Bible Character Studies: Peter. Pt. 9 Words of life and words of refusal.
Good Morning everyone and it is the Lord's Day which makes this the best day of the week. Why? Because we meet to worship and hear the Word preached with our local church family.
If you are in the area please plan to visit our church at 679 West Main Street, Smithville, Ohio. Our church is right at the corner of Smithville-Western Road and state route 585. Morning services begin at 10:30.
When a Pastor preaches the Word of God it is like opening the windows of heaven and pouring out manna for our soul. If you sit under a good Pastor please thank him for his ministry. Godly Pastors do so much for their flock and often with little thanks.
Men rejected Christ as the Bread of Heaven
John 6:63-69 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 64 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. 65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
Much of John 6 gives us the teaching of Christ when He declared that He is the bread of life come down from heaven. Jesus made sure they understood that He is the fulfillment of the Old Testament manna. Jesus told them that they must eat His flesh and drink His blood but not in the literal sense.
Later in the gospels He explains that the Passover bread represented His body broken for them and the cup represented His blood shed for the remission of sins. See for example Luke 22:19-20; Matthew 26:26-28 & 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.
This was a hard saying for the people to digest and Jesus exclaimed that their understanding must come from the work of God's Spirit in their heart. Christ said His words are spirit and life, or as we might say, His words are verbally inspired truth from God.
Jesus knew that some did not believe on Him for salvation. They might follow because they hoped to get more food or they thought that Christ would overthrow Rome. Just as no man comes to the Father except through Christ, so no man comes to Christ unless the Father calls them.
After this teaching the text says that many of the multitude quit following Christ. These professing disciples were no longer willing to walk with the Son of God.
Jesus asked His 12 disciples if they too, were going to desert Him and Peter blesses us with another strong affirmation of Christ and His teachings.
Peter confesses that Christ alone has the words of eternal life.
John 6:68-69 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
Peter rightly recognized that Jesus Christ is the only source of truth and that He has the words of eternal life. In spite of his many flaws and weaknesses, Peter is sure of this fact.
Peter confesses that Christ is the Son of God.
Peter said again that Jesus is Christ, the Son of the Living God. Pagan "gods" and false religious systems offered no hope and were powerless to change lives in any way. The living word of God can and does illuminate our heart and Christ is indeed the giver of eternal life.
John gives us another glimpse into Peter's life when Jesus washed their feet prior to observing the Passover.
John 13:1-10 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;
3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
Foot washing was a menial task generally reserved for a slave. Those who washed feet in that culture were looked down upon as being inferior. Peter seemed to have some of the mindset when Jesus came to wash his feet.
Peter questions why Jesus is washing his feet followed by stubborn refusal.
First Peter questions Christ. "Lord are you going to wash my feet?" He was incredulous that the Son of God would stoop to perform such a menial task.
Jesus offered some insight into what He was doing but Peter would have none of it. He emphatically resisted saying "Thou shalt never wash my feet!"
Peter swings wildly back seeking a total washing from Christ.
Jesus told Peter that if his feet were not washed by Christ then he had no attachment to the Son of God. Then, the impulsive nature of Peter came rushing out. "Not my feet only but also my hands and my head."
Peter did not want to give up what he found in Jesus Christ so he proposed jumping in and being washed from head to toe. Jesus told Peter that having his feet washed by the Master was sufficient for cleansing.
Why did Jesus wash their feet? He just taught them that He was the true bread from heaven, the fulfillment of the Old Testament manna. One thing that the priests were required to do was to wash their feet and hands before entering the tabernacle or the temple to serve. Failure to do this was a capitol offense.
By washing His disciple's feet, Jesus showed the power of His sacrifice on the cross. Christ's body would be broken and His blood shed for our sins. His glorious resurrection was proof that sin and death were defeated.
This is also a lesson about humility because Jesus did it all and we can do nothing to save ourselves. It is all of God and we are dependent on Him for salvation.
Points to Ponder....
If you are in the area please plan to visit our church at 679 West Main Street, Smithville, Ohio. Our church is right at the corner of Smithville-Western Road and state route 585. Morning services begin at 10:30.
When a Pastor preaches the Word of God it is like opening the windows of heaven and pouring out manna for our soul. If you sit under a good Pastor please thank him for his ministry. Godly Pastors do so much for their flock and often with little thanks.
Men rejected Christ as the Bread of Heaven
John 6:63-69 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 64 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. 65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
Much of John 6 gives us the teaching of Christ when He declared that He is the bread of life come down from heaven. Jesus made sure they understood that He is the fulfillment of the Old Testament manna. Jesus told them that they must eat His flesh and drink His blood but not in the literal sense.
Later in the gospels He explains that the Passover bread represented His body broken for them and the cup represented His blood shed for the remission of sins. See for example Luke 22:19-20; Matthew 26:26-28 & 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.
This was a hard saying for the people to digest and Jesus exclaimed that their understanding must come from the work of God's Spirit in their heart. Christ said His words are spirit and life, or as we might say, His words are verbally inspired truth from God.
Jesus knew that some did not believe on Him for salvation. They might follow because they hoped to get more food or they thought that Christ would overthrow Rome. Just as no man comes to the Father except through Christ, so no man comes to Christ unless the Father calls them.
After this teaching the text says that many of the multitude quit following Christ. These professing disciples were no longer willing to walk with the Son of God.
Jesus asked His 12 disciples if they too, were going to desert Him and Peter blesses us with another strong affirmation of Christ and His teachings.
Peter confesses that Christ alone has the words of eternal life.
John 6:68-69 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
Peter rightly recognized that Jesus Christ is the only source of truth and that He has the words of eternal life. In spite of his many flaws and weaknesses, Peter is sure of this fact.
Peter confesses that Christ is the Son of God.
Peter said again that Jesus is Christ, the Son of the Living God. Pagan "gods" and false religious systems offered no hope and were powerless to change lives in any way. The living word of God can and does illuminate our heart and Christ is indeed the giver of eternal life.
John gives us another glimpse into Peter's life when Jesus washed their feet prior to observing the Passover.
John 13:1-10 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;
3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
Foot washing was a menial task generally reserved for a slave. Those who washed feet in that culture were looked down upon as being inferior. Peter seemed to have some of the mindset when Jesus came to wash his feet.
Peter questions why Jesus is washing his feet followed by stubborn refusal.
First Peter questions Christ. "Lord are you going to wash my feet?" He was incredulous that the Son of God would stoop to perform such a menial task.
Jesus offered some insight into what He was doing but Peter would have none of it. He emphatically resisted saying "Thou shalt never wash my feet!"
Peter swings wildly back seeking a total washing from Christ.
Jesus told Peter that if his feet were not washed by Christ then he had no attachment to the Son of God. Then, the impulsive nature of Peter came rushing out. "Not my feet only but also my hands and my head."
Peter did not want to give up what he found in Jesus Christ so he proposed jumping in and being washed from head to toe. Jesus told Peter that having his feet washed by the Master was sufficient for cleansing.
Why did Jesus wash their feet? He just taught them that He was the true bread from heaven, the fulfillment of the Old Testament manna. One thing that the priests were required to do was to wash their feet and hands before entering the tabernacle or the temple to serve. Failure to do this was a capitol offense.
By washing His disciple's feet, Jesus showed the power of His sacrifice on the cross. Christ's body would be broken and His blood shed for our sins. His glorious resurrection was proof that sin and death were defeated.
This is also a lesson about humility because Jesus did it all and we can do nothing to save ourselves. It is all of God and we are dependent on Him for salvation.
Points to Ponder....
- Peter's faith was very strong at times and he confessed Christ has the words of eternal life. He also confessed that Christ is the Son of God.
- Peter questioned the Lord Jesus about foot washing instead of being an obedient disciple.
- Peter stubbornly refused to allow Jesus to wash his feet until Christ told him the consequences.
- Peter then ran to the other extreme asking Jesus to wash his head, hands and feet.
I pray that like Peter, we have a strong faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, that we are willing to tell others Christ alone has the words of eternal life and that Jesus is the only way to the Father.
I pray that like Peter, we will keep growing in our understanding of Jesus as the Son of God, the God Man. I pray that we can begin to see more of the depths of His sufferings and the height of His joys as He humbled Himself and became obedient to a cross death.
I pray that we will not ever get in a habit of questioning our Lord like Peter did. God knows what is best for each one of us and He knows how all things will work out. None of our difficulties in this life are anything like what Christ endured.
I pray that we will be on guard against saying "No" to our Lord, as Peter did. Christ redeemed us from our debt of sin, rescued us from hell, restored us to the Father and has reconciled us. We owe Jesus everything! I pray that we will continue to become humble followers and servants of our Loving Lord.
Bob
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