John 6:60-71
Many Disciples Turn Back
Read the passage
60On hearing it, many of His disciples said, “This is a difficult teaching. Who can accept it?”
61Aware that His disciples were grumbling about this teaching, Jesus asked them, “Does this offend you?
62Then what will happen if you see the Son of Man ascend to where He was before?
63The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
64However, 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.)
65Then Jesus said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless the Father has granted it to him.”
66From that time on many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him.
67So Jesus asked the Twelve, “Do you want to leave too?”
68Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.
69We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.”
70Jesus answered them, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”
71He was speaking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. For although Judas was one of the Twelve, he was later to betray Jesus.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Many of Jesus' disciples hear His teaching and call it difficult. Jesus knows they are grumbling. He asks whether they are offended and what they will do if they see the Son of Man ascend to where He was before. The One speaking to them has come from heaven; His words cannot be judged as though He were offering only ordinary food.
Jesus says the Spirit gives life and His words are spirit and life. Still, some do not believe. He knows this, and He knows who will betray Him. Coming to Him depends on the Father's gift, not on human ability to produce life for ourselves.
Many disciples turn back. When Jesus asks the Twelve whether they also want to leave, Peter answers, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.” He confesses that Jesus is the Holy One of God. Peter does not offer an explanation of every difficult saying. He names the Person he trusts and the life found in His words.
Jesus then speaks of Judas, one of the Twelve, who will betray Him. Belonging to the closest circle of disciples does not itself amount to faith. The passage places Peter's confession beside that warning: we need Jesus Himself, not merely a place among people who follow Him.
Questions
1 How do many disciples describe Jesus' teaching?
AnswerThey call it hard and ask who can listen to it. The teaching forces them beyond an easy, physical understanding.
2 What does Jesus say gives life?
AnswerHe says the Spirit gives life and that His words are spirit and life, while the flesh by itself is no help.
3 What do many disciples do?
AnswerMany turn back and no longer walk with Jesus. His difficult teaching exposes that their following has limits.
4 What does Peter confess?
AnswerPeter says Jesus has the words of eternal life and that they have believed and know He is the Holy One of God.
What This Means for Us
Jesus does not soften hard truth simply to keep a larger crowd. He lets disciples leave and asks the twelve whether they will stay, making room for a confession that is honest about where life is found.
Peter's confession does not mean he understands everything or will never fail. It means he knows there is nowhere else to go. Families can bring confusion to Jesus without treating difficulty as a reason to seek a more convenient Lord.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, hold us near when Your words challenge us. Give our household Peter's confession, patience with honest questions, and discernment to remain faithful without pretending that understanding comes all at once. Amen.