John 6:60-71 CSB
Therefore, when many of his disciples heard this, they said, "This teaching is hard. Who can accept it?" [61] Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, asked them, "Does this offend you? [62] Then what if you were to observe the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? [63] The Spirit is the one who gives life. The flesh doesn't help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. [64] But there are some among you who don't believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning those who did not believe and the one who would betray him.) [65] He said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted to him by the Father." [66] From that moment many of his disciples turned back and no longer accompanied him. [67] So Jesus said to the Twelve, "You don't want to go away too, do you?" [68] Simon Peter answered, "Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. [69] We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." [70] Jesus replied to them, "Didn't I choose you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil." [71] He was referring to Judas, Simon Iscariot's son, one of the Twelve, because he was going to betray him.
Words to Eternal Life
Jesus had just finished telling His followers before our reading today that unless they eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, they would not have life. He presented this as a requirement for fellowship with Him—that those who partake of the Messiah have eternal life and will not see death. That the one who eats his flesh and drinks His blood remains in Him and He in them. To ensure there was no misunderstanding, Jesus emphasized that His flesh was real food and His blood true drink, leaving little room for those who wanted to interpret His words as something less challenging.
This went against every Jewish custom and law. Even taken at face value today, such words are hard to hear. “What do you mean?” is the natural response. “I do not understand!” Jesus continued to declare truth in our verses today by clearly stating that He existed with the Father before time and would eventually be returning to the Father—ascending to where He was before. Here, the words of John the Baptist ring true: “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.” Another hard thing to hear.
Jesus knew exactly who believed in Him and who did not. Many in the crowd were looking for an earthly king to wrest control of Israel away from the Romans. They were interested in worldly power and political shifts, not the Kingdom of God being placed in the heart of every believer. When their earthly hopes were dashed by these “hard sayings,” many shook their heads and walked away. Those with faith are given more understanding; those without it remain blind to the truth.
The question posed to the Twelve is the same question posed to us today when we see people abandoning the faith due to confusion or unmet expectations: “You don’t want to go away too, do you?”
May we all answer as Simon Peter did: “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Even among those who stayed, Jesus knew one would later betray Him. He saw the heart of Judas just as clearly as He saw the faith of Peter.
Our faith must be like that of a small child who looks to their parents in total trust. There are things in the Bible that people will always wrestle with. If we wait, the answers will become clear—if not in this life, then the next. God is love, Jesus is light, and He gave Himself up for us. We have a Counselor in the Holy Spirit who guides us. It is enough. I do not need to know all things.
What Jesus said that caused many to reject Him was answered plainly on the cross. As the early church father Tertullian said: “We ought therefore to desire him in order that we may have life. We ought to devour him with the ear, and to ruminate on him with the mind and to digest him by faith.”
Reflection Questions
- When you encounter a “hard teaching” in Scripture that doesn’t align with your earthly logic or desires, is your first instinct to “grumble” or to ask for the Spirit’s help?
- Peter didn’t say he understood everything Jesus said; he simply said there was nowhere else to go. Have you reached that point of “holy desperation” where you know only Jesus has the words of life?
- How does the image of “devouring Him with the ear” change the way you listen to or read the Word of God this week?
Prayer
Father,
We admit that Your ways are often beyond our understanding and Your words can be hard to accept. When we are tempted to turn back because life is difficult or Your teachings challenge our comfort, remind us of Peter’s words: To whom else would we go? You alone have the words of eternal life. Give us the trust of a child to rest in Your love, even when we don’t have all the answers. Thank You for the Spirit who guides us and for the Bread of Life that sustains us.
Amen.
