Departing from Jesus
R. S. Barrett. John 6:66-69 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.… In Mammoth Cave the old guide told us how people had been lost there from time to time. When found, they overwhelmed him with embraces and other demonstrations of gratitude. Some became insane through fright; some fled in terror from the guides. Once a woman was lost for about twenty-four hours. In that terrible darkness, in the silence in which hearts beat loud, she had waited in dreadful suspense. Superstitious dread filled her crazed heart. At last the guide came, his footfalls echoing like whispers and groans, his lantern casting ghostly shadows upon the walls. The poor terrified creature arose, and tied away into the darkness. The guide pursued — a veritable black devil he seemed! At last he overtook her — unconscious, prostrate, ashy white. In his strong arms he raised her from the ground, and carried her out to safety and light and home! How often is it so: When the Saviour comes, we flee from Him. Misconceptions of Him, distortions of Him, shadows of Him in this dark world, fancies of Him in our sinful hearts, make Him seem other than He is. And we flee from our Saviour and our Guide — flee away into the darkness. And yet He came to find us, to save us, to bear us to the light. "He came to His own, and His own received Him not." (R. S. Barrett.) Parallel Verses KJV: From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. WEB: At this, many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.