Whence the Words of Eternal Life
John 6:67-69
Then said Jesus to the twelve, Will you also go away?…


I. THE ANSWER OF SCIENCE. By education, by learning the laws of nature and training oneself to obey them, Professor Huxley likens life to a game at chess. The board is the world; the pieces the phenomena of the universe; the rules its laws. The player on the other side is hidden. His play is always fair, but he never overlooks a mistake. To the man who plays well the highest stakes are paid. The one who plays iii is checkmated without remorse. Education is learning the rules of this game.

1. This representation ignores the spiritual nature. That there is a spiritual nature and spiritual fact is attested by the consciousness and history of our race.

2. The God of Science is unknowable, without sympathy for the weak and erring, and compassion for the suffering. If this be all the God there is, how foolish to concern ourselves about the words of eternal life!

3. This theory of the highest living leaves out of the account the most startling fact of human life — sin.

4. This answer has been tested. Give us culture, say the scientists, and we will save the race, and usher in the long-looked-for Golden Age. Ah, yes, culture I that is what Athens had, and perished. That is what Paris has, and, as Carlyle says, is crazy. That is what Germany has, and still is full of the worst ills. That is what England has, and yet England is neither satisfied nor happy. That is what we have, and still these spirits of ours crave something higher, stronger, purer, better. That is what this age of ours has, and withal is blind and weak, and restless as the storm-tossed sea. Science may educate, but still sin remains, and conscience is not quieted.

II. PETER'S ANSWER. What a mighty contrast between Christ and science..

1. Go to Jacob's well. "Whence has thou the living water?" The scientist would reply, "Out of the great well of nature. Study the laws of the universe." Would the woman's heart have been touched, and would she have obeyed?

2. Suppose it had been the scientist who had been dining at Simon's table; he would have said, "Woman, it is not scientific to weep. Be calm. Life is a game at chess; you have been checkmated because you didn't understand the rules of the game." Would she have gone away as she did disburdened and satisfied?

3. What would the scientist have done at the grave of Lazarus?

4. Where has science given us a parable of the prodigal son?

(S. A. Ort, D. D.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

WEB: Jesus said therefore to the twelve, "You don't also want to go away, do you?"




Two Stages of Spiritual Life
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