Sometimes a single word of encouragement can go a long way – this is a case in point!
For many of those who were following Jesus around Galilee, his long ambiguous speech in the Gospel of John – chapter 6 was the breaking point: they turned their backs on him and decided to not follow him any further.
Up until this time – following him had been easy and exciting – he had been performing signs and wonders, successfully challenging the authorities and giving people immense amounts of hope.
The interesting thing to me – is that if you read chapter six slowly as a whole – in one sitting…you get a different perspective.
Jesus started out with the feeding of the 5,000 and people were everywhere. The crowds were huge! Some of them followed after him. It was 5,000 plus women and children…
Next we find him speaking with the crowds again, they are still big, but they are getting smaller. They leave him somewhat disappointed. There is no further miracle or sign to be had.
Later he speaks to the Judeans or the elite people of his day in the Synagogue in Capernaum. It is a down-sized crowd.
There is a progression here, that I think we are supposed to see.
And then finally, he turns and addresses the twelve, seemingly because everyone else has gone away…and deserted him.
His “street “creds”…are now highly suspect. His poll numbers had peaked and he was on “a down-hill slippery slope.”
At one point he had “Donald Trump” kind of numbers and now he found himself once more being surrounded by his own…the twelve and a few stragglers or hanger – on’ers.
It seems like – those who had been walking with Jesus, “learning what he was all about” and “who it is” that he claimed to be – have suddenly stumbled over his words, unable to find it – in themselves – to get up and continue on any farther.
People started using words like scandalous and blasphemous in referring to him. It was not good.
Some of the things he was saying made people pause-scratch their heads and wonder in disbelief.
Some of his teachings were like nails on a chalkboard to an ancient Jew.
He used incendiary, offensive and provocative language, especially for a rabbi and a teacher…
Some of what he was saying seemed to go against a millennium of biblical teachings.
Others questioned whether or not they could subject their own children to this blasphemous, anti-biblical teaching.
Things were getting serious…
He seemed to be encouraging the very things “the existing tradition” had expressly forbidden.
Many were turning away…the poll numbers were dropping. It was a breaking point. It was a “make or break” kind of moment. His words made one stumble and trip.
So Jesus narrowed the focus again and he turned now to the twelve. He had to ask the question. It was in his mind and probably weighed heavily on his heart. So, he just said it. He just put it out there. “Do you also wish to go away?” he asked.
And then, there was Peter.
Remember, the synoptics were not necessarily kind to Peter. He was always bumbling and fumbling and putting his foot in his mouth one way or another…Not so in John’s Gospel. Peter fares a little better here.
In all four of the canonical gospels “this may just be – Peter’s finest hour.”
We have faith. We have trust in you. We believe in you. Speaking (as spokesman) for the entire group of disciples – that are left and present – Peter says, “Lord, to whom shall we go, you have the words of eternal life.”
The heaven’s open up! Trumpets blared. Doves swooped down. It was like one of those ticket-tape- parades through the heart of New York City. Confetti is flying everywhere and it is all alighting on Peter. He finally has said something right. But Peter wasn’t finished yet.
He continued on…
We know, we believe, we have faith in you, that you are indeed, “the Holy One of God.”
Jesus could not have been more proud. It was just what he needed to hear at that moment of declining numbers and diminishing crowds. Someone got it! Someone understood! Peter’s was a bold declaration of faith.
It would all work out.