The Saturday after Laetare Sunday
Posted on April 5, 2025 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
Jesus had already made clear what was required as regards discipleship, and many were not ready to receive life in the way He offered and taught. The disciples “believe and know.” The Greek text is in the perfect tense and means, “We have entered a state of belief and knowledge that has continued until the present time.”
The confession made by Saint Peter in his response to Jesus’ test of faithfulness in Him and His Gospel is unique and packed with a great deal of significance. It indicates that Peter is confessing more than the common term of “Christ” (or “Messiah”) used to describe Jesus. Peter is confessing the deity of his Lord. The faithful disciples believed and knew that Jesus was more than just a man. They were witnesses to His powerful miracles, and God’s grace had provided them with faith to understand His Words.
Along with this wonderfully clear presentation of the divinity of Jesus Christ we also see an equally clear proclamation of the ‘evil one’ when Jesus declares “one of you is a devil.” For as one inspired by the devil, Judas had become so much a part of the diabolical attack on Jesus that he is identified as being one with the devil.
Collect: 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, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Season of Lent
Almighty and Everlasting God, Who hatest nothing that Thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
