“Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, ‘Do you also wish to go away?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’” (John 6:66-69)  And so we come to the end of our time with John 6.  We have witnessed the feeding of the multitude and our Lord’s power over the sea.  We have seen the twelve leave Jesus behind and the crowds seek him out.  We have heard our Lord give the hard sayings about the necessity of our “eating his flesh and drinking his blood.”  As a result of that difficult teaching many of the disciples have decided to quit following him. And so Jesus ends with a question: ‘are you going to go as well?’  As so often the case, Peter will speak on behalf of the twelve and perhaps also for us: “sure the path you set before us is difficult, but to whom would we go?  You are the only one who knows the way to life.”  I hope that the irony is not lost on you that it is Peter, that great bulwark of loyalty, who points the twelve and us in the right direction.  Peter, the triple-denier; Peter the one to whom Jesus said, ‘Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’ (Luke 22:31-32)  It seems to me that Peter in spite of everything is the right spokesperson for us.  He helps us see that true discipleship is not never failing, instead true discipleship is always returning to the only one who has the power to give us life; to the only one who gives us his life completely (flesh and blood).  If you have failed in your life of a disciple, never lose heart.  The Lord is for you and not against you.  And when you turn again to Jesus, don’t forget about your brothers and sisters who may also be struggling.