John 6:60-71

Relax, Read and Reflect
Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

Many Disciples Desert Jesus

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? ⁶²What 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 are spirit^a]'> and they are 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 him."

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 believe and 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.)

This is following the body-bread, blood-life teachings. Many people who had seen miracles and had been fed, (physically and spiritually,) found this lesson too difficult . This was not just difficult to understand, (really- Jesus was going to sustain them as Moses had done with manna, but Jesus was using himself,) but it also meant that if they continued to follow, their life would get tough.

When the fair weather followers started to desert him, Jesus asked the twelve if they too wanted to leave. Simon Peter confirmed that he was in it for the long haul, as did the rest. Vs 70-71 are rather difficult as well, Jesus already knows about Judas and is foreshadowing the betrayal.

Questions:

1. Why was is so difficult to accept that Jesus was the Bread of Life?

2. Are we fair weather disciples?

3. Even though he knew Judas was a betrayer, why did he bring him along?

Prayer- Lord, Give us the strength and courage to follow you all the time. Even though things may get though, we know that the final goal is more than worth any hardship we may face. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.