Lord, to whom shall we go?

John chapter six has some very exciting events that take place in many people’s lives as they come to listen to Jesus’ teachings and witness and experience the miraculous miracles that Jesus performs on their behalf. The crowds were huge. The expectations, as well as skepticism were great. However, the focus was on the temporary rather than the eternal by the vast majority.

Not much has changed in so many of our lives. We read or hear Jesus’s teachings, we actually go to the House of God to witness and experience what Jesus can do for us, we sing, pray and even bring others to do the same. However, what do we do when Jesus does not meet our expectation?

A very interesting dialogue continues in this chapter between Jesus and those that had experience the events just mentioned. Many in the crowd had a hard time believing that Jesus was the son of God. They asked him for a sign so that He might prove himself. These skeptics reminded him how God had provided manna in the desert for his people, and yet they had already forgotten that Jesus just broke bread at the beginning of this chapter to feed the 5,000 men and their families. Does this sound familiar? God has been faithful to us in the past, but He has to prove Himself now in a way that satisfies our expectation, if we continue our journey with Him.

Jesus pointed out to this questioning crowd, it was true that God provided manna in the desert, however, they still died a natural death. What Jesus was offering was totally different. Verse 50, “This is the bread (talking about Himself) that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.” Jesus is the Bread of Life. Jesus is concerned about meeting our temporal needs, but even more important, has provided a glorious eternal future where every facet is more than we could have dreamed.

The scripture continues on to say, that many looking for their expectation to be met their way, parted company with Jesus that day. “So, Jesus turns to His own disciples and says, “Do you want to go away as well?” (67) Jesus is still asking that question of His He disciples today!

Peter responded, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” The revelation that Peter experience can be ours too. It is my prayer, that even in the toughest times, we can say there is no safer place than following the God that loves and cares for us in this life, but a planned an eternal future that exceeds all expectations. Lord we choose to follow you…..all the way.