Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life

"Jesus then said to the Twelve, 'Do you also want to leave?' Simon Peter answered him, 'Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God." (John 6:67–69)

This passage captures a pivotal moment of decision and confession in the Gospel of John, occurring at the conclusion of Jesus’ Bread of Life discourse. After many of His disciples withdrew, scandalized by His teaching on the necessity of eating His flesh and drinking His blood, Jesus did not soften His words or clarify to appease the crowd. Instead, He turns to the Twelve, not to demand loyalty, but to offer freedom. His question, “Do you also want to leave?” reveals the integrity of divine love, which never coerces but always invites.

Peter’s response stands as one of the most profound confessions of faith in all of Scripture: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” This is not a declaration made from full comprehension, but from deep conviction. Peter does not claim to understand all that Jesus has said, particularly in light of the mysterious and demanding nature of the Eucharistic teaching, but he knows enough to trust. His faith is not based on clarity but on relationship. He recognizes that Jesus is not one voice among many, but the singular source of eternal truth and life.

Theologically, this exchange reveals several key aspects of Christian discipleship. First, it underscores the centrality of free will in the journey of faith. God respects human freedom, even to the point of permitting rejection. Second, it highlights the essence of mature faith: not a faith that demands exhaustive understanding, but one that trusts the person of Christ. Peter affirms Jesus not merely as teacher or miracle-worker, but as “the Holy One of God”—a title that signals divine consecration, messianic identity, and eschatological authority. Faith, then, is ultimately not in ideas or doctrines alone, but in the Incarnate Word who speaks them.

This passage also sets a permanent standard for the Church, especially when confronted with difficult teachings or cultural resistance. The Eucharistic discourse, with its sacramental realism, remains a stumbling block for many. Yet the Church, echoing Peter, clings to the mystery not because it is easy, but because it is true. The words of Christ are not temporal suggestions but “words of eternal life”—words that reveal, sanctify, and save. To walk away from Him, even when challenged, is to walk away from the only One who can lead to life.

John 6:67–69 calls every believer to renew their personal adherence to Christ, especially when faced with doubt, scandal, or spiritual dryness. It reminds the faithful that perseverance in discipleship is not rooted in constant spiritual consolation but in fidelity to the One who speaks eternal truth. In moments of confusion or crisis, the question is not whether one understands everything, but whether one still believes in the One who has called. This passage becomes a prayer of fidelity: “To whom shall we go?”—a recognition that outside of Christ, there is no abiding truth, no lasting peace, no eternal life.


This passage proclaims the enduring response of the Church amid the trials of faith and the mysteries of divine teaching. It affirms that true discipleship remains with Christ, not because everything is simple, but because He alone is the Word made flesh. In the Eucharist, in Scripture, in suffering, and in mystery, the believer echoes Peter’s confession: “We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” And that belief, rooted in love and trust, becomes the anchor of eternal life.

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