Make like a tree and leave

Click here to read John 6.

This is the chapter where Jesus feeds the 5,000 men (up to an estimated 20,000 when the "rest of the story" is added in). This is the chapter where this crowd is following Jesus to hear his teachings, he feeds them, sends the Twelve (who become The Twelve here) out in a boat to escape the crowds, where he calms the storm, walks on the water, and teached the crowd about the Bread of Life that comes from heaven.

And the crowd goes "Huh?" And they get angry. They don't understand so they begin to grumble.

On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who
can accept it?" Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus
said to them, "Does this offend you? What if you see the Son of Man ascend to
where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The
words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.Yet there are some of
you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them
did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, "This is why I told
you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled
him."

From this time many of his
disciples turned back and no longer followed
him.

"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the
Twelve.

Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."

The man just fed a crowd of thousands through amazing circumstances. And they had been following him to hear his teachings. And just like that, it got a little hard, and they were so outta there. Except for the Twelve, all but one who thought they would die for Jesus. Peter said it best. "Where else can we go? You are the real deal. We believe what you say." Again, I'm reminded of how much I like Peter. He was such a major mess-up sometimes, but when it comes right down to it, he got it right. Even when it isn't easy, even when you don't understand, even when it's not what you want to hear...where else can we go? Lord, you have the words of eternal life.