Believers, Unbelievers, & Betrayers

(John 6:59-69)

In yesterday’s Gospel lesson, we explored John 6:59-69, which concludes our detour from the Gospel of Mark that we will return to next week. In this detour, we have been walking through chapter 6 of the Gospel of John, which begins with feeding the 5000, Jesus walking on water, and the crowds searching for Jesus, drawn by physical needs rather than spiritual. Jesus teaches the crowd that He is the Bread from Heaven, declaring who He is, but the crowd grumbles at this in disbelief because they know He is the son of Joseph and Mary. Then Jesus teaches in the synagogue that no one can have life unless they eat of His flesh and drink of His blood. Those following him take offense at Jesus’ words and depart from following him. This brings us to the end of John chapter 6, where Jesus defines the lines between believers, unbelievers, and betrayers.

Believers are those whom the Father draws, and the Spirit makes known the meaning of Jesus's words. Their belief in who Jesus claims to be and trust in the words that Jesus declares is a testament to the divine guidance they receive. They echo Peter's confession that Jesus is the only one who has the words of eternal life and who is the Holy One of God. Despite how challenging or difficult following Jesus may be, they are reassured that He is the only one who can lead them to eternal life.

Unbelievers cannot comprehend spiritual truths because the Father does not draw them. Their disbelief is evident when confronted with the challenging teachings of Jesus. These individuals often depart when trials arise, revealing the absence of genuine faith. On the other hand, believers, exemplified by Peter’s confession, recognize Jesus as the source of eternal life. Their faith is not just in what Jesus says but in who He is, a conviction granted by the Father and discerned by the Spirit. For believers, faith is further solidified post-ascension through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, marking them as faithful followers of Christ.

Betrayers are those who once followed Jesus but have turned away, becoming hostile to Him. This apostasy is not to be taken lightly, as it carries severe spiritual consequences, making it nearly impossible for them to return to repentance. Unlike struggling Christians or unbelievers, betrayers have known and rejected Christ.

The genuineness of our faith is often tested in two ways: Believing in who Jesus is and trusting in His words. When Jesus’ words are challenging or difficult, does it cause your faith to wane? Is there something that He would say that would stop you from following him? When trials come your way, do you see Jesus as Lord? Is there a situation that you could experience that would cause you to doubt that Jesus is Lord? Examining our faith in these two ways will help us determine if there are any points of departure in following Jesus.

To those who do believe and are growing in faith, know that the faith required to be saved need only be as small as a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20) and manifested like a child (Matthew 18:4). This simplicity of faith should be a source of reassurance and encouragement, reminding us that even the smallest, most childlike faith is enough to lead us to salvation.

Peace be with you!

- Pastor Bruce