Saturday after Laetare
Posted on March 20, 2021 by under
Scripture: St. John 6:66-71 (NKJV)
6:66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more
67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”
68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” 71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.
Devotion
Verses 66-67 in today’s reading follow up on the “sifting” process that resulted from Jesus’ previous discourse: “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, ‘Do you also want to go away?’” In saying this, Jesus acknowledged that even the Twelve were not immune to falling away. All humanity is born from the same sinful stock of Adam and Eve, and therefore even the staunchest believer is still vulnerable to the pull of Satan. This, of course, would play out with the fall of Judas Iscariot.
Simon Peter, however, who would certainly have his share of issues, makes this steadfast proclamation: “But Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’” In saying this, Peter confesses there is no other like Jesus. There is only one God, and Jesus is the true God. Over the course of time, the true disciples’ faith had grown stronger, not weaker. Observing the actions of the very Son of God and absorbing His words had been the means by which Peter and the other disciples grew deeper in the faith. In other words, the Means of Grace—Word and Sacrament—which we are given in the Church today are to be treasured and observed with the same diligence, that we too may be rooted and strengthened in the one true faith.
Prayer: Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of Thy grace may mercifully be relieved, through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
