Thinking about Discipleship

Introduction:

The writer of John has given a long episode that has challenged us to think about the reasons why people associate with Jesus.

Some follow for the spectacle.

Some follow for physical or material benefits.

Some follow for the right reason but may need maturation.

We should personalize this for a moment to consider our own association with Him.

What convinced you to follow Jesus?

What keeps us following Jesus?

We are challenged to consider that not all followers of Jesus are motivated by the same thing:

Should be and “are” are two different things.

The writer of the Gospel wants his readers to consider these questions.

Evidence of Fake Discipleship

Jesus’ additional teaching did not assuage the concerns of the majority.

They left him for the life they had before following him.

He lost all credibility with them.

In response to Jesus’ teaching, his disciples return to life as normal.

John chooses an interesting term for “walking with him” because it is a common term that would suggest obedience.

At a minimum, it would point toward a severing of the teacher/disciple relationship that had existed between them prior to this moment.

Given the context, however, what we are seeing is that they were not true disciples at all.

They rejected the most basic of Jesus’ teachings, namely, those about his origins and eternal life.

True discipleship results in faithful obedience.

A Touching Question

Jesus asks the twelve if they too wanted to depart.

This is the first time the writer refers to “the twelve” as a group.

We should pay close attention to the wording of the question.

It expects a “no” answer.

It asks about intent: “you all are not also intending to leave, are you?”

Jesus seems confident they will not, but the question serves to remind the reader to consider their own reasons for associating with Jesus.

A Confident Response

Peter, as usual, answered for the group.

Note his use of two perfects: “we have believed and we have known.”

In light of the statement by Peter, this serves the equivalent of Mt. 16:13.

From this exchange, we have reason to take heart.

Jesus’ apostles did not come off well earlier in this section.

They struggled to understand the lessons that Jesus hoped they’d already learned.

Yet, Peter, here, makes a resounding, truthful statement that shows Jesus’ disciples have grasped the most important eternal reality.

Through this ending, we are also made to think about the kinds of disciples that are possible.

Eleven of the twelve turned out to be legitimate disciples.

John foreshadows events to come, and he also indicates they were under Jesus control/knowledge.