September 4 - Every Man Ministries

“Where Else Would We Go?”

“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 have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” ––John 6:67-68

The miracles had ended, the leftover baskets of bread had been gathered, and most of the crowd had dispersed. Jesus was exhausted, but the people who remained were asking for more. They were asking for a king––a fighter, a deliverer. So Jesus retreated to a nearby mountain. Shortly after He returned to Capernaum to preach there. The crowds from the far side of the Sea of Galilee hired boats and followed Him. But still, they asked for bread—like the manna Moses had arranged for their ancestors in the desert.

Things finally came to a head when Jesus proclaimed: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35). Most folks didn’t respond well to this and other claims, saying:

“How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?” (v 42)
“Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?” (v 42)
“How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” (v 52)
“This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” (v 60)

Over and over in John 6 Jesus repeats this same truth: The way to the Father is to partake in the bread of life (belief in Jesus as the Son of God). Eventually, many grumbled and became frustrated, not understanding His words. In fact, many of His disciples—other than the Twelve—deserted Him.

It’s easy for us to look back on this scene and accuse Jesus’ critics of little faith. But put yourself in their shoes: Many of these people knew Jesus and his family, as he’d grown up only 25 miles or so away from Capernaum. If some dude from LA came to my town and told me he was the bread of life and had descended from heaven, how would I respond? (The phrase, “Familiarity breeds contempt” could apply here.) Of course, hindsight is 20/20, and we are fortunate to have 2,000 years of Christian teaching to give us the biblical context we need. So think about it … how would you have responded?

And this is where the rubber met the road: He turned to his remnant and asked them if they also planned to leave. It’s an intense moment. I can imagine a pregnant pause—until Peter steps up and says, “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” (v. 68-69).

Vulnerability. Honesty. Truth. Power. Peter saw through supernatural lenses while many of His followers saw only through natural ones. But the Twelve, in particular, had walked with Him, lived with Him, eaten and laughed with Him, and mourned with Him. And Peter put into words what they all knew in their hearts. But most of the people who were following Him, sadly, did not.

Man of God, in this hard, dark world, where else can we go but to the feet of Jesus? It’s all, it’s everything, and it’s enough. We may stray, but we will return. We may falter, but we will follow.

Jesus is the only response to the question, “Where else would we go?” or, “To whom else shall we go?” He is the bread of life—the One whom the Father sent to offer the manna that never runs out. Eat from His eternal table and live.

Father, there is no one else I want to run to. There is no place I’d rather be than in Your presence. I know that You are the lover of my soul, and the One who has set me free. Thank You!