The Gospel of John 6:60-70 (Jesus is abandoned by some followers.)

We move onto John 6:60-70 where we see the impact of Jesus's statement as body and blood

⁶⁰On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”

⁶¹Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? ⁶²Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! ⁶³The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit^[^e^] and life. ⁶⁴Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. ⁶⁵He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”

⁶⁶From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

⁶⁷“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.

⁶⁸Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

⁷⁰Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” ⁷¹(He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)

Questions for discussion:

Why did people grumble when Jesus spoke of them eating his flesh and drinking his blood for eternal life? Why didn’t they understand?
This story represents people leaving Jesus. Do you recall if he talked about the relationship of people who follow him and people who do not?

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Rick says September 5, 2023

1. Why did people grumble when Jesus spoke of them eating his flesh and drinking his blood for eternal life? Why didn’t they understand?

People did not understand when Jesus uses his body and blood for salvation. As stated before, it ties to the traditional Jewish sacrifices which were created for the Jews to atone for their sins. Jesus needed faith of his followers,and unless they had faith, they would not understand. Even the Apostles struggled to understand until after the Resurrection. (Luke 24:13-35).

2. This story represents people leaving Jesus. Do you recall if he talked about the relationship of people who follow him and people who do not?

A passage that shows the picture of most people not believing in Jesus is, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14).

God’s provision of bread is not simply in the past (dedōken, perfect tense) but also occurs in the present (didōsin, present tense) (John 6:32). Jesus is “the true bread from heaven” (John 6:32), “the real food” (John 6:55), the antitype of the wilderness manna.

The bread supplied by God constantly provides (didous, present active participle) more than nourishment—it provides life (John 6:33, 58). This bread is intended for all people without distinction (“the world”) (John 6:33, 51).

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