To Whom Shall We Go

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To Whom Shall We Go?

There are some really tough concepts  in God’s word.     People are really  in a quandary  as to how they can possibly believe  such things.     About the only things we can really figure out  are the things we can see,  feel,  touch,  smell,  and hear — and,  even then,  we find things  that are too amazing  and “unbelievable”.

Much of the time,  when we come across things  that are impossible to conceive of,  we just throw our hands up  in the air  and want to give up.     What’s the use of trying  to figure out the impossible?     That’s how some people felt  as they listened  to Jesus’ preaching.     What He said  was mind-boggling  and they just had to walk away  from the Lord  and clear their mind.

In John 6:30-71,  Jesus talks about being  the bread of life.     He tells the people  in verse 54,  “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood  has eternal life;  and I will raise him up  on the last day.”     How can the human mind honestly figure  that out?      We can’t — not really.

So,  Jesus helps us out a bit  by saying  in verses 63-64,

“It is the Spirit  who gives life;  the flesh profits nothing;  the words  that I have spoken  to you are spirit  and are life.     But there are some of you  who do not believe.”

For Jesus knew  from the beginning  who they were  who did not believe,  and who it was  that would betray Him.

Those who were unable  to accept the spiritual words  of Jesus — or the fact  that Jesus knew exactly  who it was  who would betray Him — just gave up  and walked away from Jesus.     Only God knows the minds of people,  and they could not conceive  of Jesus really being God  in the flesh.     After all,  they could see Him.     Jesus certainly did not look majestic  or kingly  in any way.     And then,  that promise  of raising up people  on the last day  seemed ridiculous.     Who was this Jesus,  anyway?

When Jesus talked about giving eternal life  to those who ate His flesh  and drank His blood,  those concepts were so spiritual  some listeners felt  Jesus had to be  a nut case.      Nothing made sense.     Some just had to walk away.      They liked all of Jesus’ words  about God’s love  and tender care for them.     They liked Jesus’ healing of people  and feeding thousands.      But,  they could not accept  these spiritual words.     They didn’t want  to listen any more.

As they walked away,  we read  in verses 67-69,

Jesus said therefore  to the twelve,  “You do not want to go away also,  do you?”

Simon Peter answered Him,  “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.”

And that is our question.     “Lord,  to whom shall we go?”     Jesus’ spiritual statements were impossible  to understand.     Even though Peter could not understand those words,  there was plenty else  he did understand.     All of Jesus’ miracles,  His clear understanding  of the Scriptures,  and daily walk with God pointed  to the fact  that He had to be “the Holy One  of God.”      Jesus was like  what the Old Testament prophesied about.     No one else was capable  of doing all that Jesus did.     No one else was able  to be so righteous  in everything He did.     No one else was able  to make such good common sense  out of the Scriptures  like Jesus did.

Even though Peter  could not understand Jesus’ statements  about His body and blood,  Peter was able  to add up all the other facts  that he knew  about Jesus.     Everything Peter knew  and witnessed pointed  to Jesus being  “the Holy One  of God.”      Peter could not deny  those facts.

We shouldn’t deny the facts God has presented to us either.     After Jesus’ resurrection,  His followers were able  to realize many more fulfillments  of prophecies  in Jesus’ suffering,  death,  and resurrection.

All this is to say  that when we come across tough things  in the Bible,  we are not to give up  and walk away.     Instead,  we need to look  at all the facts  that do add up.     Based on everything  that really does add up,  we accept by faith  the things we have not yet  figured out.

We see little children learning that way  from their parents.     They don’t understand everything  their folks say  or do.     But,  based on their parents’ love  and helpfulness,  children are confident  that everything is okay  and they will understand it better  some day.

So we ask,  “Lord,  to whom shall we go?”     And Jesus answers,  “Come to Me,  all who are weary  and heavy laden,  and I will give you rest.     Take My yoke upon you,  and learn from Me,  for I am gentle  and humble  in heart;  and you shall find rest  for your souls.”

Resting our confidence  in the Lord,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     Lord,  Your ways are so good  and right,  pure  and holy.    We know Your ways are right  for each of us, too.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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