SET-2: Season of Apostles
APOSTLES FOURTH SUNDAY
JOHN 6:60-69 THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE
INTRODUCTION
Jesus, in some of his discourses with others, used the style of starting with a misunderstanding and ending later with the clarity of a divine truth. Such were his dialogues with Nicodemus and with the Samaritan woman at the well. Both took what Jesus said in a literal sense that was different from what Jesus meant. Jesus used a similar approach when he taught on the Holy Eucharist before establishing it at the Last Supper. He said, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink” (Jn 6:54-55). Since it was not practical in the literal sense and eating the flesh of humans and drinking blood were against the Hebrew Scriptures, many followers of Jesus left him. However, others, including the twelve apostles, stood firm with Jesus. Sometimes, Jesus’ teachings or those of his Church might not make sense to us. How do we respond in such a situation?
BIBLE TEXT (JOHN 6:60-69)
The Words of Eternal Life
(Jn 6:60) After hearing this, many of Jesus’ followers said, “This sort of teaching is very hard! Who can accept it?” (61) Jesus was aware that his disciples were murmuring about this and so he said to them, “Does this offend you? (62) Then how will you react when you see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? (63) It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh cannot help. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. (64) Yet among you there are some who do not believe.” From the beginning, Jesus knew who did not believe and who would betray him. (65) So he added, “This is why I told you, no one can come to me unless it is given to him by the Father.” (66) After this many disciples withdrew and no longer followed him. (67) Jesus asked the Twelve, “Will you also go away?” (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 now we know that you are the Holy One of God.”
INTERPRETATION
Background
We must read this gospel passage against the background of a series of events and teachings that happened prior to this. After preaching on a mountain and at the seashore in Tiberias, Jesus multiplied five loaves of barley bread and two fish to feed his listeners, comprising five thousand men and probably an equivalent number of women and children. Considering Jesus as a prophet, the people wanted to make him their king. But he withdrew to a mountain alone (Jn 6:1-15). Afterwards, the disciples witnessed Jesus’ walking on the water (Jn 6:16-21). The next day, the crowd searched for Jesus and found him teaching at a synagogue in Capernaum.
Realizing that the crowd was after him because of the multiplication of bread and fish, Jesus taught them on the bread of life, which was incomprehensible for the people. He asked them to work for “the food that endures for eternal life” that he would give them. During their discourse with Jesus, the Jews referred to the manna that Moses gave to their ancestors. Instead of such food for physical survival, Jesus promised them his own body and blood as nourishment for their souls to gain eternal life. Jesus presented himself as the true bread of God from heaven that is life-sustaining. When the Jews murmured at it, and considered only his earthly origin, he clarified, saying, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world” (Jn 6:51). “The Jews quarrelled among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?’” (Jn 6:52)
The Words of Eternal Life
(Jn 6:60) After hearing this, many of Jesus’ followers said, “This sort of teaching is very hard! Who can accept it?”
After hearing this
Jesus told the Jews, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day” (Jn 6:53-54). That made little sense to the people.
1. The Jews were not cannibals. After the deluge, God allowed Noah to eat the meat of animals. “Any living creature that moves about shall be yours to eat; I give them all to you as I did the green plants” (Gen 9:3). However, a tragic situation leading to consume human flesh was a horrible misery and a punishment for forsaking God. Jeremiah prophesied, “I will have them eat the flesh of their sons and daughters; they shall eat one another’s flesh during the harsh siege under which their enemies and those who seek their lives will confine them” (Jer 19:9). Eating the flesh of Jesus was an inconceivable declaration for them.
2. The Jews were prohibited from consuming blood: For the Jews, blood stood for life. When God permitted Noah to eat meat, He warned, “Only meat with its lifeblood still in it you shall not eat” (Gen 9:4). “Anyone hunting, whether of the Israelites or of the aliens residing among them, who catches an animal or a bird that may be eaten, shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth, since the life of all flesh is its blood. I have told the Israelites: You shall not consume the blood of any flesh. Since the life of all flesh is its blood, anyone who consumes it shall be cut off” (Lev 17:13-14).
The listeners could not comprehend the teaching on consuming Jesus’ body and blood because he established the Holy Eucharist only later. The people were taking the message in a literal sense while Jesus was talking from a spiritual perspective. Jesus had a similar style of discourse with the Samaritan woman and Nicodemus.
Many of Jesus’ followers said
Besides the crowd that had gathered to listen to Jesus, many of his followers, too, found his teaching on the consumption of his body and blood offensive. The situation resembled the seed sown on rocky ground. The miracles and teachings of Jesus impressed these followers at first and so they gladly followed him. Though they might have received baptism in the name of Jesus (Jn 4:1), they fell away when they found his teaching irrational to their understanding. So, their loyalty to Jesus did not last (Mt 13:2021). Some others, including the 12 apostles and the 72 disciples, accepted whatever Jesus taught, although they did not understand it. Their patience helped them grasp what Jesus taught later when he established the Holy Eucharist at the last supper.
“This sort of teaching is very hard! Who can accept it?”
From a worldly point of view, Jesus’ doctrine on the consumption of his body and blood was nonsense because it was impractical to eat the flesh and drink the blood of Jesus who was alive. It was also against Jewish law. So, the word “hard” here meant offensive to the listeners, which is clear from Jesus’ following question to them: “Does this offend you?”
(61) Jesus was aware that his disciples were murmuring about this and so he said to them, “Does this offend you?” Jesus was aware that his disciples were murmuring about this
Jesus noticed the murmuring of his disciples on his teaching that was unintelligible to them. Being afraid of asking Jesus for a clarification, they searched among themselves if any of them understood what Jesus taught. They asked one another how that teaching of Jesus could agree with the Hebrew Scriptures.
So he said to them, “Does this offend you?”
Jesus understood their limitations in terms of understanding his strange teaching because they took the teachings of Jesus on the Eucharist in a literal sense.
(62) Then how will you react when you see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?
Though Jesus had his human origin from Mary, he had existed from eternity. He was conceived in the womb of Mary not with the intervention of a human father, but by that of the Holy Spirit. Since he came from heaven, he will rise from the dead and will ascend to where he came from. According to Mark, “the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them (the eleven), was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God” (Mk 16:19). “The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things” (Eph 4:10). The eleven apostles who had eaten his flesh and consumed his blood at the Last Supper were eyewitnesses to the ascension. So, Jesus proved that his origin was from heaven. This was a prediction of Jesus’ ascension as well as evidence for his coming back from heaven.
(63) It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh cannot help. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
It is the spirit that gives life
Man got life when God blew the breath of life into the nostrils of the human body he formed out of dust (Gen 2:7). Unlike other living beings, the LORD did this only for the creation of man. Only humans were favoured with the image and likeness of God. So human life is superior and different from animal and vegetative life. Only humans can receive the Holy Spirit. Though our first parents received the spirit of God directly from Him, Original Sin corrupted it. Jesus allows us to reverse that deficiency through baptism and strengthen it with other sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist. Paul wrote, “If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you” (Rom 8:11).
The flesh cannot help
Flesh in the Bible stands for the worldly and sinful nature of humans and its inclination to satisfy sensual desires. Therefore, the flesh cannot help to gain eternal peace. So, with the Holy Eucharist, Jesus nourishes our souls so as to gain us the eternal reward. The flesh gains value with the presence of the spirit of God within us. Both Christ and the Spirit spiritually empower us. “From the beginning to the end of time, whenever God sends his Son, he always sends his Spirit: their mission is conjoined and inseparable” (CCC-743).
The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life
Jesus’ words on his body and blood that he offers for the enrichment of our souls are spiritual and are competent to gain us the spirit of God and life eternal. “By death the soul is separated from the body, but in the resurrection God will give incorruptible life to our body, transformed by reunion with our soul. Just as Christ is risen and lives forever, so all of us will rise at the last day” (CCC-1016).
(64) “Yet among you there are some who do not believe.” From the beginning, Jesus knew who did not believe and who would betray him.
For the public, Jesus was at first a master or a teacher who taught in the synagogues (Mk 1:21) and at public places (Mk 2:13). Like the followers of other rabbis of the time, many followed him because of their curiosity to listen to his edifying teachings. Some people called him rabbi because, like other rabbis, he also taught in a sitting position (Mt 5:1; 13:1), he was an expert in the scriptures, lectured in the synagogues and at the Temple (Lk 19:47), and used parables to teach.
Some people considered Jesus a prophet because he taught with authority as if his words were direct from God as compared to the Scribes who used to teach from the scriptures (Mt 7:29). His reputation as a prophet grew and his followers increased because he performed miracles more than all other prophets did. “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets” (Mt 16:14).
The close disciples of Jesus believed in his divinity and even performed miracles themselves, using the power Jesus shared with them. When Jesus called Nathanael to be his disciple, Nathanael acknowledged the divinity of Jesus saying, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel” (Jn 1:49). When Jesus asked Simon Peter, “But who do you say that I am?” his reply was, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:15-16).
“Yet among you there are some who do not believe”
Many believed in what Jesus taught, and even considered him the Messiah. However, some of his initial disciples doubted his teachings. Though they appreciated his instruction and miracles, they were not firm believers in Jesus and his role as the Christ. Those are the people who stopped following him. They were like the seed that “fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots” (Mt 13:5-6).
From the beginning, Jesus knew who did not believe
Jesus was aware of the effect of his ministry on each individual. He accommodated all of them with patience and gave them the freedom to stay with him or leave him. Along with human nature, he had the divine knowledge to understand the inner thoughts of his listeners. John documented, “While he was in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, many began to believe in his name when they saw the signs he was doing. But Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all, and did not need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself understood it well” (Jn 2:23-25). This he knew from the beginning of his ministry.
From the beginning, Jesus knew who did not believe and who would betray him
Jesus selected Judas Iscariot as one of his apostles, probably honouring his desire to follow Jesus. A vocation is one’s own choice and God’s selection. Jesus knew Judas would betray him even when he joined the company of the twelve. In John 6:71-72, we read, “‘Did I not choose you twelve? Yet is not one of you a devil?’ He was referring to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot; it was he who would betray him, one of the Twelve.” Still, Jesus accepted him to that key position.
A reasonable question arises, “If Jesus knew the betrayal, why did he choose Judas as an Apostle?” The answers are:
1. Fulfilment of the prophecy on the betrayal of the Messiah
The betrayal of Jesus by a disciple of his inner circle was the fulfilment of the prophecy of Jesus’ Passion. That would add to the mental agony Jesus accepted, along with his physical torture. He received such a heartbreak for fulfilling the prophecy. Psalm 41:10 recites, “Even my trusted friend, who ate my bread, has raised his heel against me.” Jesus referred to this in John 13:18; 17:12, Matthew 26:24, Mark 14:21. Peter mentioned this in his speech after the Ascension of the Lord to 120 followers of Jesus (Acts 1:16). He also linked the purchase of Akeldama to Psalm 69:26 and replacement of Judas to Psalm 109:8 (Acts 1:20). The betrayal for thirty pieces of silver has reference to Zechariah 11:12-13.
2. Judas might have been an upright man when he followed Jesus
The life of Judas is proof that the good can become bad and vice versa. Judas might have followed Jesus with a genuine intention. Jesus did not reject him when he expressed his desire to become a disciple. Though Jesus knew the development of worldly inclinations in Judas, Jesus accommodated him because, as Jesus himself claimed, he came to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance (Mt 9:13). He gave Judas the opportunity to know him intimately. Along with the other eleven disciples, Jesus allowed him to drive out unclean spirits and to cure every disease and every illness (Mt 10:1-2). He had seen and experienced who Jesus was and had an opportunity for salvation from Jesus. Judas had the freedom to choose either the way of Jesus or to gratify his own desires. When he was entrusted with the financial management, he “used to steal the contributions” (Jn 12:6). Money became an obsession for him, and his interests shifted to selfish motives. Satan, who misguided Eve (Gen 3:1-7) sneaked into him (Lk 22:3).
3. The betrayal was a choice of Judas ignoring Jesus’ teachings.
The chief priests and the Scribes were seeking a way to assassinate Jesus because of his popularity and noncompliance with them. Understanding this, Judas approached the chief priests and temple guards to support them for the sake of money. God gives us the freedom to do good or evil. Judas preferred the wrong way, ignoring Jesus’ teaching, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be” (Mt 6:19-21).
4. Jesus gave enough warning to Judas for escape if he wanted.
Jesus did not select Judas as a betrayer and his betrayal was not Jesus’ intention. It was Judas’ own choice. Jesus gave him several warnings so he could correct himself.
— When Jesus taught about the Holy Eucharist, many of his disciples left him. Then Jesus asked the apostles whether they also wanted to leave. Simon Peter then professed faith in Jesus as the “Holy One of God.” The response of Jesus was, “‘Did I not choose you twelve? Yet is not one of you a devil?’ He was referring to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot; it was he who would betray him, one of the Twelve” (Jn 6:66-71).
— When Jesus washed the feet of the apostles, he said, “‘You are clean, but not all. For he knew who would betray him” (Jn 13:10b-11).
— At the Last Supper, while Judas Iscariot was present, “Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, ‘Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me’” (Jn 13:21). When John asked, “‘Master, who is it?’ Jesus answered, ‘It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it.’ So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. After he took the morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, ‘What you are going to do, do quickly’” (Jn 13:25-27). On the same occasion, Jesus said, “‘The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.’ Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, ‘Surely it is not I, Rabbi?’ He answered, ‘You have said so’” (Mt 26:24-25).
Judas ignored these warnings because he was blinded by his worldly desires. He could not escape from that addiction. Jesus did not adopt a negative approach to Judas because he allows the weeds to grow along with the seeds (Mt 13:26-30). Even when Judas came with the soldiers and kissed Jesus, his response was kind, “Friend, do what you have come for” (Mt 26:50). Such an unrevengeful approach might have prompted Judas to realize his sin and to confess, “I have sinned in betraying innocent blood” (Mt 27:4). Unlike Peter, who repented (Mt 26:75), Judas deeply regretted (Mt 27:3) his mistake. “Regret is a feeling of remorse that is a negative emotion as it leads one to think continuously about his past action or behaviour and causes more shame, guilt, anger, disappointment, etc. Repentance is a positive emotion as it makes one learn about one’s mistake, and one vows not to repeat it in the future” (https://www.differencebetween.com/differencebetween-regret-and-vs-repentance).
Because of adverse circumstances or misuse of freedom, people might commit sin. However, Jesus offers us opportunities to repent. Judas chose the wide path for worldly goals that ended up in self-destruction. Though Peter denied his discipleship three times, he made use of Jesus’ generosity to forgive the sinner. Let us follow Peter’s approach when we fall.
(65) So he added, “This is why I told you, no one can come to me unless it is given to him by the Father.”
Along with our attempts, faith in the true God and salvation are gifts from heaven. John the Baptist taught his disciples, “No one can receive anything except what has been given him from heaven” (Jn 3:27). When Jesus preached, not all could comprehend him. When the disciples asked, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” Jesus replied, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted” (Mt 13:10-11).
Besides the preaching, Jesus performed supernatural signs in public. However, many did not believe in him “in order that the word which Isaiah the prophet spoke might be fulfilled: ‘Lord, who has believed our preaching, to whom has the might of the Lord been revealed?’ For this reason they could not believe, because again Isaiah said: ‘He blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, so that they might not see with their eyes and understand with their heart and be converted, and I would heal them” (Jn 12:37-40).
(66) After this many disciples withdrew and no longer followed him.
After this
“After this” here stands for Jesus’ teaching on the requirement of his followers to consume his flesh and blood to attain eternal life (Jn 6:48-58). That made little sense to many disciples, and they found it offensive because it was against traditional beliefs and teachings.
many disciples withdrew
Not all disciples left Jesus forever. Those who left were all or part of the disciples who are mentioned in John 6:60 who said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” They were the nominal disciples who were baptized to join the company of Jesus but were not deep-rooted in faith. They had their own perception of the Messiah, which they failed to see in Jesus.
The 12 apostles, 72 disciples, some devoted women, and many others continued following Jesus as his disciples. After the resurrection, Jesus had 120 disciples in Jerusalem (Acts 1:15), and 500 in Galilee (1 Cor 15:6). Jesus did not express any offence at those who withdrew from his discipleship. They had the freedom to join him or leave him. no longer followed him
Those who left his discipleship returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him as his disciples. They continued their Jewish religious practices.
(67) Jesus asked the Twelve, “Will you also go away?”
Losing many disciples was very discouraging to Jesus. He wanted to find out the attitude of the apostles, who were also listeners of what he taught about the Eucharist. However, they had been accompanying him full-time and so should have had a better understanding of him. Jesus had shared his power to heal and to cast out demons with them, and they had made use of them well. So, he raised this sensitive question of whether they also wanted to leave him.
(68) Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
Simon Peter answered him
Though Jesus addressed the question to all the twelve apostles, it was Simon Peter who answered on behalf of the rest of them. He had inborn leadership qualities and acceptance among the apostles. We see Peter’s initiative in doing things and his boldness to talk to Jesus or address others representing the twelve:
1. When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the waters of the sea, Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water” (Mt 14:28).
2. In answer to Jesus’ question to his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16).
3. When Jesus predicted his passion, death, and resurrection, Peter took Jesus aside and rebuked him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you” (Mt 16:22).
4. During the transfiguration experience on a high mountain, Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” (Mt 17:4).
5. Once Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” (Mt 18:21)
6. At the last supper, Jesus said to the apostles, “This night all of you will have your faith in me shaken …” Then Peter said to him in reply, “Though all may have their faith in you shaken, mine will never be” (Mt 26:33).
7. While the soldiers attempted to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus” (Jn 18:10).
8. After the resurrection of Jesus, Peter took the initiative at the Sea of Tiberias to go for fishing and six other disciples joined him (Jn 21:1-3). When he realized it was Jesus on the shore guiding them for the great catch of fish, he jumped into the sea and approached Jesus while the other disciples came in the boat (Jn 21:7-8).
9. When Jesus predicted Peter’s martyrdom, he asked Jesus, pointing to John, “Lord, what about him?” (Jn 21:21)
10 After the Ascension of Jesus, Peter addressed 120 disciples in Jerusalem to select an apostle to replace Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:15-16).
11. After receiving the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and addressed the Jews (Acts 2:14).
Thus, Peter was a spokesperson and a natural leader among the apostles. Because of his boldness and deep faith in the Messiah of Jesus, Jesus appointed him as the head of the Church.
Lord, to whom shall we go?
The apostles left everything for Jesus (Mt 19:27; Lk 18:28). They were witnesses to the miracles Jesus performed. Even though they could go back to their profession like fishing or tax collection, they knew that Jesus’ way was the way to fulfilling his mission prior to achieving life after death.
Peter’s answer expresses the apostles’ firm belief that Jesus was the Messiah, and that only he could lead them to God. It was Peter’s prompt response and indicative of sincere confidence in Jesus. Peter and the other apostles knew that the Jewish teachers of the time, i.e. the Scribes, the Pharisees, and the priests, were corrupt and were like the blind leading the blind (Mt 15:14).
You have the words of eternal life
Jesus trained the disciples to work for eternal life, making use of all the resources they had in this world. Once, a youth approached Jesus and asked what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus’ reply was to keep the commandments. Jesus continued, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Mt 19:21). The apostles gave up every material resource they had and followed Jesus with the hope of an eternal reward – something that the youth was not willing to do.
Jesus promised eternal life several times to those who follow his life-giving words. “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life” (Jn 5:24). “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day” (Jn 6:40). “It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (Jn 6:63). “I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life” (Jn 12:49-50).
(69) “We have come to believe and now we know that you are the Holy One of God.”
We have come to believe and now we know
The disciples had faith in Jesus when they answered his call to become apostles. Their knowledge of Jesus grew as they continued listening to him, witnessed his miracles, saw his compassion for the poor, and his authority to forgive sins. They got the assurance that Jesus came from above, though they were unaware of how Jesus would perform his role as the Messiah. At Caesarea Philippi, Peter had a revelation from the heavenly Father to proclaim Jesus as son of the Living God (Mt 16:16-17). Since then, Peter and his companions never doubted the divinity of Jesus. So, even when they did not understand well the teachings of Jesus, they believed in what he said as children trust their parents.
The apostles realized everything told in the Holy Scriptures about the Messiah was fulfilled in Jesus. Though the Jewish leaders objected to Jesus and denied his Messiahship, the disciples understood him as the God-promised saviour of the world. So, even though they could not understand his teaching of eating his body and drinking his blood and many disciples left him, the apostles stood strong with Jesus. you are the Holy One of God
Holiness stands for perfection. Though holiness can be of varying degrees, God is the purest holiness. Since Jesus is the second person of the Most Holy Trinity, he is also holy in the perfect sense. Even when he took human nature, it did not reduce his holiness because he was of divine origin and was thus free from sin. He has shown humanity how a person can resemble God in holiness by keeping the covenantal relationship with God and by doing acts of charity even to one’s adversaries.
When Isaiah had the vision of heaven, he heard Seraphim crying out to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts! All the earth is filled with his glory!” (Isa 6:3) So, Isaiah repeatedly titled God as “the Holy One of Israel.”
While Jesus was teaching in a synagogue in Capernaum, a man with an unclean spirit cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” (Mk 1:24) Jesus ordered him to keep quiet. Peter and the other disciples might have noticed this secret of Jesus. Peter made use of the same phrase when he expressed his faith in Jesus. Through this, Peter acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah that God promised to send for crushing the head of Satan (Gen 3:15) and save humanity forever.
Peter publicly acknowledged the divinity of Jesus thrice. The first was when Jesus walked on the sea. Those in the boat, including Peter, did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God” (Mt 14:33). The next was in response to Jesus’ question, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16). A third one was this passage when Peter said, “you are the Holy One of God” in response to Jesus’ question, “Will you also go away?”
MESSAGE
1. Many followers of Jesus found his teaching as to eating his flesh and drinking his blood offensive and so left him. The divine truth can be quite unintelligible for us humans. “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor 1:18). Some Christians have fallen away because of the influence of anti-Christian ideologies. Let our faith be built on rock than on sand.
2. Jesus was not discouraged when some of his followers left him because his teachings were offensive to them. He stood for the truth. Let the downfalls in our ministry not discourage us.
3. When the apostles and some other disciples heard Jesus’ teaching on consuming his flesh and blood, their faith was not shaken because of their firm faith in Jesus. Some teachings of Christianity are beyond human understanding, such as the Holy Eucharist, the Most Holy Trinity, or life after death. However, let us trust in the Lord the way children believe in and obey their parents.
4. We humans are different from animals in that we have a soul that is eternal in nature. While nourishing our body, we need to enrich our souls keeping in mind life after death. Unlike the people who don’t care about eternal life, let us enrich ourselves with the Holy Eucharist and make use of our body and resources to keep the commandment of love.
5. Judas is a typical example of how a Christian might lose interest in Jesus and deviate from him for the sake of worldly achievements. Judas tried to be rich in this world and he lost his wealth and soul in the end. Let us learn a lesson from his life and refrain from betraying Jesus for our greed and worldly ambitions.
6. Jesus’ positive attitude towards Judas even when he knew beforehand the purported betrayal by Judas is a lesson for us. He who taught love for enemies accommodated Judas in his company with no vengeance and gave him enough warning for correction.
7. We have to repent and correct ourselves on time. Otherwise, we would reach a point of no return. Peter promptly repented when he committed his mistake. Though Judas regretted his huge fault, he failed to repent, recover and seek pardon.
