The Saturday after Laetare Sunday
Posted on March 21, 2026 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
Pure doctrine is ‘too much’ for some people to handle. The disciples in today’s reading fell from the faith because their reason could not accept that Jesus’ flesh and blood could give eternal life. While Christ’s teaching remained general they could support it, but when He got specific about the implications of the union between His two natures, they ‘punched out’. Jesus did not call after them, “Wait! I think you are misunderstanding Me!” or “It is okay if you cannot accept this particular saying. At least you believe in Me in a general way.” Instead, He let them go.
Pastors and theologians have a duty to be very precise about doctrine. And sometimes this causes people to leave the Church. The problem in these cases is not pedantry on the part of the pastor, but unbelief on the part of the people leaving. The pure and specific teaching from God’s Word simply exposes the unbelief that hides underneath the surface. We, on the other hand, should respond as Simon Peter did. We must be wherever Christ and His words of eternal life are being preached with precision, even if everyone else is leaving.
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 those 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.
