Peter – Page 2 – Christian Devotions, Health and General issues of the day

John 6The Message

Too Tough to Swallow

⁶⁰Many among his disciples heard this and said, “This is tough teaching, too tough to swallow.”

^61-65Jesus sensed that his disciples were having a hard time with this and said, “Does this rattle you completely? What would happen if you saw the Son of Man ascending to where he came from? The Spirit can make life. Sheer muscle and willpower don’t make anything happen. Every word I’ve spoken to you is a Spirit-word, and so it is life-making. But some of you are resisting, refusing to have any part in this.” (Jesus knew from the start that some weren’t going to risk themselves with him. He knew also who would betray him.) He went on to say, “This is why I told you earlier that no one is capable of coming to me on his own. You get to me only as a gift from the Father.”

^66-67After this, many of his disciples left. They no longer wanted to be associated with him. Then Jesus gave the Twelve their chance: “Do you also want to leave?”

^68-69Peter replied, “Master, to whom would we go? You have the words of real life, eternal life. We’ve already committed ourselves, confident that you are the Holy One of God.”

^70-71Jesus responded, “Haven’t I handpicked you, the Twelve? Still, one of you is a devil!” He was referring to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. This man—one from the Twelve!—was even then getting ready to betray him.

1 Corinthians 15

The Good News About Jesus Christ

15 Now, brothers and sisters, I want you to remember the Good News I told you. You received that Good News message, and you continue to base your life on it. ²That Good News, the message you heard from me, is God’s way to save you. But you must continue believing it. If you don’t, you believed for nothing.

³I gave you the message that I received. I told you the most important truths: that Christ died for our sins, as the Scriptures say; ⁴that he was buried and was raised to life on the third day, as the Scriptures say;⁵and that he appeared to Peter and then to the twelve apostles. ⁶After that Christ appeared to more than 500 other believers at the same time. Most of them are still living today, but some have died. ⁷Then he appeared to James and later to all the apostles. ⁸Last of all, he appeared to me. I was different, like a baby born before the normal time. See the source image

⁹All the other apostles are greater than I am. I say this because I persecuted the church of God. That is why I am not even good enough to be called an apostle. ¹⁰But, because of God’s grace, that is what I am. And his grace that he gave me was not wasted. I worked harder than all the other apostles. (But I was not really the one working. It was God’s grace that was with me.) ¹¹So then it is not important if I told you God’s message or if it was the other apostles who told you—we all tell people the same message, and this is what you believed.

As Christians we are called by God to spread the Good News when ever we get the chance whether it be to a friend, a neighbour, or even with someone in need. Mark 16; 15-16 says “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. “He who has believed and has been baptised shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”

Therefore there is only one way of entering the gates of heaven and that is by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.