Saturday, March 28, 2009

John 6: Where else can we go?

John 6 records the Feeding of the 5,000: one of the most amazing chapters in his gospel. Many people began following Him, not because they thought He was the Son of God. They followed simply because they wanted to have their stomachs filled. Jesus wanted them to know that in order to follow Him it would require they give themselves completely to Him as the Son of God, not just someone who could give them food to eat. Some of what He said was hard to understand and difficult to follow. As a result many left him. It was more than they bargained for. Jesus wondered what the twelve disciples would do.

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:66-69).

I love what Peter said to Jesus when He asked him if they wanted to leave. Peter said Lord, where else can we go? You have the words of eternal life and we believe and know you are the Son of God. Peter was saying, Lord we seen to much, experienced things we never thought possible. We may still have some questions, but one thing we know is that you are indeed the Son of God and where else can we go? Where else would we want to go?

I don't know about you, but there have been times in my life when following Christ has been hard to do. There have been times when I have had questions that could not be answered, there have been situations that I thought I would never face and answers I could not give. There have been some moments when I have wondered if it was really worth it. (Can you relate?)

But then I remember all that God has done in my life. I remember all that I have seen and experienced and these words that Peter spoke have been words that i have come back to over and over. And I have to say the same thing that he does. "Where else would I go? Where else would I want to go? Jesus is indeed my only hope for this life and for the one beyond.

I don't know all of the answers, everything doesn't always make sense to me. I don't know all there is to know, but I do know one thing: that Jesus is indeed the Holy One from God and He is the one I can trust with all of my life even when I can't get it all to make sense. I give myself completely again today. Where else would I go?

What about you...

7 comments:

  1. Thanks Bill...so well written

    Jack

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  2. I have been(couple of months) waking up with the same question. Where else can I go ? I'm waiting on the Lord for his direction.

    Your article gave`some exposure.

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  3. There is no other solution...and yes...we quesstion and ponder the meanings of so many situations and happenings but we must all come to the same conclusion that Peter...there is no where or no one to whom to go, except HIM. It can be difficult to walk by faith but I know of no other way but through HIM. May I be found faithful.

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  4. I love what Peter said too, where can we go if we leave His presence for in Him it is safe. If we leave, we will find many bad things that will hurt us but if we are with Him, if we get hurt He's there to clean and heal the wounds.

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  5. Thanks very much for this.

    I have often found that when I'm facing a seemingly difficult issue, the problem is not in coming up with the right answer, it's in asking the right question.

    "Is this realy worth it?" is the wrong question. Here, Peter (the good Peter, this time) asks the right question:
    "Where else can we go?"

    If you ask the right question, often the answer is obvious. Of course, that does not mean it the easy answer. necessarily easy.

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  6. Fiance left me at the alter. really hard time. almost five months now. struggling, battling.
    for the first time, in five months, having a heart to heart talk with God.
    fierce questions,
    pelting words... but eventually i land at John 6:68 - where else can I go. ? where else can I go, (Lord) indeed... you are my eternal life. it's a surprise i didnt successfully end my life prematurely, these months. I am still not recovered. but i am slightly better. it's still not good, but at least i can manage John 6:68 - where else can I go, Lord... where else can I go. everything is smashed. but i still have Life, THANK YOU LORD. I am still angry with everyone. But besides you, Lord, no one else is God. There is no other way to life, cept by/through you Lord. there is no one else but you. Who else do we go to, where else. There is no other choice, Lord. You, you alone, monopoly, have the words of eternal life.

    Juliannemay

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  7. So good! And so true! Thank you for the blog post. My hearts exact feelings today. Jesus is my everything! Where else can I go?!

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