Monday: The Words of Eternal Life
Daily Lesson for Monday 25th of November 2024
Read John 6:61-68. When Jesus asked the disciples if they would leave Him, what was the meaning of Peter’s answer?
Peter’s words about “eternal life” tap into a theme that runs throughout the Gospel of John. A concentration of phraseology about eternal life appears in John 6:1-71, in the context of the feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:27,40,47,54,68). Jesus says that He is the Bread of Life (John 6:35), meaning that His life, His death, and His resurrection are the source of eternal salvation.
Image © Phil McKay at Goodsalt.com
The phrase everlasting life or its equivalent occurs at least 17 times in the Gospel of John. This term does not refer to a spirit existence, or to becoming part of an eternal being, or to some other ethereal concept. Rather, it refers to that life-giving power that brings salvation and meaning to our existence now and to life without end when our Lord returns. Just as Jesus became flesh, so the resurrection that Jesus talks about takes place in time and space and in a physical body. It is a resurrection from the dead, a renewal of the life that we once had in Eden.
How do we receive eternal life? John 3:15-16; John 5:24; John 6:40,47; John 8:31; John 12:46; John 20:31.
By faith alone we believe that Jesus Christ came to live and to die on our behalf. This faith comes to us as a gift, but we must consciously choose to surrender ourselves to Jesus, to repent, and to claim His blood for the forgiveness and cleansing of sin.
When Jesus asked Peter if he, too, was going to leave, Peter’s answer, “ ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life’ ” (John 6:68, NKJV), encapsulates the essence of salvation and how we attain it. It doesn’t come from philosophy, history, or science—all human disciplines. It comes from Jesus, who—possessing in Himself eternal life—offers it freely to all who, responding to the Holy Spirit, will accept it.
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How does the promise of having eternal life impact how we view our temporal life here? How should it impact how we view it? |
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If we are honest with ourselves, we have a little materialistic streak tucked away in the back of our minds. We like to quote the King James version of John 14:1-3:
We love the bit about the mansions. Too bad that the translators took a bit of license with that one - the original word simply means dwelling place.
My point is not the accuracy of the translation, but that we like to think of heaven as some sort of salvation reward.
The narrative of John 6 is worth reading in its entirety. Jesus had healed the sick, fed the five thousand, and walked on water. The crowd went bananas and wanted to crown him King, but he gave them the slip. In the ensuing discussion Jesus points out that the material things are not what really matter. He tried to use the analogy of bread to point to a real relationship with God through him.
Many of the crowd and some of his disciples were disappointed because what Jesus was saying did not align with what they were thinking. Their picture of God was their own making. There is some truth in:
When I think of all the discussions we have about the nature of God, and, by inference, eternal life, how much of our thinking is coloured by future rewards? We must read the Gospels with the idea in mind that God is "I Am" and not "will be". For the crowd and some of the disciples, that was a hard saying. Is it hard for us too?
Interestingly, just last week I was saying to someone that mansions don't interest me at all. I have a cottage mindset. If I get to be close to Jesus and be with my family for eternity, that's good enough for me. But I do take your point. We are reward oriented.
I'm thinking. Thank you.
Thanks for nice lessons for this quarter..I really blessed words
The concept of "eternal life" might seem distant or irrelevant to those enduring suffering in this life. However, when understood fully, it provides profound meaning and hope both for the present and the future. In a world where people only know nothing but endless suffering and tears, does the concept of “eternal life” make any meaningful sense?
In practical terms, "eternal life" refers to a quality of life that begins now through a relationship with God and continues forever in His presence. It is not limited to duration (living forever) but also emphasizes a depth of existence characterized by love, joy, peace, and purpose. In fact, the Bible defines what is “eternal life in John 17:3. "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." This is not an abstract concept but a practical, dynamic and present reality. Jesus told the Pharisees that the kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21-22). Eternal life isn’t just about the future; it transforms the present by giving meaning to suffering. Believers are assured that God can use trials for their good and growth (Romans 8:28).
Eternal life is experiential. Yes, eternal life begins in this life for those who believe in Christ. This is what brings vitality in our Christian life. This what brings spiritual renewal. A changed heart and mind, characterized by freedom from guilt and the assurance of forgiveness (2 Corinthians 5:17). This dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ enthuses a purpose-driven Life. Living for God's glory and loving others gives meaning to daily activities (Colossians 3:23-24). This reality empowers us to soldier on regardless of the suffering experienced in this life. Eternal life enables believers to face trials with courage, knowing their present struggles have eternal significance (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
This is profound and is reframing my thinking. (Light bulb moment!)That ""eternal life" refers to a quality of life that begins now through a relationship with God" can change the way we view everything and help us to walk closer with our loving Lord. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for the enlightenment,eternal God is to know you the only true God and Jesus Christ who have sent! Amazing we know God now and have a relationship with him and our saviour.
Once again thank you,I must strive to have eternal life now
I am happy to know that Eternal life is not a in the future concept but we can receive the "I Am" today and by extension Eternal life as well. God be praised!!!!
You have to hand it to Peter, he more frequent than not had the right answer. Now since we know Christ through His clear word when we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us am maybe our answer will be, Master I have on other desire given by you than to be with you through out eternity. John 3:16 DARBY
Psalms 48:14 DARBY
[14] For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide until death.
Let me add throughout eternity
Some may believe we will no longer need Christ as our guide in heaven or the earth made new. Not so.
I love the comment that eternal life is experiential, starting in this life. By God’s grace we aspire to please God everyday. We therefore start our day by surrendering ourselves to him to be used for his glory. That’s an awesome privilege and it certainly makes us more intentional in our daily activities as we relate to others and our priorities to him
When I was teaching, I accompanied a 4th grade class on the cog railway up Mt. Washington in New Hampshire. Now, for those who aren't familiar with it, Mt. Washington is known around the world for its wild, unpredictable weather ... it's one of the reasons I'm glad I'm back in Maine. Living at its base for 7 years was like living in a bruising wind tunnel. In fact, it's the deadliest mountain (per vertical foot) of any mountain on Earth... over 160 deaths recorded. Winter temperatures can reach 50 below zero and Mount Washington holds the record for the strongest wind ever recorded at 231 mph. Hikers frequently train themselves for the treacherous conditions of mountains like Everest and K2 at Mt. Washington. So anyway, I remember as we chugged up the mountain on the steam locomotive (a really great adventure, by the way, if you get the chance...the steep grade gets up to 38%!), the tour guide told us about Lizzy Bourne and pointed out a stone cairn near the top erected in her honor.
23-year-old Lizzy Bourne, her cousin, and her uncle began a trek up from the Glen House (at the mountain’s base) at around 2 p.m. on September, 14, 1855. The party’s late start meant they couldn’t reach the mountain’s peak until after nightfall. They also decided they didn’t need a guide. Halfway up, construction workers who were at the Halfway House said that they had heard that a storm was brewing at the top and advised the group to turn around. There was no additional shelter until they reached the peak, and the treeline eventually gives way to barren rock. The girls convinced Uncle George to continue. Well, as predicted, a violent storm and bitter cold slammed the mountain around 10 p.m. Ill-equipped with the average dress of a woman of her era (probably several petticoats, a heavy wool dress and coat, wet from the storm it would all be weighing about 35 lbs.) she didn’t stand a chance against the mountain. Bourne died of exposure and exhaustion only a few hundred yards from the summit ... roughly 10 more minutes of walking and she would have arrived at the safety of the Tip Top House.
As we think about eternal life today, John 8:30-32 reminds me of Lizzy Bourne. Jesus is talking to those who are beginning to believe in Him (John 8:30) and He says (in my paraphrase of John 8:31-32):
As I reread the story about Lizzy Bourne, this passage particularly stood out:
Our spiritual journey from this earthly life in a sin-soaked world to eternal life with Jesus is no joke, it's not for the faint of heart or for those who are ill-equipped. It may even be harder than we expected. Jesus wants us to be prepared. He knows the summit and He knows we need an intimate relationship with Him, the covering of His forgiveness, and a constant feeding on His Word to fuel us to arrive at His home, the heavenly "Tip Top House".
Hallelujah
I kept on reading the Lizzy Bourne story after I posted, and would like to share a couple more meaningful bits of symbolism ...
Lizzy was young, but she had a pre-existing heart condition that made her more susceptible to the effects of the extreme weather. Her mind was more than willing, she was very excited to get to the top and be there to see the sunrise in the morning, but her body was weak. We have a pre-existing sin problem. When I was younger, God's many gifts to me of a young energetic body helped me to feel invincible and I think it was part of me turning away from the Bible in my 20s. I relied on my own brain's wisdom and my own body's ability to bounce back (without giving full credit to Jesus). Now that I'm "up above the treeline" (middle-aged) and feeling the harsher affects of time a bit more (been through cancer and surgery, for one), it has become much clearer and more evident to me how much I need Jesus. If anyone is reading this under age 30 and trusting Jesus with all your heart, King Solomon and I say "praise God" (Eccl. 12:1)! Don't ever let Satan deceive you into thinking you are strong enough to navigate through life without Jesus and His Word.
Another fact of the story, they didn't bring any water along on their hike. They became dehydrated. Again, we HAVE TO HAVE the Living Water of Jesus. Can't get anywhere higher (spiritually more intimate with God and growing in His character) in life's journey, or even continue on in this earthly life, without the life of Jesus.
The disciples who walked away from Jesus could not grasp the understanding of Jesus’ words because they seek immediate, worldly benefits from him. They were not willing to sacrifice their lives for the cause of Christ. The words that Jesus speaks sustain us in every life situation; of sorrows, disappointments and brokenness, and It gives us hope for eternity to come. (John 6:68) By God’s grace we aspire to please him everyday. We must start our day by surrendering ourselves to him, to be used for his glory. That’s an awesome privilege, which certainly makes us more intentional to reveal him in our daily activities as we relate to others and our services to him.
Yes! Jesus gives us eternal life now when we believe. That is why Jesus says in John 11:26, those who believe in Him will never die! They may sleep like Lazarus but they will never die the real death which is the 2nd death.
Having lived my life on both sides of the cross, I can honestly testify that there really is nowhere else to go except to the cross. The pleasures of sin last but for a season and give way to self loathing and despair. The only place of peace and purpose is in the presence of the Lord. Looking for love, peace and purpose anywhere else only leads us further away from what we are seeking. All we ever need is provided for us in Jesus. Receive it and Him by faith. Let His love and words transform your life and renew your mind. This world has nothing to offer greater than what Jesus offers. Let His Word richly dwell in you and accomplish its purpose. Let the declarative and creative Word of God be everything that God desires it to be in your life. Let the perfectly peaceful, faithful, and loving mind of Christ be yours by faith. There's nothing in this world that compares to it. There's nowhere else to go, except, anywhere with Jesus.
The life he gives begins now when we believe and then extends to eternity
Being in contact with the eternal God may initiate eternity here and now. How much do I care about it? How much do I need something to help me dream for real?
God is not only the key to eternal life, he is the essence to life eternal.
Thanks for the enlightenment,eternal God is to know you the only true God and Jesus Christ who have sent! Amazing we know God now and have a relationship with him and our saviour.
Once again thank you,I must strive to have eternal life now
All it takes to understand "everlasting Life" is to look at God's purpose for Adam and Eve. He told them to be fruitful and multiply and to have in subjecting all living creatures on earth, extending the boundaries of Eden until Earth was one beautiful garden filled with a righteous, human family. That was his purpose and that purpose will be fulfilled (Isaiah 55:11). The ONLY difference was that Adam CHOSE his own way - and was given ample opportunity to do things his way, as have the rest of humanity. However,God's purpose never changed, but he immediately put into play the means by which even imperfect offspring would fulfill it: By means of a "kingdom" by his son until all things are restored. Mic drop. Everything, every detail of the Bible is the fulfilment of that one purpose: Restoration, and HOW it would be restored.
The promise of eternal life in God,gives us a blessed hope,we fear nothing even in death because our hearts are unto him