61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”
66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
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The Words of Eternal Life
What do they sound like? What would they promise? These "words" of eternal life. How are they different from other words? Words of temporary life. Words of eternal life seem to elicit a sense of transcendent meaning, something outside reality giving the words extra, super-natural, eternal meaning. I have heard someone say that words are like buckets and we as humans put meaning into those buckets. What kind of meaning would Peter have perceived to have associated Jesus' words as eternal? "You have the Words of Eternal Life" Peter says. Jesus helps us to understand something beyond ourselves. He is our translator. Jesus quotes Isaiah when he says "They will be taught by God" (John 6:45). God in a man-suit, our great immanuel, steps in to our reality, opens his mouth and speaks. "The Word became Flesh and made his dwelling among us" (John 1:14). If you found them would you listen? Would you follow their instruction? Would you tell others? Would you cover your ears or look for noise to drown them out? Would you hide out in rationalization? Letting the resistance win.
Or like Peter simple say, "I have no choice - you have the words of eternal life, you are my only hope. I am all in. Whatever you say."
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