The Words of Eternal Life

John 6:68 says, “Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.”

The hymn, “Wonderful Words of Life,” by Philip P. Bliss, written in 1874, was probably inspired by the words of Peter in our text, “Thou hast the words of eternal life.” Philip and his wife, Lucy, were song evangelists, traveling around the country and working with evangelists such as Dwight L. Moody and Daniel Webster “Major” Whittle. “Wonderful Words of Life” was written for a Sunday school paper called, “Words of Life.” Philip and Lucy were killed in a train wreck as they were traveling to a revival service led by Major Whittle. According to one source, Philip escaped the crash, but the carriage caught fire and he returned to save Lucy. Though he died at the age of 38, he left us an example of what this hymn portrays. If the words of eternal life could be summed up in three words, I believe they would be I Love You!

Jesus had just been speaking in the synagogue. Jews, and many of His disciples, heard His promise of everlasting life. At least nine times in John chapter six, Jesus spoke of eternal life. He explained how they could have it, promising them to “raise him up at the last day.” The invitation in verse 56 to eat His flesh and drink His blood was an intimate call to be one with Him as at the Last Supper. Jesus was not only offering eternal life, but bidding them to dwell in Him, and He in them. What a fellowship, what a joy divine!

How sad that after his plea, “…many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him” (V. 66). This same picture is in John 3:16-20. It begins with “For God so loved the world.” This was true from the beginning and is still true today. God did not just say, let there be man. God planned to make man (Genesis 1:26). He formed man from the dust (Genesis 2:7). Then face-to-face He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life—eternal life! Man had only to eat of the tree of life to live forever. The tree of life is still there. Jesus says, “…Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you” (John 6:53). In John 3:19 he states, “…men loved darkness rather than light.”

I can almost see the hurt in His face when Jesus asked, “…Will ye also go away?” I’m so glad Peter answered, “…Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.” 

Can you sing the great hymn, “Such Love” (C. Bishop, & Robert Harkness)? “That God should love a sinner such as I, Should yearn to change my sorrow into bliss, Nor rest ’til He had planned to bring me nigh—How wonderful is love like this! That Christ should join so freely in the scheme, Although it meant His death on Calvary—Did ever human tongue find nobler theme Than love divine that ransomed me? That for a willful outcast such as I, The Father planned, the Savior bled and died, Redemption for a worthless slave to buy, Who long had law and grace defied! And now He takes me to His heart a son: He asks me not to fill a servant’s place. The far-off country wand’rings all are done; Wide open are His arms of grace! SUCH LOVE, SUCH WONDROUS LOVE!…THAT GOD SHOULD LOVE A SINNER SUCH AS I—HOW WONDERFUL IS LOVE LIKE THIS!”

The World is full of deceit and empty promises. Only Jesus has the WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE!