John Chapter 6

vs 61

The way this verse is worded makes you think that in the last verse, the disciples were talking amongst themselves, but that Jesus was aware of what they were saying. They were grumbling just like true Israelites.

Jesus' notion is that they find this idea offensive - whether it is that they must consume his flesh and blood (which is rightly offensive, but does fit in with the sacrificial idea - the Jewish sacrifices were eaten afterwards) or that their saviour and Messiah must suffer.

vs 62

Jesus makes the pertinent statement that he is the one from heaven - the way he says things are is the way it is!

vs 63

But more than that, Jesus is talking about eternal life here, and to understand that, he says, you must understand that it is a spiritual truth, and that the body counts for nothing. Now don't get this wrong - there is a bodily resurrection, and Christianity is not just a spiritual ghosts-wearing-halos type of afterlife. But this crude matter is perishable, and our eternal bodies (through this spiritual message) will be spiritual, eternal bodies. Spiritual does not mean lacking physical form, by the way - angels seem to be able to wield swords and move boulders. Just because they're invisible doesn't mean they are insubstantial.

vs 64

I think this verse is referring to a) the large group of disciples who are about to leave and b) Judas Iscariot specifically. We don't even know if Judas knows yet.

vs 65

It doesn't matter how smooth a testimony you give, or how big the miracle is, in the end if God doesn't bring you to Christ, you won't be there. This could be predestination, or more loosely the Pauline idea of God given faith. But the truth is that there are some people who aren't coming to Christ. Is it because they don't understand? Jesus doesn't say that (although some people would say he intimates it in the other gospels when talking about parables), but I don't think that's a necessary conclusion. I think it is possible that at least some of these people Jesus is talking to now, for example, realised what he was saying, and yet turned their backs on it knowingly.

vs 66

We don't know how many turned away. Many, it would seem. We're still pretty early in John, too.

vs 67

Jesus gives all Twelve the option of going. I think even for Jesus, this was a big moment of disappointment. To have the vast majority of his followers take their ball and go home, that has to be painful, even if you were expecting it.

vs 68-69

But at a time of great pain, Peter gives this stunning testimony of Christ. He shows by his words that these disciples valued eternal life over anything else they might have on offer. And not only do they value it intrinsicly, but they know, to them it is obvious, that Jesus has the words that lead them to eternal life. Their faith is in his being the Holy One of God, who cannot lead them astray, even by such strange and hard teaching.

vs 70-71

Perhaps Jesus is still a little bitter over everyone else leaving him, or perhaps he is preparing the 12 for the fact that one of them is a no-good stinking mutant commie traitor. John helpfully tells us that this is Judas Iscariot, just in case we hadn't read the story before. He doesn't save it till the end - it's not a murder mystery.