He Was Loyal in the Face of Tests -Loyal When Others Turned Disloyal

 Peter often found himself surprised by Jesus. Again and again, his Master acted and spoke in a way that was contrary to what people expected of Him.  Just a day earlier, Jesus had miraculously fed a crowd of thousands. In response, they had attempted to make him king.  Yet, he surprised many by withdrawing from them, directing his disciples to board a boat and sail toward Capernaum.  As the disciples may their way over water during the night, Jesus surprised them again by walking across the stormy Sea of Galilee, giving Peter an important lesson in faith.

In the morning, they soon found that those crowds had followed them around the lake.  Evidently, though, the people were driven by a desire to see Jesus prodcue more miraclously, not by any hunger for spiritual truths. Jesus rebuked them for their materialistic spirit.  (John 6:25-27)   Than discussion contined at the synagogue in Capernaum, where Jesus again went against expectations in an effort to teach a vital but difficult truth. 

Jesus wanted those peope to see him, not a source of more physical food, but as a spiritual provision from God, as the one whose life and death, as  a man could make eternal life possible for others. So he gave an illustration comparing himself to manna,the bread that came came down from heaven in Moses' day.  When some objected he used a vivid illustration, explaining that it was necessary to partake of his flesh and his blood in order to attain life.  it was at this point that the objections became intent.  Some said: "This speech is shocking who can listen to it?"   Many of Jesus' own disciples decided to quit following him." - JOHN 6:48-60, 66. 

What would Peter do?  He too must have been baffled by Jesus' speech.  He did not yet grasp that Jesus must die in order to carry out God's will. Was Peter tempted to slink off like those fickle disciples who left Jesus that day?  No; something important set Peter apart from those men.  What was it?

Next time: He Was Loyal in the Face of Tests - Loyal When Others Turned Disloyal -Conclusion

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