Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 18; Revelation 7; Zechariah 3; John 6
John 6:68-69 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
Jesus had just turned a crowd away telling them that their only interest in him was the fact that he fed them. They did not really want to receive him and his words. He then turned to the twelve and asked them.
John 6:67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
Peter, speaking for the group pointed out the exclusivity of Jesus Christ by asking to whom they should go. Who could they follow? Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. If you do not follow him, there is no one else to follow. Jesus is not just another teacher or prophet. He is the Messiah.
There is a very old teaching that says that each generation has an anointed teacher who is filled with the spirit of the gods. Many people see Jesus as that teacher for his day. However, they believe there were many before him and many that came after him. God showed Peter the error of this thinking on the mount of transfiguration. As Jesus was transfigured before them, he spoke with Moses and Elijah. Peter wanted to stay on the mountain and build three tabernacles. God spoke to him:
Matthew 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
If it were true that Moses was the anointed teacher for his age and Elijah for his, then Peter would have been onto something. But God made it clear that Jesus was his beloved Son and they were to hear what he had to say. Jesus is unique. He is the only way to the Father (John 14:6). He has no rival and no one is like him. He is the Christ and the only Christ. He is the only begotten Son of the Father. There is no one else that we can follow. Don’t make the mistake of thinking Jesus was simply a good teacher. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that Jesus is one of many paths to heaven.
Let us realize that he is God in the flesh and even if he gives us a hard teaching, we must follow him because there is none other!
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
In Christ,
Rody
