## Where Will We Go?

## John 6:66-69

I will admit that when I was a little boy, on a few occasions I considered running away from home. Having read about the adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, it just seemed like a lot of fun. But each time I considered it, the thought that came to my mind was 'where will I go?'

In our text this morning we find an event that took place following one of the most spectacular miracles ever worked by our Lord during His life on this earth. Multitudes were fed with just five loaves and a few small fish. How exciting that must have been. To watch as such a small amount fed so many and then to see the disciples gather up twelve baskets of leftovers!

But Jesus was not just a miracle worker. He was the Son of God. He came to deliver a message of hope to a hopeless world. Unfortunately, just as today, not everyone would receive this message. Many would turn their backs upon Him and refused to follow Him. They had followed the Lord for a while, they were interested in what was happening. Perhaps they wanted to see what new miracles He would work. But as He began to preach to them, and the Word of God began to convict them; they began to walk away.

What was this message that caused them to walk away? What could Jesus say that would offend them so much that they would turn their backs on Him? Jesus told them clearly that there was no profit in the flesh…the only hope of life was in accepting Him as the One who came down from heaven. Listen…

John 6:28-29 "Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Did you catch that? Jesus said, the only 'work' that will lead to eternal life is to believe that God sent His Son into this world! This crowd said, "We want to do the works of God." Doesn't that sound righteous and holy? He told them that the flesh profiteth nothing!

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

That message didn't go over any better then than it does now. Men want to think they can do something to become acceptable with God. Jesus told them no…the only way was to believe on the One that God sent into this world.

When the crowd heard this, they began to walk away from Him, and as Jesus watched them walk away, He addressed a searching question to the rest, "Will ye also go away?" Peter's answer is profound.

(John 6:68-69) "Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. {69} And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God."

Have you ever stopped to think about where they went? They wouldn't follow the Lord…they wouldn't obey Him…they turned their backs upon Him, but where did they go? No doubt many of them returned to the powerless religion of their own works. But the only hope for eternal life is in accepting the Son of God as your Savior. Placing your faith in Him is the only 'work' that matters!

For those who have never trusted Christ as Lord and Savior…if you walk away from God this morning, where will you go? There really is nowhere else to turn? There is no one who can take His place.

"…To whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life."

I. Jesus is the One To Whom We Can Go

A. With our problems.

1. Take a moment the next time you are standing in line at the grocery store and scan the articles offered in most of the magazines.

2. They would have you believe the answers can be yours for only $2.95!

3. Turn on the TV or radio and listen to the multitude of personalities who are there to tell you what you are doing wrong, and how to make it right.

4. Therapists and psychoanalysts push pills and rack up the office hours…but still we are a people who are plagued with problems.

5. We need someone we go to with our problems…

6. How do you spell relief? J-E-S-U-S

B. With our fears.

1. Many people spend every waking moment of their lives in constant fear.

2. I 'Googled' phobias and found a list of 530 different fears.

3. Everything from Ablutophobia (fear of bathing) to Zoophobia (fear of animals) and everything imaginable in between.

4. Regardless of the fear…the only answer is to find peace…but peace comes from knowing the Lord.

Isa 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

C. When we are facing death.

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

1. The death of a loved one.

a. We seek comfort, but no one on this earth can supply what we need.

b. Even when surrounded by a crowd of loved ones and friends, we find ourselves alone.

c. Families often grow frantic when they come to face the death of a loved one.

d. We want some assurance of whether or not we will ever see that loved one again.

e. We want to know that heaven is real!

2. Our own death.

a. We cannot rely upon our own opinions and thoughts.

b. Nor can we trust in the statements of those who have never faced death.

c. We need assurance and security at that time because our minds overflow with doubts and questions.

3. Jesus is the answer!

a. He is the One who has conquered death, hell, and the grave.

b. He is the One who was dead, but now is alive forevermore!

c. He is the solution to our problems…

d. He gives us peace in the midst of fear…

e. He is the assurance of eternal life…

II. Jesus said, "Will ye also go away?"

"…To whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life."

What does it mean to come to Jesus? It means to simply believe what God has said concerning His Son, and receive Him as your personal Savior. Trust Him today…don't delay. Place your faith in Him and be assured of eternal life.

1Jo 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Will you believe in Him today? Don't turn away! Trust Him now.

Christian, what are we doing? Are we walking with Him in assurance? Are we seeking Him as the answer to our problems, fears, and concerns?

Come today whatever the need.