No-one but Jesus

Because of this, many of Jesus followers turned back and would not go with him anymore. So he asked the twelve disciples, ‘And you-would you also like to leave?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.’ (verses 66-68)

Read John 6:60-71

At times I have wrung my hands in frustration, not being able to reconcile Christian teaching with the sorry state of the world around me. At times like this I have heard Jesus ask, ‘And you – would you also like to leave?’ Sometimes I have been tempted – but I haven’t. I haven’t left, because ultimately, like Peter, I have nowhere else to go.

No other religion, no New Age or mystical experience, no amount of belief in yourself can guarantee you a home in heaven. No-one else but Jesus offers abundant life, forever, for free. This is the great, extraordinary difference between the Christian faith and all others. As a Christian you have the personal guarantee of your God – a guarantee that he will take you home with him.

If, in your dark hours, you are tempted to leave, just look around you. Where would you go? To whom would you turn? Who else can offer you what Jesus does? There is no-one else. There is no-one but Jesus.

At times I cannot fathom you, Lord Jesus Christ, but I know I have nowhere else to turn. Help me to trust you through the hard times. Amen.

by Linda Macqueen, in ‘New Strength for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 1998)

Visit the Daily Devotion archives page.