To Whom Shall We Go?

They came for the miracles. Thousands of them. They had seen Him heal. They had eaten the bread He multiplied. They followed because they wanted more—more signs, more wonders, more free food. But then He said something that changed everything.

He told them He was the true bread from heaven. That unless they ate His flesh and drank His blood, they would have no life in them. “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him.” (John 6:53–56)

And just like that, the atmosphere shifted. The excitement drained. The crowd that once surged with awe began to buzz with offense. This wasn’t what they came for. This wasn’t what they wanted to hear.

And so they left. Not just a few—nearly all. Men who had once called Him “Master.” Women who had followed Him across miles. People who had tasted the miracle with their own mouths—they turned back when the truth got too heavy. And Jesus let them go.

Not because He didn’t love them—but because He wouldn’t lie to them. He didn’t soften the message. He didn’t chase them down. He told the truth… and let the truth do the sorting.

Then He turned to the Twelve. “You do not want to leave also, do you?” (John 6:67) It was a real question. Not a guilt trip. Not a sales pitch. Just a moment of truth.

Peter looked at Him—not the loud, bold Peter we’re used to. This time, it was the man who had run out of options. The man who had burned the ships and left everything behind. His voice must’ve been quieter than usual when he said it. “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)

He didn’t say, “We still believe in the miracles.” He didn’t say, “We’ll wait and see how this plays out.” He said what every soul eventually has to say when it’s done chasing lesser things. There’s nowhere else to go.

And that’s the question I can’t shake today. Why aren’t more men asking it? Why aren’t more people standing at that same crossroads, looking at the broken world around them, and realizing that Jesus is the only one left standing when everything else falls?

Maybe it’s because we’ve built too many altars to comfort. We’ve given people a version of Jesus that doesn’t cost anything—so when it gets hard, they walk away. They haven’t hit the wall yet. They still think there’s another answer out there—another fix, another plan, another god that demands less and delivers more. But when the distractions wear off… when the noise dies down… when the foundation starts to crack… that question will rise. Whether they’re ready for it or not.

“Lord, to whom shall we go?” And it’s not a sign of weakness. It’s the beginning of real life—a life surrendered to Christ.

Peter wasn’t smarter than the rest. He was just more desperate. He had seen too much. Heard too much. Been changed too deeply. He had tasted the kind of truth that ruins you for everything else.

What about you? Are you following because it’s easy? Or because He alone is life? When the words get hard… when the crowd thins out… when the feelings fade… will you still stay?

Because sooner or later, we all come to the edge of ourselves. The things we trusted collapse. The people we leaned on walk away. The plans we made don’t hold up. And standing there at the end of it all is Jesus. Just like He was with Peter. Still speaking. Still waiting. Still holding the words of eternal life.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

The remnant still knows. The ones who won’t water it down. The ones who won’t trade truth for comfort. The ones who’ve been wrecked and remade by grace. They’ve come to the same conclusion Peter did:

Jesus is it. And there’s nowhere else to go.

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“What I write is not for everyone, but what I write is meant for someone.” – Dean Butler

I am the author of two books: Embracing God's Wisdom: A Journey of Faith and Reflection and Embracing God’s Wisdom: Paul’s Commands for Victorious Living. Both are available on Amazon.

This work may be shared for ministry or personal use, but please credit the author when doing so. © Dean Butler – Dean’s Bible Blog. All rights reserved.

Please reach out at: hopeinchrist2024@yahoo.com

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service.” (1 Timothy 1:12)