When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 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.”
(John 6:60-69 ESV)
I remember reading this with my pericope group as we did text study to prepare for our upcoming sermons and I asked the question, “Why does Jesus give the disciples an out and not us?” Because Jesus plainly asks the disciples after the crowd sees and hears how hard the teaching is and they leave, He turns to the 12 and says, “Are y’all going to go to?”
But Jesus does give us a choice on whether or not we follow, and stick with what He has called us to. Following Jesus is not a one time decision. Once I make it I’m good and I don’t have to worry about anything again. Actually I remember Shane Claiborne saying something like, “Once I found Jesus my life got harder…” and that is actually the way I have found it to. Each day we get a choice of letting things go, or doing what we know we have to as followers of Christ.
Joshua said it as well, “Chose this day whom you will serve… … But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)
Each and every day we have a choice to make. But I’m there with Joshua and Peter. Where else can I g, because I have tasted the wonders of the Lord and seen the abundant life He has for me, and there is no where else to go. “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.”
aSacredRebel 