John 6:67-69 Then said Jesus to the twelve, Will you also go away?… I. A SEARCHING QUESTION PUT AT A CRITICAL TIME. 1. It is a question put at a time when there was a great falling off from the number of Christ's followers. Now was the time to show their colours — now or never. The chaff was driven away. The wheat remained. Times of apostasy are sifting seasons for God's people, giving a renewed call to every soldier of the Cross to rally round the deserted banner. The example of others is no safe guide. Public opinion is often a feeble indicator of duty. There is one example, and only one, that we are safe to follow — the example of Christ. There is one standard, and only one, that never varies — the Word of God. Keep the infallible standard in your eye, and that will help to steady you amid the changes of men and time. 2. This question was put at a time when there was a fresh demand made on the faith of Christ's followers. It is obvious that our Lord's design was to lead His followers to a knowledge of the hidden mysteries of His kingdom; to set before them some of the deeper truths of revelation. Progressiveness marked all His teaching. Faith has often to surmount barriers which are impassable by the natural understanding. Duty is ever making fresh demands upon us, and as we advance we are ever finding out depths that we have not yet sounded, and heights of holiness we have not yet scaled. There are speculative difficulties that try our faith, and perplexing things in God's word that we cannot explain. In the face of such perplexities it will be our wisdom to hold fast what we can accept. "What we know not now, we shall know hereafter." 3. This question was put at a time when higher devotion was required in the life of Christ's followers. When God reveals Himself to His people, as He has been doing with increasing clearness at different stages in the world's history, it is in order to enable them to be more devoted witnesses for Him among men. All our knowledge ought to help us to live holier and nobler lives; otherwise it profits nothing. II. A NOBLER REPLY FOUNDED ON WEIGHTY REASON. 1. Christ the highest of all teachers. We have many professing guides, but they all save One lead astray. Shall we follow our modern Pharisees and adopt the creed of the formalist? No, that will not satisfy the soul that longs for life. Shall we follow our modern Sadducees and adopt the creed of the atheist? No, that will not satisfy the soul that longs for God. Are we perplexed in our search for truth, and know not whose teaching to trust amid conflicting opinions? Let us learn to distrust, in matters of eternal moment, all human guides, and look to that Name beside which there is none other under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Then we shall have a Teacher to instruct us wiser than man, a Light brighter than the sun to shine on our path. 2. Eternal life the best of all possessions. Christ has something to bestow which no other claimant can boast of. He offers an inheritance that will outlast the sun, and live as long as God Himself. (D. Merson, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?WEB: Jesus said therefore to the twelve, "You don't also want to go away, do you?" |
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