“Eternal Words, Eternal Life”
Original sermon given August 25, 2024, written and delivered by Pastor Jeffrey Leininger at First Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church.
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“Eternal Words, Eternal Life"
John 6.56-69
John 6.56-69
In the name of the Living God and the risen Christ. Amen.
I wonder if he ever thought back to this moment, our ol’ friend Simon Peter. Here, he has a chance, with the other 11 Apostles, to walk away from it all. This is the moment in the gospels when most everyone leaves the Lord. Manyfollowers are scandalized by the words of Jesus. He is the manna come down from heaven. His words give eternal life. His flesh and blood bring fellowship with the Father. It was just too much for almost all of them, for the Lord confronts their old ways, their old world, and their old sinful selves claiming that only he can make all things new… only he can truly feed you.
So, most fall away, except the Twelve, with “Rocky St. Pete” here, speaking for them. But I wonder if later, he looked back and remembered this very moment and these compelling words: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6.68)
Perhaps Peter thought about it when they entered into Jerusalem, pilgrims shouting “Hosanna!” but the religious leaders plotting against them. Or maybe at the Last Supper. Remember when Peter vows that even if all forsake Jesus, he will die with him? Or in the firelight, after he caves to a servant girl and curses Jesus? Did he think about it then: “Where should we go?” Or how about when confronted by Christ’s death by crucifixion? Huddling and hiding with fear he believes with the others that it’s all over. Did he think back on this moment and this great confession and maybe even regret saying it? Maybe Peter should have just melted away like everyone else — taken the easy path, not wasted three years of his life and all the heartache and difficulties and dangers?
But then, there is of course the resurrection—which we celebrate today and every Sunday. We know that the Living Christ appeared specifically, personally to Simon Peter: forgave him and restored him and sent him. In that resurrection moment, when he stood before the Lord of life, perhaps he looked back and saw with new meaning what it means that only Christ’s words have eternal life in them.
But there’s one more moment of pious speculation for me. Although not recorded in the Bible, we know from a fairly solid church tradition that Simon Peter was martyred for the faith… and for confessing these words: in Rome, about 67 A.D. under the emperor Nero. Supposedly hanging upside down on a cross in the Circus Maximus—thousands watching, shouting, mocking. I wonder, did he think back in that moment of martyrdom about this earlier moment, when he could have turned away with so many others, but instead said “Lord, where should we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
I use the life of St. Peter as an entrance point in this morning’s gospel from John 6 because he reminds us that, when we confess Jesus as messiah, Holy One of God, we also don’t know where it will lead us… or what it might cost us. Peter cannot see how it will end and neither can we. But that’s probably best—we can let God be in charge of the future.
What St. Peter knows here in Capernaum is what I want you to know, here in “Chicago-um”: that this Jesus is enough. Whatever might come. However hard it might be. No matter how many others fall away, and don’t follow. No matter what the crowds around us say. Where else should we go? Who else turn to? Whose words to cling to? His words are life and life eternal and nothing and no one can be more important than this.
It’s for good reason that so many of those following Jesus turned away. The Lord’s teachings are scandalous. His words are hard. They are words of life of course, but they do bring death, first, before they bring life. That is, they convict us, knock us down, kill the Old Adam in us. That’s not the Jesus the world wants us to believe in. The world wants us to follow the Jesus who might challenge us a little bit. Redirect us some. Give us some nice advice. Help us out a bit, pat us on the back, and send us on our way.
That’s not the real Jesus, and it’s not who Peter confesses here in John 6. The real Jesus confronts everything within us that is not from him, of him. Our desires, our longings, our hopes, our dreams, our identity, our security, our meaning. If it’s not him we’re feeding upon, it’s poison for us. His words are spirit and life—like nothing else can be.
Simon Peter said: “You have the words of eternal life.” Let’s do a little anatomy on this confession of faith. “You have the words…”— Christ Jesus, savior and Lord; son of God and son of man; One come down from heaven who also ascended and reigns over everything.
Your “words have eternal life”—given to us in Holy Scripture and in the witness of the Christian church, spoken, sung, and shared. Not man’s words, or this world’s advice. Your words, Lord Jesus.
“You have the words of eternal life.” They are not fleeting, temporary, passing advice, but words that continue onto eternity. They assure us of a home in heaven, a final resurrection, and a restoration of all things. This eternal life is given to us. It is not earned. We did not merit it. It is ours solely because Jesus, the bread of life, came down from heaven for us, gave himself on the cross, but arose and ascended and will return in power and glory.
Maybe one day, later in life, you’ll look back on this moment, today. And you’ll recall hearing these words of Peter, perhaps for the first time: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
And maybe it will be a time of great distress, pain or suffering. Or, maybe intense persecution, as we know will happen when the end draws near. Or, maybe even at your last hour, when everything else is taken from you.
My prayer is that these words will bring you comfort: He is the Lord. His words have life. He is enough.
Come soon Lord Jesus. Amen.