Peter: What Can We Learn From Peter's Life?નમૂનો

"To Whom Shall We Go?"

In this passage, Peter makes a statement similar to his confession of Jesus as the Christ, as he did in Matthew 16. However, this story, recorded by John, occurred in Capernaum, while the story in Matthew happened at Caesarea Philippi. The context of Peter’s words in this John passage is quite different as well.

Jesus had just finished teaching, declaring that He was the Bread of Life. He used metaphors such as “feeding on my flesh” and “drinking my blood” (vs 54-57) to emphasize that His body broken and blood spilled on the cross would be the source of eternal life for all. His death would be as crucial for eternal life as regular food is for physical life. This was a difficult teaching for his listeners to understand, and many turned away from Him. They found His words offensive. How dare this man say He came down from heaven (vs 42)? How dare He speak of eating flesh and blood (vs 52)?

Peter and the rest of the 12 disciples stood by Jesus, however, even when others wouldn’t make the effort to understand. When Jesus asked if they wanted to leave Him as well, Peter pointed out that there was no better place to be than with Jesus. He knew Jesus’s words led to eternal life and that Jesus was the “Holy One of God” (vs 69).

John’s Gospel has a big emphasis on eternal life. He makes special effort to record Jesus’s words and conversations on the subject. Jesus came to bring abundant life (John 10:10) to everyone. Even though others abandoned Jesus, even though Peter didn’t always understand what Jesus taught, he knew Jesus was the source of life. Nothing and no one could compare with Him. It didn’t matter that others walked away. Peter was steadfast in what he believed about Jesus.

Reflection:

How steadfast is your faith - if the crowd around you walked away from Jesus, would you stay?

“Lord, to whom shall we go?” - Do you go to Jesus to find life, or look for it in other places?