Lord, to Whom Shall We Go?

Scripture reading: John 6:66-68
“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. ⁶⁷ Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” ⁶⁸ But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

INTRODUCTION:
As the crowds were leaving, Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Do you want to go away as well?” (John 6:67). As usual it was Peter who take the lead but always sincere, who answered. His reply is a classic statement of Christian resolve: “Lord, to whom shall we go?

Peter addressed Jesus as “Lord.” It is clear that he addresses Jesus as the divine Lord. When the New Testament refers to Jesus as Lord, it grants him the homage paid to Yahweh in the Old Testament. Psalm 27:1 says, “The LORD is my light and my salvation.” Peter was ascribing this same honor to Jesus.

We may all be able to answer with Peter: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John6:68). It was a profound question and a profound answer. Peter’s answer is worthy of note. He said in effect, “Lord, how could we leave You? You teach the doctrines which lead to eternal life. If we leave You, there is no one else to whom we could go. To leave You would be to seal our doom.

In Matthew 16:16, Peter’s confession of faith he gives expression to two points. First, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Second, “You have the words of eternal life” In these two statements we have the foundation of our salvation and eternal blessing, namely, WHO HE IS and WHAT HE HAS (John 6:68).

1. In this life to whom shall we go with our sin.
Mans greatest problem is sin because sin separates us from God. In this life to whom shall we go with our sin.
Who can relieve this consciousness of sin? Who can relieve the aching heart. Who can speak peace to a sinful soul? Who. CHRIST alone. “There is none other name… whereby we must be saved.”

1John 1:9 declares, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

2. In this life to whom shall we go for assurance of life?
When all around is so unreliable, we want something like a rock on which to build our faith. Our Lord is that Rock. We can listen to One who is the TRUTH to our heart’s content.

John 3:14-16 declares, “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

3. In this life to whom shall we go with our sorrow?
Who can heal a broken heart? Who can relieve the grief of a bereaved soul? Jesus can heal your brokenness,

The Psalmist was going through brokenness and he speaks to himself in Psalm 42:5, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance.”

Peter declared in 1 Peter 5:7 “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

4. In this life to whom shall we go for guidance?
In all the perplexities of life when we don’t know where to go for guidance, Bible gives us the answer.

Psalms 32:8 declares “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.”

CONCLUSION:
The question again, to whom shall we go?
First, If you have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior—then there is no way for you to go but forward. A threefold cord binds you to him. Peter speaks of it. First, there is nowhere else to go. Peter acknowledged this in the tone of his question. There were many religious options in Peter’s day.

They might turn to the mystical paganism that Jesus would soon show them at Caesarea Philippi. They might go back to the religious legalism of Judaism. But if they were to find a divine salvation that truly meets the needs of sinners and brings us to God, there would be no alternative to Jesus Christ. He is the only true Savior; “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

Second, you have learned that there is satisfaction in the words of the Lord Jesus Christ and that true satisfaction can be found in him only. Peter said, “You have the words of eternal life.” This reminds us that Jesus is the true Giver of Life. Eternal life comes through a trusting relationship with Jesus, including present satisfaction for the soul and unending glory in the life to come.

This, too, had been a lesson of Jesus’ miracle. The same Jesus who had been able to feed a vast crowd with a few fish and loaves can also meet the needs of our souls. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). Peter’s answer echoed back in faith: “You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). That is the conviction from which faith always proceeds.

Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” This has reference to the thought of going back, and Peter is expressing his view that having once come to Jesus such a thing is unthinkable. Is it unthinkable to you? Or would you consider turning back? You say, “I am so discouraged right now, I think I might.” Well, then, let me ask this: What would you go back to? Is there anything in your past that can compare with Jesus?

In the year 1555, in Oxford, England, Hugh Latimer, the bishop of the Reformation period, was led to the stake to be executed. Bishop Ridley was with him as well. These men had come to prominence as spokesmen for the Reformation in England under King Henry VIII and had carried the true gospel of salvation by grace into corner of England.

But a change had come. Mary 1 of England was now upon the throne, she was called as Bloody Mary  and godly men everywhere were being executed. Like one who had run a good race and who had kept the faith, Bishop Latimer went to the fires calmly. At the last he called out, “Be of good comfort, Bishop Ridley, and play the man; we shall this day light such a candle by God’s grace in England as (I trust) shall never be put out.”

If the time should come when you or I should find ourselves in that position, I trust that we too shall be strong. We cannot turn back. There is no place to go but forward.

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