Where else to turn?

Considering Where Else to Turn

At the end of John 6 ‘disciples’ abandon Jesus.  Turning to his closest friends, Jesus says “Do you want to go away as well?” (6:67)  Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go?”

Peter is saying, ‘We’ve considered it. We’ve allowed ourselves to ponder what it might be like to turn away from you.’ It has crossed Peter’s mind.   Is there another Lord, another way, another friend, another philosophy, another view of God, another salvation, another meaning?  Where else could we turn?

To Those Who Deny God’s Sovereignty?

We could turn to a view of the world where God, who certainly loves me, is not all powerful.  A view of God were he wants to do well and right but cannot.  Certain storms are too powerful, certain evils too compelling, certain flaws too deep for him to change.  A god frustrated and disappointed that he cannot show more of his love because his power is not great enough.

Shall we go to those who deny God’s full sovereignty and who leave it entirely at the will and whim of our own will to try and generate spiritual life?  Peter says, No, whatever problems I have grasping God’s sovereignty, the alternative is hopeless. I know my own heart. If God were not decisive and sovereign with me, I would not have come to him.  I need to be drawn by God.  I need a sovereign God.  Jesus says ‘This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.’ (6:65)

To Those Who Deny Sin’s Power?

Shall we deny that sin is a dominating, blinding and enthralling power? Say instead it is just a bad influence, but not bondage. It’s not like slavery or death. We are tainted, but we are not helpless. Shall we go to there? No, Peter says, that is an unrealistic and naïve view of human nature. We know from our own souls and from universal experience sin is bondage and death, not just bad influence.  Hence the gospel is good news of freedom not just good advice about life.  Jesus says 'The Spirit gives life...The words I have spoken to you are...life' (6:63)

To Those Who Deny God’s existence?

Shall we go to those who deny that God exists? Would that be a satisfying alternative?  No, Peter says, because if there is no God, and human beings are mere accidental and complex collections of matter and energy, then my very being and thinking is reduced to a mere chemical reaction and loses all its meaning.

And the List Goes On…where shall we go?

No One Like Jesus

“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” We may not have all the problems solved—the problems of following Jesus and saying yes to his teaching and his Lordship and his saving work. We may not have clear solutions to suffering and pain and evil in the world.  It may confuse us at times.  And yet, we say with Peter, “To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” 

No one ever spoke like you. No one every acted like you. No one was ever so strong and meek, so tough and tender, so authoritative and gentle, so profound and simple, so powerful and so willing to be killed, so just and so willing to be treated unjustly, so worthy of honour and so willing to be dishonoured, so deserving of immediate obedience and so patient with people like us, so able to answer every question and so willing to remain silent under abuse, so capable of coming down from the cross in flaming judgment, and so committed not to use that power.

Where else shall I go? Jesus alone have the words of eternal life.

Initial thoughts from an article by John Piper.