After Jesus fed the five thousand (John 6:1-14), the crowds were so impressed that they were “intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king” (John 6:15). Yet by the end of the chapter, “many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore” (John 6:66).
What happened that caused these people to have such a change of heart? Jesus taught something they did not want to accept. He knew they were following Him “because [they] ate of the loaves and were filled” (John 6:26). So He said, “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life” (John 6:54).
This was a “difficult statement” (John 6:60). Yet Jesus explained what He meant: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life” (John 6:63). In other words, they needed to be strengthened and sustained by His words.
However, even with this explanation, many left because following Jesus’ teaching was more demanding than they wanted. When Jesus gave His apostles the chance to leave as well, Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life” (John 6:68). We need to recognize what Peter did.
Jesus has words of eternal life. His teaching is able to strengthen us, sustain us, and lead us to eternal life. But we must be willing to follow His word no matter how “difficult” it seems in the moment.