John 6:60-69
"Master, to whom shall we go?” (John 6:68)
Peter’s words in this passage is my most repeated Scripture verse. It’s hard when something confusing pops up and no matter what angle you look at it, it continues to be a mystery. I can sympathize with the people who left after this teaching. The crowd that day had generations of relational living with God and possessed traditions and teachings that had been ingrained in them since birth. Much of what Jesus was doing and saying was hard to reconcile with their understanding of God.
Christians at least have the advantage of hindsight, where we can see how the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus play out. But even with that being the case, many Christians don’t agree on what Jesus is teaching in this passage. Even Catholics struggle with how the Eucharist is possible and why it is so important to our faith.
God gave us intellect and isn’t surprised when we use it. He understands that we have a hard time with mysteries, paradoxes, and unanswered questions. He is patient when we struggle with doubt. It took me a long time to be okay with that idea. I thought it showed a lack of faith or trust when I couldn’t just accept everything in my faith without question. But faith is a grace, and trust comes from a relationship. I couldn’t build trust with God if I didn’t feel comfortable wrestling with ideas by bringing them to Him.
Often, all it took was time or looking into the question more deeply, and I could start to understand why something happened or why the Church teaches what it teaches. But there are, and will always be, times where I am Peter. I don’t know how to take in certain events or teachings and may never in this lifetime understand. Peter’s words can seem bittersweet in my own life because it’s hard to be humble and acknowledge that our world is vast and unknowable. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t an answer or that there isn’t truth.
This phrase from Scripture just reminds me that I don’t have to figure everything out to feel comfortable moving forward. Sometimes it can be enough that Jesus hasn’t failed me yet, and I can trust Him when something doesn’t make sense.
Comments