If You Don't Believe in Jesus, To Whom Else Will You Go? - John 6:60-71

Many Disciples Desert Jesus- John 6:60-71

On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” 61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. 64 Yet 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. 65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.” 66 From 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. 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” 70 Then 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.)

Not only were the religious leaders skeptical and resistant to Jesus' teaching, Jesus' own disciples today will show their own skepticism. Jesus sees they are looking at his teaching literally, so he points to his resurrection as a way to get them to think in spiritual terms. If they are offended by the offering his flesh and blood on the cross, how will they get their heads around the resurrection. 

“The events of this chapter had made it all too clear that following Him meant something different from anything they had anticipated. Nothing is said to give us a clear idea of their views, but the probability is that they were interested in a messianic kingdom in line with the general expectation.” (Morris)

Jesus again contrasts the Spirit with the flesh. They were struggling with his teaching because they were looking at it only through their human eyes. They could not understand what it would mean for him to go to the cross. Their fleshly view of Jesus was centered on him being a political Messiah. Because his words were spiritually discerned, only those disciples who were open to the Holy Spirit would be able to understand them. Jesus knew that some of his disciples would never be able to understand the things of the Spirit. 

The challenge of accepting this teaching was too much for many of his disciples. These would represnt those outside of the circle of twelve disciples. But Jesus seeing these disciples leave turned to his inner core of 12 and asked them if they too wanted to leave him. I don't think Jesus said this in a desperate kind of way, but he freely gave them the opportunity to do so if they so desired. Jesus knew who would follow him, but he still gave them the choice. 

Peter, the most outspoken of the 12, boldly states not only his reliance on Jesus, but his belief that Jesus is the Holy One from God. What a great statement of faith. Peter gets it right! This is a great statement for us to contemplate as well. To whom else would you go to if not Jesus? Is there a better option out there? If it is why is it better than Christianity? Who makes it truth claims? If Jesus is the Son of God, really died, really rose again, and is really coming back again, are you willing to risk the fact that by trusting in something else you could be really wrong?  Jesus gives you the choice as well. He won't make you do anything.  

Ultimately like Peter we must either accept or reject this hard teaching of Jesus. The hard teaching that Jesus went to the cross and offered his body and blood for our sin. But, also the Good News that Jesus defeated sin, death and the power of the devil by rising from the dead!

Why do you think Jesus' teachings are "hard"? Why do many walk away from Jesus like these other disciples did? Can you say like Peter today, "To whom shall we go, you have the words of ertnail life?" 

Is your faith more like Peter's right now, of the discipes that left Jesus? When Jesus says, "Have I not chosen you?", how does this relate to your own calling? If Jesus HAS chosen you what does that mean regarding the assurance of your salvation?