"'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 have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.'"

John 6:67-69 -

Jesus gives them complete freedom to walk away. After watching many disciples abandon Him because of His hard teaching, Jesus turns to the Twelve with a simple question: "So are you leaving too?" He doesn't try to convince them to stay or promise it will get easier. He doesn't soften His previous words or offer better benefits. Instead, He gives them total liberty to leave just like the others did. This moment reveals something crucial about Jesus: He wants followers who choose Him freely, not people who feel trapped or obligated.

Peter's response reveals both experience and recognition. When Peter says, "We have come to believe and to know," he's describing a journey from initial trust to deep, personal experience. The Greek shows progression from faith (pistis) to intimate knowledge (ginosko). Peter isn't speaking from theological study but from lived experience. He and the disciples have walked with Jesus, seen His character, experienced His love, and tasted His life. This kind of knowledge can't be argued away or easily abandoned.

We must unlearn treating Jesus like a convenience store. We think we can visit Him when we need something and ignore Him when life is good. We believe faith should make our problems disappear and our lives easier. We assume following Jesus means getting what we want when we want it. But Peter discovered something deeper: Jesus isn't just helpful, He's "the Holy One of God." This isn't about benefits but about His divine identity and absolute uniqueness.

Missionary Hudson Taylor once wrote in "Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret," "Christ is either Lord of all, or He is not Lord at all." Taylor devoted his life to bringing the gospel to China in the 1800s, facing incredible hardships and dangers. He understood that Jesus couldn't be compartmentalized into convenient parts of life. Either Jesus has authority over everything, or He has no real authority at all. Peter came to this same realization when he declared Jesus as "the Holy One of God" - not just a helpful teacher, but the one with absolute divine authority over all of life.

True disciples discover Jesus is "the Holy One of God." This title means Jesus is set apart, sacred, and completely different from everyone else. Peter didn't just believe Jesus was a good teacher or helpful prophet. He recognized Jesus as God's chosen one, perfect and pure. When you understand who Jesus really is, following Him becomes about necessity, not convenience. You don't follow the Holy One of God for what He can do for you. You follow Him because of who He is.

Peter's declaration shows rock-bottom conviction. "We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God." This isn't wishful thinking or religious hope. This is settled conviction based on personal experience with Jesus. Peter had tested this relationship through hard teachings, difficult circumstances, and costly demands. His conclusion wasn't based on comfort or convenience but on the absolute truth of who Jesus is. When you know Jesus as the Holy One of God, walking away isn't really an option.

Godseekers, Jesus is asking you the same question He asked the Twelve. So are you leaving too? When following Jesus gets inconvenient or His teachings challenge your comfort zone, will you walk away like so many others? The question isn't whether Jesus makes your life comfortable. The question is whether you've discovered that Jesus is the Holy One of God who holds the words of eternal life. When you recognize His true identity, following Him becomes about necessity, not convenience. This is the difference between casual faith and convinced faith.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, forgive me for the times I've treated You like a convenience rather than a necessity. Help me to discover that You are not just helpful for my life but essential to my very existence. When I'm tempted to walk away because following You gets difficult, remind me that there is nowhere else to go for real life. Teach me to want You for who You are, not just for what You can give me. Make me desperate for Your presence above all else. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Personal Reflection

• Do you follow Jesus for what He gives you or for who He is?
• If Jesus stopped giving you what you want, would you still want Jesus?

Step of Faith

Today, I will choose to follow Jesus because He is necessary for my spiritual life, not because it's convenient or comfortable.