From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (John 6:66-69)

To Whom Shall We Go?

Following the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus leaves the multitudes to a mountain where He can be alone. That evening His disciples got into a boat for Capernaum. When the boat was about three or four miles from land, Jesus came walking to them on the water and joined the disciples in the boat. Immediately, the disciples and Jesus arrived at Capernaum. The next day, the multitudes from the miracle of five loaves and two fishes found Jesus in Capernaum and were upset He did not tell them where He was going. They had not come to Jesus to hear more of His preaching but to be filled again with the wonderful meal of the day before. Jesus rebuked them for their misplaced allegiance and seeking after perishable things rather than that which is everlasting.

Jesus begins a lengthy discourse on the true manna from heaven. The miracle of the feast the day before was one of many signs Jesus did to show the world He was the Son of God. It was never the intention of God to send His only begotten Son into the world to feed the hungry. Miracles involving food demonstrated the power of God through Jesus Christ. Raising the dead did not take away death. Healing every disease, including leprosy, blindness, and those blind, maimed, deaf and crippled, did not remove the flesh’s infirmities. The miracles of Jesus were pointed to the evidence the man from Nazareth was the divine Son of God.

Jesus tells the crowd He was the bread from heaven and the bread of life. He shocks them with a language they did not understand when He told them unless they eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, they would have no life. The people were so focused on the five loaves and two fishes of yesterday, they could not hear the message of eternal life Jesus was offering them. They were offended by the teaching of Jesus and complained it was hard to accept. From that time, many of the disciples of Jesus turned and walked away. They refused to follow Jesus. Turning their backs, the doubters denied Jesus. Jesus looked at His twelve apostles and, seeing their faces, asked them if they were going to leave Him also.

The apostle Peter had a moment of truth as he watched large portions of disciples turn away from Jesus. It must have grieved Peter’s heart to see the crowd turn away from Jesus. When the Lord asked the twelve if they would leave Him also, Peter knew the answer. To whom would they go? Where would they find a man who was like Jesus? No man could show God’s power or teach with the authority of the Father as Jesus. Peter knew in an instant there was no other man that would give them eternal life. Jesus Christ was the only way Peter knew to walk. The man from Nazareth spoke the only truth. Life could only be found in the words and the power of Jesus Christ. Peter considered no other options. Jesus Christ was the only one that could bring hope and life.

Jesus alone had the words of eternal life. Peter did not look to Abraham or Moses for answers. The apostle would not accept his own words as life. Simon trusted in the only man who was the Son of God and that man was Jesus Christ. There was no one else to go to. The miracles of feeding five thousand, walking on water, instant travel and every other miracle witnessed by the apostles convinced them beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus was the Son of God. There was no other way to go and no other man to follow. Their minds were made up to follow Jesus and Jesus alone.

The world seeks answers in all the wrong places. Technology exalts the wisdom of men, science touts the accomplishments of human ingenuity, and the philosophies of men make gods out of their creators. Jesus is the Son of God and there is no other place a man will find answers to life. Many have turned away from Jesus, desiring to find happiness in every place void of God. All that is found is a desert of futility, decay and ruin. Fulfillment in life is only found when one comes to Jesus Christ and accepts Him as the bread of life. The world is a vast expanse of desert and the only place of life is the oasis of God’s word. Jesus is the bread of life and the living water of life in the oasis of God’s love. Until men come to the only source of life, they will die in the burning heat of the desert. When Peter said, “To whom shall we go,” he pointed out the only hope anyone has to find fulfillment in life comes from the Son of God, Jesus Christ. He has the words of eternal life.