From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him (67) Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? (68) Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. (69) And we believe, and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. (70) Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? (71) He spake of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.
I beg the Reader to mark well the character of those who are here said to have gone back, and walked no more with Jesus. Not the Apostles. Not a single one whom the Father had given to Christ, and in whose hearts a saving work of God the Holy Ghost had been wrought. None of these are in the least hinted at. But the persons alluded to are the carnal and mere nominal disciples which followed Jesus, some, that they might eat of the loaves and fishes, and some which had hoped that Christ would set himself up as a king, to deliver the nation from the Roman yoke, under which they had long groaned. While these objects were in view, all such were ready to follow Christ. But when Jesus discountenanced all their hopes of a temporal kingdom, and in the stead of this world's opulence, spake of a cross, and self-denial to all which would follow him, their Hosannahs became soon changed into the cry of Crucify him. Reader! Is it not to be feared, from what we see daily in common life, that such instances are not singular? Is this heavenly preacher in reality better loved, in the present day of much profession, when the exalting wholly of Christ, and levelling to the dust all sinners, are made the sole subjects of his salvation? Do not all modern Pharisees equally revolt at the doctrine of a spiritual life, in Christ, and a complete self-loathing in the consciousness of their own total depravity before God?
I have often paused to admire the very tender, sweet, and gracious words of our Lord, to his few faithful followers, in the question, will ye also go away? Not as if Jesus had the smallest apprehension of the departure of any, who, from the gift of his Father, and the grace-union in himself before all worlds, were secured in the covenant, and made willing in the day of his power. Ephesians 1:4; John 6:37-40; Psalms 110:3. And, as another blessed Scripture saith, Jesus well knew what was in man. John 2:25 and who should betray him. John 13:11. But the words were sweetly expressive of the love and tenderness of the heart of Jesus to his own. It is as if Jesus had said, the departure of all that are gone is just as it should be. They none of them ever had any grace-union with me. John 17:9. But ye are mine.
And I admire the fervent zeal, and love, and attachment of Peter, expressed in the few, but striking words, he uttered on this occasion. And he spake as the mouth of the rest, that is, all but the traitor Judas. For it is plain, that at this time, and for a considerable space after, not one of the faithful Apostles had the smallest suspicion of the infamy of this awful man. And how must they have been struck with the Lord's answer to Peter: Have not I chosen you twelve? And one of you is a devil! Yes! chosen twelve to an outward office. But not the whole to inward grace. The whole twelve were indeed chosen to be Apostles. Luke 6:13. But Judas obtained only part, as Peter afterward explained it, of this ministry. Acts 1:17. No part in the book of life. Never chosen in Christ by the Father, before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:4. The only part of a mere office, without union or communion in grace. Oh! the awfulness of such a state! [See Hebrews 6:4 and Commentary there.]