READ: John 6:60–71: … You have the words of eternal life …
Most of the followers who had followed Jesus even into the synagogue (v.59) do not understand His words. They remain stuck in unbelief, taking Jesus’ language literally.
Eating and drinking refer to having fellowship with Him and accepting that He gives His body and blood as a sacrifice for their sins. It is not literally about eating His body and drinking His blood.
But the listeners interpret it that way and find His words hard and repulsive. Jesus addresses this misunderstanding. What if they were to see Him as the One who descended and will soon ascend again to heaven? Then they would have proof that His words are true.
His words must be understood spiritually (v.63); then it becomes clear that they are about the true and eternal life He gives to everyone who believes in Him. It all comes down to faith.
That is what Jesus finds lacking in part of His audience (v.64). Faith cannot come from oneself—God the Father must grant it through His Spirit. Only then can a person come to Jesus and accept Him as Savior.
Yet that does not mean unbelief is without guilt—especially when Jesus has revealed Himself so clearly. On the other hand, it is pure grace if you are enabled to believe. While Jesus sees unbelief in many of His followers’ hearts, He also sees faith in eleven of the twelve disciples He has chosen.
He tests them with a decisive question: “Do you also want to go away?” Peter responds: “You have the words of eternal life. You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. To whom else shall we go?” That is a confession of faith and a testimony.
Peter speaks on behalf of all of them. But Jesus must correct him: there is one among the twelve whom He Himself chose, who “is a devil”—Judas, who will betray Him. So it is possible to be in the church and still be offended by Christ.
Is that last point important to know?
Sing: Ps. 121:3,4