Jesus is the Son of God, the Man beyond time, who gives us eternal life.

“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:68–69

During 2016, theater companies in Britain and around the world have staged special productions to mark the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare. Concerts, lectures, and festivals have drawn crowds who celebrate the enduring work of the man widely considered to be the greatest playwright in the English language. Ben Jonson, one of Shakespeare’s contemporaries, wrote of him, “He was not of an age, but for all time.”

While the influence of some artists, writers, and thinkers may last for centuries, Jesus Christ is the only person whose life and work will endure beyond time. He claimed to be “the bread that came down from heaven . . . whoever feeds on this bread will live forever” (v. 58).

When many people who heard Jesus’s teaching were offended by His words and stopped following Him (John 6:61–66), the Lord asked His disciples if they also wanted to leave (v. 67). Peter replied, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God” (vv. 68–69).

When we invite Jesus to come into our lives as our Lord and Savior, we join His first disciples and all those who have followed Him in a new life that will last forever—beyond time.

Lord Jesus, thank You for the gift of eternal life in fellowship with You today and forever.

耶稣是上帝的儿子，永活的人子，赐给我们永生。

“主啊，祢有永生之道，我们还归从谁呢？我们已经信了，又知道祢是上帝的圣者。”-约翰福音6章68-69节

在2016年，英国和世界各地的剧院，都特别上演了威廉·莎士比亚的著名剧作，以纪念他逝世四百周年。各种音乐会、讲座和节庆，都吸引许多剧迷，因为莎士比亚是举世公认最伟大的英语剧作家。与莎士比亚同时代的英格兰文艺复兴剧作家本·琼森（Ben Jonson）写道：“他不只是一代大师，而是永恒的经典。”

有些艺术家、作家和思想家的影响力，会持续好几个世纪之久。但是，只有耶稣基督的生命和工作能永远长存。耶稣基督宣告祂自己就是“从天上降下来的粮。吃这粮的人，就永远活着”（约翰福音6章58节） 。

当时有许多人听到耶稣的教训，觉得难以接受，便离开不再跟随祂（约翰福音6章61-66节） 。耶稣就问那十二个门徒说：“你们也要去吗？”（67节） 彼得回答说：“主啊，祢有永生之道，我们还归从谁呢？我们已经信了，又知道祢是上帝的圣者。”（68-69节）

当我们邀请耶稣进入到我们的生命当中，尊祂为我们的救主，就是加入初代使徒和历代信徒的行列，跟随我们的主，得着永远长存的新生命。

主耶稣啊，感谢祢赐下永生，
让我们能亲近祢，从今直到永远。

John 6:53-69New International Version (NIV)

53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Many Disciples Desert Jesus

60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”

61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you see the Son of Manascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit[a] and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.”For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”

66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.

68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

整理：于姊妹