To Whom Could We Go?
For the Lord’s Day:  the 20^th  of March 2005

John 6: 66-71

Introduction:  Years ago, after I had been with the PCA for six years or more, one of the area administrators arranged a meeting with the pastor of the liberal Presbyterian Church from which I had left.  I wasn’t sure what the meeting was about until we gathered.  The local pastor, who was a kindly evangelical, presumed that we wanted to recruit him, but as it turned out, the administrator wanted to give me back to the old church.  I was aghast at such a proposal, especially given the context in which it was suggested.  I was careful not to hurt the feelings of the local pastor who was laboring as best he could in the old church, but to me personally – it was the unwholesome hint and premise of death that infected the whole rotten structure that prompted me to leave in the first place.  I could no more have returned than I could have stopped going to church.

Once, I did stop going to church because I was so fed up with the liberality and heavy handed apparatus.  My boycott lasted all of two weeks!  Personally, I understand the text today perfectly.  “To whom shall we go?”  The Lord Jesus Christ has “the words of eternal life,” and like the disciples I could certainly attest: “we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

This premise is what sets Christianity apart from every other religion in the world yesterday, today or in the future.  Jesus Christ is “the Holy One of God.”  And yet, it is the sermon of Jesus Himself that sets the teeth of His audience on edge.  And it is precisely because Christianity is not just another religion that upsets the greater majority of the population.  It is sort of like this, when cake mixes first came out in the twenties, they were much like those on the market today; the cook had only to add water and follow the instructions.  However, the new product was a complete and absolute marketing failure initially.  Researchers waded into the scene to fathom why busy cooks wouldn’t purchase a product that could save them time and money.

What they discovered was the fact that the cooks wanted to contribute something to the recipe.  And so the product was redesigned to allow that participation.  From then on, until just a few years ago, all the average cook had to do was to mix in two eggs and a cup of milk.  And thereby the “religious” duty of the cook was satisfied, since they had had to add something extra to the store bought cake mix!

This is how very many in the world today want their religion, they want the authority and the responsibility to add something to the process and they are especially offended at the gospel of Christ, when He declares “that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”  This is anathema to the average person, who understands the worldly premise of every religion but one, that it is a man made activity designed to appease any and every god or goddess who might exist.  It was these religious specialists who “turned back and no longer walked with” Christ.  This happening was prophesied centuries before by none other than Isaiah:  “And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.  And many shall stumble on it.  They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.”  (Isaiah 8: 14-15)  The devil himself will prosper for a time on this special attitude all too common in the history of Christ’s Church.

Development:   I am reminded of one realistic evangelist who told me that if no one got up and walked out when he was preaching for revival – then he had failed in his calling of explaining the gospel truly and in all its infinite glory.  That man was rare of course within the ranks of evangelists, too many presume that every person’s ego must be stroked and that the religious market is the same as any other.  It is all about manipulation to these minds.  Certainly, modern evangelists with deep pockets will offer every kind of ministry and service imaginable – all in order to increase the size of their crowd.  There are places in America where you can have your car serviced while you are in the sanctuary, breakfast, dinner and all manner of snacks are available just like any common movie theater.  The church library is open as well as the book store.

Heaven forbid that we would allow the gospel of grace to offend anyone in any age or place.  But, this is exactly what Jesus accomplished in Capernaum, according to John’s report.  The falling away was significant enough that Jesus spoke with the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”   Calvin tells us that Jesus directed “his discourse to them, and shows that there is no reason why they should allow themselves to be hurried away by the lightness and unsteadiness of others.  When he asks them if ‘they also wish to go away,’ he does so in order to confirm their faith.”

And there by this question, we hear the resounding testimony of Peter, speaking as it were for the whole dozen disciples:  “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.”  R.V.G. Tasker tells us that “the demoniacs possessed this particular insight into the supernatural character of Jesus. … Here the significance seems to be that the apostles have recognized Jesus as ‘dedicated’ by God to convey ‘the words of eternal life’ to mankind.”

Certainly, we understand that John writes the whole Gospel from the perspective of full knowledge only realized by the disciples at the end.  To a lesser extent, the other gospels are written to demonstrate the unfolding of the story as bit by bit:  Jesus is revealed more fully.  But still in this scene, full credulity is hardly an option.  There is so much to be grasped, after all the Christian faith is hardly simple to understand, especially since every sinful nuance of the mind is ready to disbelieve the final reality.  At the very least, the disciples are ready to believe that Jesus is the promised Messiah, and that He does indeed speak on and with the authority of the Father. 

The crowds may have also been sympathetic to these doctrines – however, when Jesus spoke of realities behind the apparent human perspective – many were put off that theirs was not the power to believe and know Him.  The disciples here are at least beginning to comprehend that Jesus is becoming in their hearts, if not their minds: that He is the way, the truth and the life.  Early on, instead of being described as a religion, the Christians described their belief’s as “The Way.”

Application:   And so should we anticipate the same incredible Good News, contained in the very revelation of the words of God with us in the flesh.  The absolute uniqueness of the Christian testimony is far and above the fictional myths of every other religion known and taught.  Of course, we should treat every sinner with respect and at the same time find every opportunity to speak about the full and final authority of Jesus Christ.  When Peter speaks here concerning the “words of eternal life,” we should understand the “quickening” nature implied here.  Calvin notes that “it is a remarkable commendation bestowed on the Gospel, that it administers to us ‘eternal life,’ as Paul testifies” in Romans 1: 16.  “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.”

Now, I want to be very careful here today.  And it is good that this series has been going on for many months.  Thereby you know that I have not selected this text with any ulterior motive on my part.  And having said that, I would like to remind us all – that in all probability, many of those who departed Christ at the time of John’s report did so only temporarily and as the early church grew after the death and resurrection – very many of these probably came to a fuller faith and understanding. 

In our day as well, the life of the church in general and congregations in particular ebb and flow according to the weaknesses of men and the purpose of God.  Everyone here knows and understands that our own local body has and is undergoing some changes that we do not all understand.  Let us not read into that local history any of the obvious lessons that might easily be implied from such a text as comes before us today.  Just as in the gospel age and in other times leading up to a revival – there is very much at stake in how the church positions itself, in exactly how the gospel is perceived and explained, and how the church understands the cultural milieu in which it finds itself.  Such differences, while important – are not deadly to the cause of Christ.

Honest Christians and good friends in the faith may often find themselves in disagreement, so much so that every option for growing the church, giving a credible witness and faithfully following our Lord must be explored.  And in the multiplicity of our separate efforts we may all certainly serve the advance of the kingdom, as the Lord allows and directs.

The only danger is if we come to the illogical, unspiritual conclusion of Judas, who only seeing a good thing – just came along for the ride.  As we see here, it is our Lord and Savior who knows full well every heart and mind.  And even within the twelve, He knew His own.  Did the disciples worry and wonder at where the vast crowds had gone?  No matter, they all agreed to stand by their Lord – but one of them was a devil.  I can remember church troubles over the course of too many decades and there were times when we wondered at Presbytery and in the church just who the Lord’s faithful servants were.  In our present context here at Christ Covenant, I would admonish one and all that any such speculation is out of order.  Further on in the New Testament, we know that Paul and Barnabas went their separate way only to be reunited later in life.  It proved to be a means of multiplication for the church.  And in this manner I would beg us all to love one another, even as Christ loves the body: His church.  Apart or together, may we all serve the same Lord and the Gospel of grace.  Amen.

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PREACHING RESOURCES
Calvin, John:  Commentary on the Gospel of John.
Tasker, R.V.G.  Tyndale New Testament Commentaries: The Gospel According to St John.
The Holy Bible:  English Standard Version.

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