Daily Devotion - John 6:68-69 - Knowing and Trusting Jesus

We've all been there before.

We've gone to the same church for years, listened to the sermons, sang in the choir and never once did we ever question God's ways or His goodness. The Bible says it and we believe it.

Then something happens. A diagnosis from the doctor, an accident on the highway, a spouse who abandons the marriage. Suddenly, we find ourselves wondering what we did wrong and why God turned His back on us. Maybe we stop trusting or even question His existence altogether.

The early disciples certainly experienced doubt. In the context of today's passage, they had already been walking with Jesus for at least a year or two. They had heard many profound teachings and witnessed many miracles, including the feeding of 5,000 men with a small lunch (John 6:10-13) and walking on the water (v. 19) just the day before.

Now it seemed Jesus had gone too far. He talked of eating His flesh and drinking His blood in order to have a life with God. The other followers hadn't signed up for that, only seeking Him because they wanted breakfast (John 6:26), and they left Him behind.

But when Jesus asked His twelve disciples if they were leaving as well, Peter spoke up.

[John 6:68-69 ESV] 68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."

Peter said that they had believed and come to know that He was the Holy One. The word for "believe" in the Greek is pisteuo, which carries the idea of laying your entire weight upon something, being completely assured and confident it will hold you. This is the kind of subconscious belief we have in a chair or a bed. We trust it to meet our needs for rest.

Peter also knew Jesus was the Holy One. This Greek word is ginosko, meaning an intimate relational knowledge of someone. It is one thing to say I know who the president is, but it is quite another to say I know my wife. I have spent no time with the president, and I can only speculate as to his character when someone tells me what he's done or hasn't done.

However, I know my wife. I have spent 16 years with her and am intimately aware of her quirks and imperfections as well as her dedication, her faithfulness and her compassion. If someone tells me she has done something out of character for her, I'm immediately skeptic.

Peter knew Jesus. He had walked with Him daily. He was fully confident that his Teacher was the Messiah sent from God, and he was willing to put all of his chips on that number. Notice, though, that he didn't say he understood the "body and blood" teaching. He couldn't form a theological treatise about the significance of the Levitical code and how it related to God's covenant to mankind.

Peter knew Jesus was who He said He was, because he had devoted himself to spending time with Him.

We will never fully understand God's ways or why He allows us to go through certain storms, but we can be confidently assured that He is a good Father who will always walk through those storms with us, surrounding us with His compassion and love.

Question to consider

How intimately would you like to know Jesus, and how can you pursue that?

Prayer for Today

Lord Jesus, You know me better than I know myself, and You have invited me to know You. Help me today as I open Your Word and spend time with You to learn more than facts about You, but to understand the depths of Your love, mercy and grace toward me. Let me know Your character, and let me feel Your heart for me. Amen.