John 6:60-71
60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the Twelve, was going to betray him.
Reflection
It was not surprising that the crowds were offended by Jesus’ shocking words. Jesus didn’t come to win a popularity contest but to give his life as “a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). The cross and resurrection of Jesus are foolishness, even offensive to the natural mind (1 Cor. 1:18). Among other things, the gospel of Christ offends because it reveals and confronts the depth of our need and our total inability to save ourselves. We naturally trust in our own cleverness or obedience or resources or abilities, and therefore we naturally resist God’s grace. The only remedy is God himself. He must kindly break down our self-sufficiency and awaken our hearts to the glory of his gracious love in Christ, so that we will forsake our personal efforts, put our trust in Jesus, and enter into eternal life (John 6:39–40, 44, 65). Even our faith is a work of God’s truly amazing grace!
Hebrews 3:1-11
3: Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house. 3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. 4 (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,“Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, 9 where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. 10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.’ 11 As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’”
Reflection
The people of God are the “house” of God in the sense that they are members of the holy family over which their “brother” (Heb. 2:11) Jesus Christ rules (3:6). Those who are true members of the household demonstrate that they belong to the family by maintaining their hope in Christ (v. 6).
Even true believers find themselves struggling to trust and obey God at times, especially in seasons of suffering. Verses like Hebrews 3:6 remind us to “hold fast our confidence” through these times, knowing that the members of Christ’s family must persevere in their faith. If you find yourself in a season of doubt, fear, or failure, “consider Jesus” (3:1). Think about who he is, what he has done, and draw near to him once again. He is “a merciful and faithful high priest” (2:17) and “is able to help those who are being tempted” (2:18).
Psalm 71:12-14
12 O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! 13 May my accusers be put to shame and consumed; with scorn and disgrace may they be covered who seek my hurt. 14 But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more.
The surest way to maintain your hope in Christ is to keep your eyes on him. Do not allow discouragement to take your focus off Jesus. Fuel your faith and hope by setting your mind on him as you prayerfully digest his Word.