PRAY
As we dive into week two of our journey through the Life of Peter (in conjunction with our Here to There study) let’s pause to remember the focus to all this. We are looking at Peter’s journey from being a fisherman (Here) to becoming a fisher of men (There), and we are asking Jesus to reveal where He might be wanting us to make a move from where we currently are (Here) to where He wants us to be (There).
Before we jump into today’s story, pause for a moment to pray, asking God to reveal Himself to you as you dive into His word.
PETER CAN’T TURN AWAY
Today we are going to examine a story where Peter comes face to face with some tough teaching from Jesus. Some background before you read: two key events preceded this moment.
- Jesus miraculously fed the 5,000 men (plus women and children) with just five loaves and two fish.
- Jesus walked on the water from the shore to the disciples’ boat (and don’t forget, Peter joined him on the water for a bit!)
The disciples and Jesus are now on the other side of the Sea of Galilee, and many from the crowd who witnessed the miraculous feeding have tracked Him down.
READ AND CONTEMPLATE JOHN 6:25-68 (as outlined below)
As you read, put yourself in the sandals of Peter and watch these events unfold, listening closely to the words of Jesus. We will look at this story in three sections.
SECTION 1: READ JOHN 6:25-34
Are you tracking with what’s going on in this section? Jesus is skeptical of the motives of the crowd that has come across the Sea of Galilee (John calls it “the lake”). The crowd does not look at Him as the Messiah. Because of this, He calls them out by saying, “You are just looking for free food!” (reread verse 26-27). The crowd then all but confirms this accusation in verse 34: “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”
What would be running through your mind if you were Peter watching this interaction?
SECTION 2: READ JOHN 6:35-59
As you read, keep yourself in Peter’s perspective. Catch the rising tension between the crowd and Jesus, and keep in mind that you don’t fully know or understand Jesus’ plan to go to the cross for victory over death and sin.
Again, what would be running through your mind if you were Peter?
SECTION 3: READ JOHN 6:60-68 (paying extra attention to vv. 66-68)
Keep yourself in Peter’s sandals, considering all that happens as a product of this intense conversation between Jesus and the crowd.
How do you imagine Peter saying what he says in verse 68? What is his expression, his body language and his tone?
MAKE IT PERSONAL
Have you ever experienced someone fall away from following Jesu? What did that do inside you? What kept you from doing the same?
THE BOTTOM LINE
Peter watched others take in this teaching and decide they couldn’t follow Jesus. Yet, something compelled him to stick with Jesus. In his words, you can almost feel him stuck (in a good way) when he says, “To whom shall we go?” Peter has seen and experienced enough to know that Jesus is the answer he’s been looking for.
Are you at that point? Even when times get really tough, and the temptation comes to run away from the There Jesus is calling you toward, are you at a spot where you would say, “Following after you is the only choice I have.”?
Finish today by having an honest conversation with Jesus about this thought.