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Crisis in Galilee
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“To whom shall we go?” The disciples had found more peace
and joy since they had accepted Christ than in all their previous lives.
How could they go back to those who scorned and persecuted the
Friend of sinners?
“To whom shall we go?” To the darkness of unbelief, the wicked-
ness of the world? Peter expressed the faith of the disciples—“Thou
art that Christ.” To be destitute of a Saviour was to be adrift on a
dark and stormy sea.
Every word and act of Jesus had its definite purpose in the work
of our redemption. While we cannot now comprehend the ways of
God, we can discern His great love which underlies all His dealings
with men. He who lives near to Jesus will recognize the mercy that
tests the character and brings to light the purpose of the heart.
Love Under All His Dealings
Jesus knew what would be the result of His words. He foresaw
that His agony in Gethsemane, His betrayal and crucifixion would
be to His beloved disciples a most trying ordeal. Had no previous
test been given, many actuated by merely selfish motives would have
been connected with them. When their Lord was condemned, when
the multitude who had hailed Him as their king hissed at Him and
reviled Him, when the jeering crowd cried, “Crucify Him!”—these
self-seeking ones would, by renouncing their allegiance to Jesus,
have brought on the disciples a bitter, heart-burdening sorrow in
addition to their grief and disappointment in the ruin of their fondest
hopes. The example of those who turned from Him might have
carried others with them. But Jesus brought about this crisis while
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by His personal presence He could still strengthen the faith of His
true followers.
Compassionate Redeemer, who in the full knowledge of the
doom that awaited Him, tenderly smoothed the way for the disciples,
prepared them for their crowning trial, and strengthened them for
the final test!
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