How much do I want Jesus?

John 6: 67-68 (You should read the rest too in my opinion. The heading is called Many Disciples Desert Jesus).

       "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.
       Simon Peter answered him "Lord to whom shall we go?"


I don't think this was a happy "Are you ready to go now?" type-question. I think that Jesus felt betrayed. Many of his followers left him. Many of his friends left him. They wrote him off as a nut-job and left him. So when he asked the Twelve this I imagine that either he asked it sarcastically or he point blank yelled it at them.

It was a serious question. He was really asking his disciples. "Do you believe what I'm saying? Do you believe that I am who I say I am? Are you willing to stick with me and my mission?"

I love Peter's response, "Lord to whom shall we go?" Where else could we go? The disciples knew the truth about Jesus and they were willing to stick to him. They wanted him more than they wanted to avoid trouble. They were willing to go through what Jesus was going through just then.

How much do I want to avoid trouble?
How much do I want Jesus?
Am I willing to lose what he lost? His friends deserted him; am I willing to risk that? He faced opposition everyday. Do I want Jesus enough to be willing to go through all that?

I know that I want Jesus more. I would follow Jesus to the end of the earth in exchange for merely a glance in my direction. At least I think I would. But Jesus promises so much more than that! He has promised me life to the full (John 10:10). And to me life to the full is life with him as my Saviour, as my God and as my best friend.