“WHEN MANY WALK AWAY”

Scripture: John 6:53–69 -"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves." (John 6:53)

Memory Verse -"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." — John 6:68.

The moment recorded in John 6:66 is one of the most sobering in Jesus' public ministry. Up until this point, the crowds had followed Him with zeal. They had seen His miracles, eaten the multiplied bread, and been captivated by His teachings. But when Jesus began to speak of deeper spiritual realities—of eating His flesh and drinking His blood—many were offended. They misunderstood a spiritual metaphor and rejected the Savior who had fed them physically but now offered something far greater: eternal life through His sacrificial death.

They took Jesus literally when He was speaking spiritually. Their natural minds could not grasp the mystery of the cross. Their ears heard cannibalism; their hearts missed communion. Jesus was pointing toward Calvary, toward the giving of His body and the pouring out of His blood for the life of the world. But to them, it was too much. Too strange. Too costly. Too offensive.

So, they walked away.

And not just the crowd—many of His disciples withdrew. These were people who had walked with Him, listened to Him, learned from Him. But they had not truly believed. Their following was shallow. Their faith, superficial. When challenged with a hard truth, they chose distance over devotion.

Their departure reveals a painful reality still true today: when the truth of Jesus challenges comfort, custom, or understanding, only a few will remain. True discipleship is not built on miracles, meals, or emotions—it's grounded in a deep, enduring belief in the person and mission of Christ.

Jesus turned to the twelve and asked, "Do you want to go away also?" (v. 67). Peter answered for them all: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." (v. 68). When others walked away, Peter leaned in.

In every generation, this same test arises. Will we walk away when His words stretch our minds? Will we retreat when His call requires our surrender? Or will we stay—believing even when we don't fully understand, trusting even when it costs us?

Have you ever been challenged by something Jesus said or required of you? How did you respond?

Are there places in your faith where you are tempted to "walk away"?

What does Peter's response teach us about true discipleship?

 PRAYER

Father, thank You for Jesus, the Bread of Life. Forgive me for the times I've wanted to walk away rather than walk deeper. Give me a heart that trusts even when I don't fully understand, and faith that remains even when others leave. Help me cling to the words of eternal life, and strengthen me to be among the few who follow closely, wholeheartedly, and consistently. In Jesus' name, Amen.