John

Check out all the previous John readings here.

John Reading Plan | Week 6, Day 5

Prayer

As you draw near to spend time with Jesus, quiet your mind and body until you feel completely present. Express your gratitude to Jesus for coming to save you!

Bible Reading: John 6:60-71

Read these verses three times slowly.

On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”

Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. 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. He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)

Reflection & Questions

In yesterday’s verses, Jesus amped up his rhetoric in response to the Jews unbelief. He told them that to receive eternal life we must eat his flesh and drink his blood. His disciples (not just the twelve, but all those following Him), are listening in and they respond: “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”

Jesus senses their grumbling (remember this is a key word from yesterday). It isn’t just the crowd that are becoming hardened in heart against Jesus. Some of his disciples are offended, to the point that they “turned back and no longer followed him.” Even with all they had seen and heard from Jesus, they couldn’t keep leaning in. This is a warning to us all. When we find Jesus’ teaching hard, are we going to turn back and not follow, or are we going to lean in and receive the true and eternal life that Jesus offers.

Peter, speaking on behalf of the 12 disciples, is resolute that they are not turning back: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

And here is the choice every disciple of Jesus faces at some point. In the midst of confusion or challenges, will we turn back or will we realize that there is nowhere else to go – no one else has the “words of eternal life.”

1. Do you know someone who has turned back from following Jesus? Pray for them today.
2. Why do you think Jesus is teaching in such a difficult way? Are you willing to follow Jesus through thick and thin? How do you know?

Prayer

Talk to God in response to the reading today.

Worship Song

You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:

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Questions?