The Saviour did not attempt to prevent the disaffected disciples from leaving him, but, turning to the twelve chosen ones, said sorrowfully, “Will ye also go away?” Peter promptly replied by asking in turn “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life, and we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” How full of meaning are these words, “To whom shall we go?” The teachers of Israel were slaves to cold formality. The Pharisees and Sadducees were in constant contention concerning the doctrine of the resurrection and other points of difference. To leave Jesus was to fall among sticklers for rites and ceremonies, and ambitious men who sought their own glory. The disciples had felt more peace and joy since they had accepted Christ than in all their previous lives. They had looked back with horror upon their former course of carelessness and iniquity. How could they, whose eyes had been opened to discern the malice and bigotry of the Jews, go back to them who had scorned and persecuted the Friend of sinners? Long had their faith sustained them in looking for the Messiah, and now that he had come, they could not turn from his presence to those who were hunting his life and had persecuted them for obeying him. {2SP 288.2}

Frelseren søgte ikke at forhindre de misfornøjede disciple fra at forlade ham. Men han vendte sig til de tolv, som han havde udvalgt, og sagde bedrøvet: "Vil I også gå bort?" Peter svarede ufortøvet, idet han spurgte: "Herre! til hvem skal vi gå hen? Du har det evige livs ord. Og vi er kommet til den tro og erkendelse, at du er Guds Hellige." (Joh 6,67-69) Hvor betydningsfulde disse ord er: "Til hvem skal vi gå hen?" Israels lærere lod sig binde og lede af kolde skikke og former. Farisæerne og saddukæerne lå hele tiden i strid om læren om opstandelsen og andre punkter, som de var uenige om. Dersom de forlod Jesus, så kom de iblandt mennesker, som hang ved udvortes former og menneskebud, og som frem for alt andet søgte sin ære. (289) Disciplene havde fået mere fred og glæde siden de havde taget imod Kristus, end i hele deres foregående liv. De havde set tilbage med forfærdelse på deres tidligere ligegyldighed og uretfærdighed. Hvorledes kunne de gå tilbage til dem, som havde hånet og forfulgt synderes ven, efter at deres øjne var blevet åbnet, så at de så jødernes ondskab og hykleri? Deres tro havde længe opholdt dem, idet de forventede Messias, og nu, da han var kommet, kunne de ikke vende sig bort fra ham til dem, som søgte efter hans liv, og som havde forfulgt dem, fordi de adlød ham.