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NOWHERE ELSE TO GO

Text: Jno 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
68 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.

Introduction: A happy, carnival-like atmosphere has prevailed for a few days among those who followed Jesus. Multitudes have been added to their number as word spreads of the sights to see and the free food in abundance!

On a hillside across Galilee, they just had an enjoyable picnic. They had been carried away by the zeal of the moment and even desired to make Jesus their king! Their mistake was in thinking that this was all there was to following Jesus.

Missionaries who have faced the same problem in foreign lands coined the term ‘rice bowl Christians’ to designate those who will follow so long as they don’t get a better offer elsewhere.

Here, at home, we call it summertime religion; when in the old days, some people went to 'tent revivals' for entertainment, got carried away with emotion, and made professions of faith, soon forgotten when the meetings were over.

Now, in the synagogue of Capernaum they find the picnic is over and it is time to get down to the real spiritual facts of following Jesus. Notice how quickly they turn their back on their ‘king’ when their ‘fellowship’ is taken out of the realm of the temporal, and made into that which is real and eternal.

I. The duration of their discipleship was determined by whether or not their desires were being met.
Jno 6:60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
What do YOU want?

A. One who is not ‘spiritually minded’ will find no pleasure in spiritual food.
I Cor 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

To be spiritual, one must be;
1. Born of the Spirit of God.
Jno 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

2. They must ‘mind’ ( i.e. regard) spiritual things.
Rom 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Phil 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

B. Those who mind earthly things will always seek satisfaction in those things.
Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
This is why social activities always draw a crowd, whether it be in church or in a bar.
These ‘disciples’ went back because they were ‘Christians’ only as long as it pleased their fleshly natures.

II The question of Jesus (paraphrased) ‘Do you want to sneak out of sight too?”
This was the ‘moment of truth’. Which way will Peter and the others go?

They will find more friends among the departing crowd. It is clear that the REAL cause of Christ is not going to appeal to the masses. It is also apparent that this decision is not to be made in the solitude of the wilderness, but in the full view of those present in the synagogue.

A. Will they be brave enough to take an unpopular stand?

III Peter’s answer and the logic of it; “To whom shall we go? Thou has the words……..”
Others might tell us how to live for today, but they can offer nothing of eternal value.

This time, Peter took the right stand, contrary to what he did at Jesus' trial.

Mat 26:69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.

70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.

71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.

72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.

73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.

74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

This, when only a very short time earlier, the Lord warned him that he would do this very thing, he denied it vehemently.

Mat 26:33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

Be careful what you say you'll 'never' do.

But I digress!

A. He has the ONLY plan of salvation.
1 No salvation in any other
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Forget men’s ideas and terminology - Listen to God

Rom 3:3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

1. In HIM was life.
Jno 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Jno 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

3. Except ye repent
Lu 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

4. Ye MUST be born again
Jno 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

B. He has the only acceptable way of service to God.

I Jno 2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father:
If you want your life to count for eternity, there is only one way to do it. Those who went back might talk about the time they ‘used to be disciples’ but they could never expect any eternal blessings from it for they had only taken that which appealed to the flesh!

1. Take up your cross and follow me.
Mark 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Man’s boastful mind likes to sing;
‘I did it MY way’, but this can never be said of acceptable service to God

2. Never mind what YOU think, what does God SAY?

C. He is the only hope of the resurrection
I Cor 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

I Cor 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

I Cor 15:51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

There are many myths, legends, etc. but only Christ holds the key to death, heaven and hell!

I USED TO

He said, “I used to go to church,
I used to sing and pray.
I used to read my Bible
Almost every day.

I used to go quite often
To the Lord in prayer,
And there never was a meeting,
But what you’d find me there!

I used to give to missions;
I used to knock on doors;
I used to wash the windows,
And sweep the church house floors.

I used to do ‘most everything
A child of God should do;
I used to be much happier
When I served him, that is true!”

Know this, my friend, it’s not enough,
These things you ‘used to do’;
Today’s the day to serve Him,
If his blessings you’d renew.

He’s not a ‘has-been’ Saviour,
But our Lord is ever true;
And he wants your faithful service;
Not the things you ‘used to do’.

fcc