"Lord, to whom shall we go?" (John 6:56-69)

John 6:56-69

 

Pastor Tom Johnson, August 23, 2015

There could be several reasons why the disciples took offense at Jesus and decided to stop following him. It may have been offering his body and blood as bread and drink. It may have been his assertion that our faith is a work of God—that God grants and gives faith. They are offended. Jesus’ sayings have become too strange and difficult. They turn away and leave. These who were once disciples—pupils—students of Jesus no longer wish to learn from this Master. It just does not seem worth it anymore.

To whom did they go?. Did they go to their synagogues and communities of faith to search the Scriptures to see if what Jesus taught was true? Did they look for prophet that would scratch their itching ears? Or did they go to the safe and predictable world of their own natural, day-to-day thinking? Jesus does not seem surprised. He even turns to the remaining twelve disciples and asks them, “Do you also wish to go away?” Jesus’ candor and transparency here is unsettling—as unsettling as  what caused the offense in the first place.

Do you ever feel like packing your bags and calling it quits? Have you burned out from the life of a disciple whose world is frequently turned upside down? Are you just tired of it all—ready to throw in your towel—and give up the good fight? “Do you also wish to go away?” “Be honest,” Jesus says. “Just let it out. I won’t be surprised.” Jesus wants to draw out those hidden and unspoken thoughts. He wants to bring them into the light. Sometimes it is cleansing just to speak from our hearts. Why should any of us blindly ride the coattails of our parents or those who encouraged us in the faith? What is wrong with turning away to the world with all of its diversity and alternatives to the Christian faith? Do you and I also wish to just go away at times? Maybe it is the mystery of the bread and the wine and how it is also the Body and Blood of Jesus. Perhaps it is the profound doctrine of God’s foreknowledge and his supreme reign even over our hearts and minds. Or maybe it is something else. Is it the hypocrisy of the Church? Is it the lack of love and judgment we find in our communities of faith? To put it bluntly, why is Christianity on the decline in the West? Or are people just more honest with themselves these days and courageous enough to say enough is enough?

Jesus is not panicking here in this text even though most of his followers just decided to go their separate ways. By turning to the disciples and asking them if they want to join them, he is giving them space and time to make their journey their own. He gives them freedom to explore and struggle on our own. “Do you also wish to go away?” Peter answers, “To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” Jesus, we have strayed away in our hearts. We have explored this wilderness for another flower. We have tasted the world’s bread and sipped on its wine. We have considered an outlook on life that lacks the mystery and transcendence of your teaching. And they have all come up short. You are the rose of Sharon in the desert. We have come to believe and know—our journey has led us here. We have come far. There is still uncertainty ahead. But your words are eternal life. And you are the Holy One of God. You are our last hope for truth. You are the only assurance of God’s grace. You are the only reliable revelation of the love of God. You are the only light for those who grope in the dark.

I love those words of Peter: “We have come to believe and know…” Following Jesus is a mysterious journey. It gives room to our individual stories. We have the freedom to question, explore, and consider the claims of Jesus of Nazareth. We discover for ourselves that following Jesus will always stand up as the best alternative in life’s journey. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He most beautifully and most truly reveals the love God has for the world.

Just think about Peter’s journey from here. To whom does he go when Jesus is arrested? He goes to his sword to cut of the ear of a servant. To whom does he go when they take Jesus away? He runs away along with the other disciples. To whom does he go when Jesus is being wrongly tried and crucified? He goes to warm himself around a fire and denies Jesus three times and returns to his former life as a fisherman. To whom does he go after all his failings, sin, and tears when he recognizes the resurrected Jesus on shore? Peter dives in the water toward the One who forgives, restores, and assures us of eternal life.

To whom shall we go? He invites us to follow. He gives room to our journey. He assure us that he is the Holy One of God—true Messiah—faithful Teacher with words of eternal life. He is most beautiful Revealer of the love of God for his creation.

Yet is God here? 
O, yes! By Word and promise clear, 
In mouth and soul 
He makes us whole—
Christ, truly present in this meal. 
O taste and see—the Lord is real.
(from hymn "What Is This Bread" v. 4)