Scripture Union Discovery 19th February 2025 Devotional Message for Wednesday
TOPIC: Words of Life
Opening Prayer
Lord, I long to embrace your presence, to know that you are with me, for in you is peace and rest for my soul.
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Read JOHN 6:60–71
Many Disciples Desert Jesus
60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”
61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit[a] and life.
64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”
66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)
Reflect
Some Bibles have Jesus’ words written in red letters as a way of highlighting them. Are there particular sayings of Jesus that you find particularly comforting or challenging?
Jesus didn’t go out of his way to win friends—he probably wouldn’t have gotten far in the diplomatic service. His teaching in Capernaum proves too difficult for many of his listeners, and John tells us that from that time many disciples turned back and no
longer followed him (v. 66).
Perhaps they had followed Jesus because they were impressed by the signs that he had performed, or they had enjoyed his sparring with the authorities. But now Jesus seems to have gone too far. Maybe they have picked up that following Jesus could lead them into trouble or danger. And yet, the words Jesus speaks are ‘full of the Spirit and life’ (v. 63). Is that what also makes them difficult?
The twelve, for the time being at least, remain steadfast. Peter, as usual, is their spokesperson. They have followed Jesus from the beginning and believe that he is the Messiah, ‘the Holy One of God’ (vv. 68, 69). If they leave now, then who else will speak words of eternal life? Jesus, of course, knows that even the twelve are not as solid as they seem. He knows that one of them will betray him at the end. I detect some sadness in Jesus’ words. Leadership can be lonely.
Apply
Can you give encouragement to a Christian leader whom you know? What might you say or do to help them?
Closing prayer
Holy Spirit, where I find Jesus’ words or teachings—or even his deeds—difficult to understand or apply, give me understanding, give me wisdom, and give me what I need to apply them in my own life.
Scripture Union Discovery 18th February 2025 Devotional © 2025 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved
