything perfectly in our human sinful nature. We need God's help.

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This is the power of the Holy Spirit to by faith believe the words of God.

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Jesus says, I will send the helper and you will recall the things to your memory, the things that I have taught.

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This is the power of the Holy Spirit. It's about trusting the one who has true understanding.

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In difficult times when our faith is shaken and the path forward seems unclear, we need to remember that Jesus holds the words of life.

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Faith doesn't mean we have all the answers, but it does mean we recognize that Jesus alone is the one who does.

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He is the source of truth, and in Him we find everything we need. This passage calls us to confront an uncomfortable question.

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Will we stay or will we walk away when the truth of Christ becomes hard to bear?

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The question Jesus asked the twelve reaches really across time to every one of us.

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Will you go too? Will you also go away? When the demands of the word of God seem overwhelming, will we stay or will we join the crowds in turning our backs on the one who gave everything for us?

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Peter's words offer us a path forward, to cling to Christ, to cling to Him, not just out of habit, but with a full awareness of who

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He is, the Holy One of God, the one who alone can give eternal life.

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And here is the Old Testament prophet's connection. In the context of this exchange, remember what

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Jesus asked the false disciples. Verses 61 and 62. He says, does this cause you to stumble?

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Does this cause you to stumble? What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before?

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You think this is going to cause you to stumble? What happens when you see me in my full glory?

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When you see me for the way I am, the ascending to heaven. That's the context.

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In Peter's confession, he is acknowledging Jesus is the Holy One of God, the

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Son of Man described by the prophet Daniel. Daniel 7, and behold, with the clouds of heaven, one like a

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Son of Man was coming. Peter and the true disciples looked on Jesus of Nazareth and recognized their

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Savior, the Son of Man. This is the Old Testament connection. This is a declaration of belief that Jesus of Nazareth is the

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Holy One of Israel described by the prophets. The prophet Isaiah said this in chapter 45,

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Isaiah 45, starting in verse 11, a small section here, thus says

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Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, I am Yahweh and there is none else.

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And there is no other God besides me, a righteous

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God and a Savior. There is none except me. Turn to me and be saved all the ends of the earth, for I am

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God and there is no other. Peter recognizes that the man standing before him is no mere man, but God.

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In Peter's confession, he is acknowledging Jesus is the God of Israel, promised by the prophet

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Jeremiah to forgive sins, a promise to redeem Israel after the destruction of Jerusalem and their captivity in Babylon.

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And the context here is the new covenant. This is Jeremiah 31, thus says

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Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, for I satisfy the weary soul and fill up every soul who wastes away.

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Behold, days are coming, declares Yahweh, when I will cut a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, I will put my law within them and on their heart

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I will write it and I will be their God and they shall be my people.

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For they will all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them, declares

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Yahweh, for I will forgive their iniquity and their sin I will remember no more.

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Peter says, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

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Peter recognizes that the man standing before them is the Messiah. Lord, to whom shall we go?

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You have the words of eternal life and we have believed and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God.

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Peter's words offer all sinners a path forward to cling to Christ, to cling to Christ, not out of habit, but with the full confidence of who he is, the

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Holy One of God. And so today, let this passage convict us and encourage us.

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If you are struggling, if you are doubting or just feeling the weight of the

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Christian walk, remember this, there is nowhere else to go. There is nowhere else to go.

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You've already got everything you need because you've got Christ. Martin Lloyd -Jones said this, as long as man thinks he can save himself, he remains lost.

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That's a powerful, powerful statement. There is no other source of life, no other name under heaven by which we can be saved.

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Stand firm with Peter, who reminds us that even when we don't understand everything, we know this,

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Jesus alone is worthy of our lives. He alone is worth following, even when the road is rough, because he is the

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Holy One, the Savior who gave his life for our redemption. So cling to him, trust him, and stay with him.

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Picture a married couple who, maybe after years of marriage, are facing the toughest season that they've ever encountered.

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Financial pressures are mounting, their kids are struggling, and their relationship feels distant.

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The joy they once shared seems like a distant memory, and they find themselves wondering if it's worth continuing to press on.

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One night, they sit down and finally talk it through. The husband looks at his wife and asks, do you want to leave?

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Do you want to leave? She looks back and says, where else would I go? I made a covenant with you.

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We've built our life together. I don't see how leaving would lead to anything better than what we have here.

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We may be hurting now, but I know that we can face this together. And so they cling to each other, not because it's easy, but because they know that their commitment isn't based on perfect circumstances.

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It's based on a promise and a shared love that goes beyond any hardship. In John 6, when

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Jesus sees the crowds walking away, he turns to his 12 disciples and asks, do you also want to go away?

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Jesus isn't begging them to stay or lowering the standard to keep them.

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He's inviting them to examine their own hearts. And it's Peter speaking for the 12 who responds,

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Lord, to whom should we go? You have the words of eternal life. Peter knows that following Jesus may not be easy, but leaving him isn't an option either.

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Like that husband and wife, Peter and the other true disciples have committed themselves to Jesus, even when the way is hard, even when others walk away, because they know that real life, eternal life is found only in Christ.

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For us, this moment challenges us to consider the depth of our commitment to Jesus. There are times when the

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Christian walk is challenging, when we feel the pressures of life, when we feel the weight of our own struggles, do we not?

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We feel the tension of following Christ in a world that's pulling us away. In those moments,

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Jesus stands before us gently asking, will you also go away?

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And like Peter, our response can be, where else would we go, Lord? Where else would we go?

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You alone have the words of eternal life. This isn't blind faith.

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This is not blind faith. It is a faith anchored in the truth of who Jesus is.

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The journey isn't always easy, but we press on because we know that there's nothing and no one greater than Christ.

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In staying with Him, we find not just a path through our trials, but the very source of life.

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We find peace and hope. Peace and hope. There's really two options here.

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It's unbelief or belief, and that's going to manifest in false discipleship or true discipleship.

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Do we bear up with the things that we don't agree with? The false disciple who rejects completely, or the false disciple who secretly rejects but pretends to claim allegiance.

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It's still a false disciple. And the problem is unbelief. True discipleship manifests in belief, and that will be manifested in our allegiance, our surrender, our humbling to the authority of the

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Word of God, whether we agree with it or not. True discipleship. The follow -up question revealed

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Jesus' true disciples don't have blind faith. They have a faith anchored in the truth of who

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Jesus is. That's true discipleship, a faith anchored in the truth of who

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Jesus is. This morning, we have a record of Jesus' question recorded by John to the disciples who remained, who revealed the full picture.

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John records this exchange. Jesus revealed the full picture of him choosing the 12 despite Judas, who would later betray him.

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And so we see that in verses 70 and 71, the full picture. Jesus answered them, did

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I myself not choose you, the 12, and yet one of you is a devil? Now he was speaking of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the 12, was going to betray him.

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In verses 70 and 71, Jesus addresses his disciples with words that expose a sobering truth.

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Did I myself not choose you, the 12, and yet one of you is a devil?

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It's a startling statement, especially coming right after Peter's bold declaration of faith in verse 69.

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Peter speaks for the group, affirming their belief that Jesus is the Holy One of God, yet Jesus immediately reminds them and us that human loyalty can be complex and fragile.

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There is one among them, he reveals, who is not what he seems, a devil, a traitor hidden in plain sight.

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Jesus' words here are layered with purpose. On one level, he affirms that he chose each of the 12.

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They didn't come to him by accident or human ambition. They were handpicked by the sovereign will of God.

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Yet one of those chosen is, in Jesus' words, a devil, a false accuser, a slanderer, an instrument of the enemy.

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And this is not to say that Judas was coerced or even controlled by God. Instead, Judas' choices reflect his own character and his own inclinations, as well as his susceptibility to the influence of Satan.

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As seen later during the Lord's Supper, where Satan appears to enter him. John 13 records this, and during supper, the devil, having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray him, referring to Jesus.

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Jesus sees the unseen motives and character of Judas and speaks plainly, leaving no room for misunderstanding.

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The term devil here is not a casual insult. It reflects

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Judas' willingness to oppose and betray Jesus, aligning himself with the very enemy of God.

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Unlike the other disciples who may have struggled with doubt or misunderstanding, Judas' heart is darkened by deceit and selfish ambition.

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And Jesus, knowing Judas' heart intimately, still chose him. He still chose him.

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This reveals a profound theological truth. God's sovereign plan can work even through those who resist him.

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And he can bring ultimate good even out of acts intended for evil. Judas' story raises difficult questions.

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Why would someone so close to Jesus, someone who witnessed his miracles, who heard his teachings, and even handled the disciples' finances, turn against him?

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Some suggest that Judas expected a political messiah who would overthrow Rome and bring power and prosperity to Israel.

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But when Jesus' mission became clear, when he spoke of sacrifice rather than conquest,

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Judas' disillusionment and greed took hold, and he plotted to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.

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Yet Judas is not a tragic figure of history. He's really a reminder.

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He's a reminder that it's possible to be close to Jesus outwardly, but far from him inwardly.

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Many today, like Judas, may follow Jesus outwardly for personal gain, recognition, social acceptance.

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Some may even serve in positions of responsibility within the church. But proximity to Jesus is not the same as true discipleship.

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Judas' story warns us that external association with Jesus, going through the motions, even participating in ministry, means nothing without genuine faith and loyalty.

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And we can be part of the Christian community, hear biblical truth, and even serve in various roles, yet still harbor a heart that resists

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Christ's lordship. In verse 71, John adds a chilling note here.

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Now, he met Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the 12, was going to betray him.

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John tells us that Judas' betrayal was not simply a failure of character.

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It was the outworking of an evil intent that he allowed to fester. Judas kept his motives hidden, fooling the other disciples, but not

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Jesus. His life reminds us that it's possible to hear the truth, to walk with those who follow

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Christ, and yet ultimately reject him because our hearts are bound up by self -interest.

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Judas stands as a cautionary example of the ultimate spiritual tragedy. To hear the words of eternal life, to walk alongside the very embodiment of God's love, and yet choose betrayal.

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His choices led to despair and self -destruction, a stark contrast to the redemption and restoration offered by Jesus.

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We need to let this be a warning. Are we genuine disciples who live in humility and repentance, trusting in God as our only hope?

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Or are we merely associated with him by name, ultimately driven by self -interest?

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Judas' betrayal was an unfathomable sin, yet even this was woven into God's sovereign plan.

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Jesus was never out of control. He willingly went to the cross, knowing full well the role

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Judas would play. And his sacrifice through this betrayal opens the way for forgiveness for all who would truly repent and believe.

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God's purposes are not thwarted by human wickedness. In fact, the very act of betrayal brought about the salvation of countless souls as God's redemptive plan unfolds.

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This passage calls us to examine our own hearts carefully. Are we true followers of Christ, or are we like Judas, hiding behind a facade of discipleship?

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Today Jesus asks us to choose, to be all in for him, or to risk the ruin of a divided heart.

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Judas' story stands as a stark reminder that nothing is hidden from God. Nothing is hidden from God.

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He sees through our intentions, our pre -tensions, our masks, if you will.

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He calls us to a faith that is deep, sincere, and enduring. Let Judas' life be a warning to us.

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Superficial association with Jesus brings no lasting gain and leads only to ruin.

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Genuine discipleship requires surrender, humility, and obedience. We must follow

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Christ not out of self -interest, but from a heart transformed by his grace.

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And for those who truly belong to him, there is no safer place to be, no greater hope and no surer salvation than to remain steadfast in the one who sees and saves to the uttermost.

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This made me think of an illustration I had read. Imagine a school teacher who carefully selects a team of students.

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There's a major academic competition coming up, so there's this team selected. Each student has unique skills.

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The teacher sees potential in all of them. But as the competition nears, one of the students, talented, but increasingly bitter, begins to undermine the team's work.

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He questions the teacher's methods and spreads doubts among his classmates. The teacher sees what's happening, he's not caught off guard.

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But rather than removing this student immediately, the teacher allows him to remain. Why? Because he knows that despite the disruption, this student's actions will reveal deeper lessons and strengthen the resolve of the team.

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In verses 70 and 71, we see Jesus choosing the 12, fully aware that one of them,

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Judas, will ultimately betray him. Jesus isn't unaware or blindsided by Judas' future actions.

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In his wisdom, he allows Judas to stay, not only to fulfill

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God's redemptive plan, but also to reveal to the true disciples the reality of loyalty and faith in him.

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Jesus' choice shows us that even through betrayal and brokenness, God's purposes will prevail.

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Nothing can undermine his sovereign plan. For us, this truth is powerful.

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Think about it. Even when we face betrayal, even when we face disappointment or hardship, God isn't absent or unaware.

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He's working through every situation to teach us trust, patience, and dependence on him.

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Sometimes God allows challenging people or situations to remain in our lives, not to harm us, but to refine us, to deepen our faith.

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Jesus chose his 12 knowing that one would betray him, and yet he continued his mission with unwavering trust in the

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Father's plan. So when we face difficult relationships or just disappointments, we can remember that our faith isn't shaken by those who hurt us.

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We serve a Savior who chose his path with perfect foreknowledge.

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And even through betrayal, he brought about redemption. Just as Jesus knew the full picture with Judas, he knows our situation too.

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And if we hold fast to him, he will use every hardship to shape us, to strengthen our resolve, to deepen our commitment by his unchanging truth.

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This is important for us to think about. God's righteous sovereignty is greater than human wickedness.

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You know, one example of this is in the narrative story of Joseph. Think about Joseph, thrown into a pit by his brothers, sold into slavery, put into the service of a secular military man, accused of something he didn't do, put into prison.

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Two years he's in there, at least, and then coming out and God puts him in this position of authority during the biggest famine in the world at that time, where many, many people are going to die.

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And yet, because of all of these things that happened, the lives of countless people were saved.

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And then during the reunion with the very brothers who threw him in the pit, what does he say? You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good, for the saving of many lives.

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God's sovereignty is greater than human wickedness. And so the full picture revealed by Jesus about true discipleship shows us that we serve a

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Savior who chose his path with perfect foreknowledge.

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He chose his path with perfect foreknowledge. In today's passage, the apostle

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John recorded Jesus' question to the disciples who remained with him, even after the false disciples left in unbelief, so that you can learn from their example by following Jesus by faith, despite the worldly pressures that disagree with Jesus' clear teaching.

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In the final exchange of chapter six, we see the false disciples fall away.

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The falling away showed that true discipleship requires surrender to Jesus and sacrifice to self.

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And in response, Jesus asked a follow -up question to the true disciples who stayed with him.

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The follow -up question revealed Jesus' true disciples don't have blind faith. They have a faith anchored in the truth of who

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Jesus is. And then Jesus revealed the full picture of him choosing them, despite Judas, who would later betray him.

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The full picture revealed by Jesus about true discipleship shows that we serve a Savior who chose his path with perfect foreknowledge.

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Let me share with you a quote from the Puritan Matthew Henry. Matthew Henry, commenting on this particular section of Scripture, said this.

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He said, When we admit into our minds hard thoughts of the words and works of Jesus, we enter into temptation, which, if the

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Lord in mercy prevent not, will end in drawing back. The corrupt and wicked heart of man often makes that an occasion for offense, which is matter of the greatest comfort.

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Our Lord had, in the foregoing discourse, promised eternal life to his followers.

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The disciples fastened on that plain saying and resolved to cleave to him, when others fastened on hard sayings and forsook him.

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Christ's doctrine is the word of eternal life, therefore we must live and die by it.

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If we forsake Christ, we forsake our own mercies. They believed that this

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Jesus was the Messiah promised to their fathers, the Son of the living God. When we are tempted to backslide or turn away, it is good to remember first principles and to keep them.

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And let us ever remember our Lord's searching question. Shall we go away and forsake our

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Redeemer? To whom can we go? He alone can give salvation by the forgiveness of sins.

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And this alone brings confidence, comfort, and joy, and bids fear and despondency flee away.

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It gains the only solid happiness in this world and opens a way to the happiness of the next."

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As we come to the end of John 6, we're faced with a stark divide.

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Jesus gives a message about being the bread of life and it had pressed his followers to a decision.

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Like the crowds in Jerusalem and Galilee, many responded not with faith, but with doubt, unbelief, and ultimately a rejection of Jesus himself.

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This was a turning point, a moment when the genuine followers of Christ were revealed.

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In these verses, John points out two groups, those who could not accept Jesus' words and chose to walk away, and those who believed and stayed.

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Even when the teaching was hard to understand and even harder to live out. And so, as the crowds dispersed, only a small core of true disciples remained, affirming that Jesus alone held the words of life.

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We must ask ourselves, where do we stand? Are we among those who retreat when

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Christ's call feels too demanding? Or are we like Peter in the Twelve, holding fast to Jesus as our only hope?

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True discipleship costs us everything, but it's the only path to life that truly satisfies.

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Let us choose to stay close to Christ, trusting in his words, even when they challenge us to our core.