Lee Moses
During Jesus’ ministry, large crowds were often attracted to Him. Some were attracted by His miracles, some were attracted by His teachings, some were attracted by their hope in Him as a king, and some were undoubtedly attracted by the sheer novelty and excitement being generated. But Jesus did not only attract large crowds—sometimes, He also repelled large crowds. On one occasion, Jesus was bringing forth teachings that caused many of His disciples to murmur and complain, saying, “This is an hard saying; who can hear it?” (John 6:60). Then, “from that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him” (verse 66).
You can imagine that, for many, that let quite a bit of air out of the balloon. Following Jesus was no longer the trendy thing to do. Seeing so many walk away from following Jesus would lead others to question their own decisions to follow Jesus. But Jesus had never forced anyone, not even the twelve apostles, to follow Him previously, and He would not do so now: “Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?” (verse 67). To this question, the apostle Peter gave the perfect answer: “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). The same question Jesus asked the twelve apostles falls to each of us: “Will ye also go away?”
Although Christianity spread worldwide in the decades following its inception on the day of Pentecost, it was only a few more decades before an almost universal apostasy from New Testament Christianity took place. Although there have been periodic resurgences of true New Testament Christianity from time to time—including in the 20th century—there are presently declining numbers of true adherents, at least in the United States. Through His Gospel, Christ calls us to Him; but He will not force anyone to come to Him or to remain faithful to Him.
But, with Peter, we ask, “To whom shall we go?” Shall we go to those learned in secular fields? No,
For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe (1 Cor. 1:19-21).
Shall we go to powerful politicians and mighty militaries? Ancient Israelites who did just that were warned, “Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horse men, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!” (Isa. 31:1). Again, the warning is given, “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD” (Jer. 17:5).
Shall we go to those bringing a less demanding religion than that found in the New Testament of Jesus Christ? Paul told Timothy that the time would come when many would seek something easier than the Gospel: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Tim. 4:3-4).
Jesus Christ freely offers what no one else has the ability to give—eternal life. Sadly, some will continue to choose to go away from Jesus Christ and the salvation found in His church. But let us echo the precious response of Peter: “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”
