John 6:60 English Standard Version

The Words of Eternal Life

60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?”

Isaiah 43:19 English Standard Version (ESV) Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Perhaps it was only hard because it was new.

This was after Jesus had fed the five thousand with two fish and five loaves. His disciples had entered a boat without Him and He walked to them on the water during the night. Those that were of the five thousand followed Jesus to Capernaum.

Can those that sought Jesus be called disciples since they followed Him to Capernaum? Jesus challenged them by saying they only followed Him because He fed them. It was these people that brought up the manna from heaven by laying claim to their heritage. They had been taught the Torah in the old school traditions. Now they were hearing something new that Isaiah spoke of in 43:19.

Jesus took what they knew and brought a higher meaning to the bread of life.

Now for a hard saying. Verse 60 above says many disciples said “This is a hard saying.” It does not say the twelve, or His apostles, but rather many disciples.

Is a disciple anyone that follows Jesus, even if it is for the wrong reason?

John 6:66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve?

Are we called to be disciples or are we chosen?

Revelation 17:14 English Standard Version (ESV) They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

Are we still with Him?

Mark 7:17-23 English Standard Version

17 And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18 And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?”[a] 20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

Footnote[a]  Greek goes out into the latrine

I have eliminated (Thus he declared all foods clean.) in line 19 as a comment that does not exist in other versions and detracts from this message.

Focus on what goes into the heart.

John 6 English Standard Version

35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

Ephesians 3:17 English Standard Version (ESV) so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

He who eats by faith the Word of God will find His Word in our hearts.

John 6:63 English Standard Version (ESV) It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

Ezekiel 36:26 English Standard Version (ESV) And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

His Word, Jesus, enters our hearts by faith. Read the Word with faith.