John 6:67-71, A Devil?

67So Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?" 68Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God." 70Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil." 71He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the Twelve, was going to betray him.

While most of us would be overwhelmed by such a substantial loss of followers, Jesus is not. Instead, he turns to his small group of twelve to see what they are thinking. As typical, Peter answers for the group. He knows there is nowhere else to go. Jesus is the Holy One of God. They all believe in him—that is all but Judas, who will betray him. It must have been a difficult day at the synagogue for these disciples, and this debriefing session reassured them that Jesus was not giving up on them. They were chosen by him, and he has promised not to lose any who come to him.

This interaction produces important insights to consider. First, Jesus reminds his disciples that he chose them. It was not their insight or ability but his sovereign choice of them. Like Paul, none of them can boast about themselves. God is actively working on them and in them. This is reassuring. Second, Jesus reminds us that he chose Judas the betrayer along with the others. That Judas was purposefully selected to be the betrayer appears absurd, but Jesus recognizes exactly who and what he is and does nothing to stop him. In fact, he will encourage him at the last supper to hurry up and do the work of Satan. Third, Jesus reminds his disciples and us about the cost of following him. We will not be popular. We will have a hard time understanding and explaining about true belief in Jesus. We will have to go to the cross and die to ourselves, meaning eating his flesh and drinking his blood as we take on the character of Christ.

Following Jesus has never been easy. Today thirty to forty Christians will be killed in Northeastern Nigeria by Boko Haran because of their faith. In the Middle East others will be martyred while most face intense persecution and prejudice. Christianity is hard. Jesus never describes it as easy. Yet in this hardness, God is creating hearts of flesh, which will love and serve the Savior of the world.

Where is faith hard in your life? Talk with God about it today.