“To Whom Shall We Go?”

John 6:68“But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” In John 6 we read about Jesus feeding the 5,000 with five loaves and two fish (vv. 1-15); we read about Him walking on the water (vv. 16-24); we read about him referring to Himself as the “bread of life” (vv. 6:35). Also in this chapter we read concerning Jews rejecting Jesus (vv. 41-59). As we get closer to our reference we find many of Jesus disciples in a state of unbelief, even though they have witnessed Him doing so many wonderful miracles (vv. 60-66). But, one of the main points for all the miracles was for His chosen ones, the apostles, to truly believe in Him. From John 6:66-71 we read, “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. 69 "Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 70 Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?" 71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.” The apostle Peter recognizes that Jesus is the only one in which they could go as he said, “…You have the words of eternal life” (v. 68). When Peter asks his question, “Lord, to whom shall we go?” the very question should come to our minds. There are so many today who are lost in sin and cannot find their way. They don’t know who to turn to. 1. Shall We Go To The Preacher? There are many who believe all they need to do is listen to their preacher and he will guide them. The preacher may teach, strengthen,encourage, and help bear burdens, but he is just a man and has no authority of his own. The world of Denominationalism is the result of having followed men instead of Christ. The apostle Paul dealt with this in the first century, “For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you.12 Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ." 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Cor. 11-13). From this text we recognize

Paul’s attempt to help them realize that it was Christ, and Christ alone who was crucified for them. Not himself or Apollos or even Cephas. Peter said, “For to this you were called,because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps…” (1 Pet. 2:21). So, when it comes down to it, to answer Peter’s question, “To whom shall we go?” it is most definitely not the preacher.2. Shall We Go To Moses? So many today, and even in the first century, look and looked to Moses for their guidance. Many have been lost thinking that His teaching would lead them to eternal life. Moses himself prophesied of a new prophet, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear…” (Deut. 18:15). It is this new prophet that would come and fulfill the Law of Moses and bring it to an end (Gal. 3:19). The Law of Moses was temporary until Christ came (Gal. 3:16). When Jesus, the Christ, died on the crewel cross of Calvary He nailed the Law of Moses to the cross taking it out of the way, “having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Col. 2:14). God identifies whowe are to listen to, “While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" (Matt. 17:5). 3. Shall We Go To John The Baptist? Jesus complemented John, “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist;” (Matt. 11:11) but his work was preparatory (Luke 11:17). John the Baptist is the one the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask who he was and he answered “I am 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Make straight the way of the LORD,"'as the prophet Isaiah said" (John 1:23). John had been killed by Herod (Matt. 14:10)before Jesus promised to build the New Testament church (Matt. 16:18). Let’s also notice something else about John when it comes to the kingdom of Christ, he was never in it as we go back to Matthew 11:11 and read after Jesus pays John the complement, “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” In Acts 19 we read about Paul being in Ephesus and meeting up with some disciples who had been baptized with the baptism of John, the baptism of repentance. It is quite interesting to see what happens when Paul preaches to them concerning Jesus Christ in Acts 19:1-5, “And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." 3 And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism." 4 Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” These disciples had been baptized, but they were not baptized into the baptism of salvation, the baptism of Christ. 4. Shall We Go To Jesus, The Christ? The Hebrew writer explains that God has spoken to us through His Son, “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;” (Heb. 1:1-2). It is Christ that God tells us we are to hear, “While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"(Matt. 17:5). Jesus is the one who has all authority, “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matt.28:18). Jesus, the Christ, is man’s only savior as Joseph was told when Mary was with child before they were married,, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and no twanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife,for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins"(Matt. 1:18-21). The Hebrew writer describes Jesus, “And having been perfected, He

became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,” (Heb. 5:9). The apostle Peter truly answered his own question, “To whom shall we go?” in John

6:68 when he said, “You have the words of eternal life.” Jesus said of himself in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through

Me.” He is truly, the only one we can go to in order to get to the Father. Without Christ, we are forever lost. Let us always recognize that in order to get home to heaven we must not follow the preacher, we must not follow Moses; we must not follow John the Baptist; wemust follow Jesus Christ and Him alone must we serve.