What Way Should We Follow

Toward the end of Jesus’ great dialogue on the Bread of Life in chapter 6 of John’s Gospel, we see that many of his followers cannot accept his words, and do not believe him. We are told that “many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him” (Jn. 6:66). Jesus then turns to the Twelve and asks them if they want to leave as well. Peter responds to them saying, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (v. 68).

We, too, are challenged by this question every day. Do we believe every word that comes from the mouth of Jesus, because we know that he is the Son of God? Or do we, too, find his words too difficult and are tempted to go back to our former ways of life? Let’s face it, his words are often very difficult. They are often complete contradictions of the ‘wisdom’ of the world. They challenge us in very real and tangible ways, ways that we can see might be painful, even dangerous to follow openly in this world These are not new questions and our answers to them now will have both present and eternal consequences. And many things vie for our attention, that attempt to take our eyes off of Jesus and his way, his truth, and his life.

The ways of the world can appear very attractive, but they lead more often than not to foolishness, suffering, darkness, and death. It is also true that the ways of the world are, and always have been, in competition with the ways of God. Both the scriptures and our daily news cycles give clear evidence of this fact, both in actions and in consequences. And it is a scandal of infinite proportions to twist, distort, manipulate, or use God, or his words to fit, support, or promote any worldly agendas that are not of God. Church people have not been immune to this either. Whenever and wherever worldly agendas have replaced the Word of God, sin, suffering, and death have always been close behind.

All who seek their identity in things, or ideas, other than those of God are seeking their identity in the fallible, often false, and always transient ‘things’ of the world. Some examples from history and today are: The Nazis based everything on race, the Communists on class struggle, Laissez Faire Capitalists on wealth, and today’s relativists on what they suppose to be the ‘free’ autonomous self. Each of these puts some worldly thing, idea, concept, philosophy, or ideology before God and the Word of God. And the cruelties that have followed from each were, and are, beyond rational comprehension. We are all too often unaware of how these things blind us to who we really are and what our real purpose and meaning are in the light of Jesus. In these ever more secular times, should we be surprised by the violence, greed, hatred, divisions, and suffering that is so prevalent in our world today? It is through the light of Christ alone that we can see and properly pursue the true beauty of the world, ourselves, and each other.

Jesus turns and looks into the eyes of each Christian believer every day and asks us, “Do my ways shock you?” “Do you also want to leave?” Can we respond to him as Peter did, saying: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God” (vs. 68-69). The ways of the world are full of deceptions that lead us only to suffering, darkness, and death. The way of Jesus is the only one that will lead us to what our hearts so deeply and truly desire: meaning, purpose, and true, lasting happiness.

“Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world the love of the Father is not in him, for all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but from the world. Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever” (1 Jn. 2: 15-17).