60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? 61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? 62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. 70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve. (John 6:60-71 KJV)
The Words of Eternal Life
Whether this discussion was with the people of Capernaum, where Christ was teaching in the synagogue (John 6:59), or with those who had followed him across the sea, is uncertain and unimportant. What stands out is Christ’s humility—he allowed them to ask questions and didn’t take offense, even though many of them were not his disciples. Teachers must be patient and ready to listen. Even when the questions are misguided or unhelpful, it is wise to use the moment to offer useful truth, correcting the question without rejecting the person asking.
Christ had told them to labor for the food that endures to eternal life (John 6:27). In response, they asked what work they should do. He gave a direct answer: the work God requires is to believe. When they asked, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” (John 6:28) some interpret this as a proud question, as if they were asking what greater works they could do beyond the law of Moses. However, it more likely reflects a sincere interest in doing what is right, showing that they sensed the need to rise above worldly aims. Anyone hoping for eternal life must be committed to doing what God desires. The question “What shall we do?” shows a willingness to follow, even when obedience is costly.
Christ’s response in John 6:29 is direct: “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” Belief is the work that God expects. They asked about many works, but Jesus pointed to one—faith—that includes all others. Faith gives value to every other work and leads to obedience. It is God’s work within us and the link to his grace. Faith receives Christ as the one sent by God, trusts him, and devotes the heart to him.
Even though Christ had already told them that the Son of Man would give them this spiritual food (John 6:27), they still demanded a sign: “What sign will you show us? What will you do?” (John 6:30) Since he had called them to believe, they wanted proof to support that demand. Moses had confirmed his divine calling through miracles—shouldn’t Christ do the same? However, they were wrong to ignore the many miracles he had already performed. In Capernaum alone, Christ had done many powerful works, and some of those present had just been miraculously fed (John 6:11-14). Their request for another sign was not due to a lack of evidence but a lack of willingness to believe. None are as blind as those who refuse to see.
They reminded him that their ancestors ate manna in the wilderness (John 6:31), as if to say, “Moses fed an entire nation for forty years; what have you done that compares?” But Jesus corrected them. It wasn’t Moses who gave the manna—it was God (John 6:32). And the true bread from heaven isn’t just physical food, but the spiritual bread God now offers, which gives life to the world (John 6:33). The bread from heaven Moses gave was temporary and only sustained physical life. The bread Christ offers leads to eternal life.
They then said, “Lord, always give us this bread.” Like the Samaritan woman who asked for the living water (John 4:15), they misunderstood. They were still thinking of physical bread that would remove the need to labor for food. But Jesus clarified: “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35). The bread they must seek is not something he would give apart from himself—it is himself. To come to him and believe in him is to be nourished forever. He promises that those who come to him will never hunger or thirst spiritually.
Still, they did not believe. Jesus noted that although they had seen him, they still did not believe (John 6:36). He pointed to the divine mystery behind true belief: all whom the Father gives to him will come to him, and he will never cast them out (John 6:37). The unbelief of the crowd did not mean Christ’s mission was failing. God had given him a people, and they would come. This coming is through faith, and Christ promises he will accept all who come. He came down from heaven not to do his own will but the will of the Father who sent him, which is that none of those given to him should be lost, but all should be raised up at the last day (John 6:38-39).
Jesus continued by stating that it is God’s will that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him will have eternal life. He again promised to raise them up at the last day (John 6:40). But the people murmured at him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven” (John 6:41). They could not understand how someone they knew—“Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph?”—could make such a claim (John 6:42). Their focus on his earthly background blinded them to his divine origin.
Jesus told them to stop grumbling and explained that no one can come to him unless the Father draws them (John 6:43-44). All who are taught by God will come to him (John 6:45). He emphasized again that those who believe have eternal life and repeated, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:47-48). Their ancestors ate manna in the wilderness and died. The bread from heaven he offers gives eternal life (John 6:49-50).
He spoke more plainly now: the bread he gives is his flesh, which he would give for the life of the world (John 6:51). This shocked them further. They argued, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” (John 6:52) Jesus then declared that unless they eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, they have no life in them (John 6:53). He was not speaking of physical eating, but of receiving him fully—believing in him, depending on him for spiritual life, and sharing in his death.
He said, “My flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink” (John 6:55). Those who feed on him will live because of him, just as he lives because of the Father (John 6:57). This feeding is not with the mouth, but with the soul. It means receiving him by faith and making him the sustenance of one’s spiritual life. Just as food must be taken in to give life, so Christ must be received personally and inwardly.
This teaching offended many of his followers. They said, “This is a hard saying; who can accept it?” (John 6:60) Jesus, knowing their complaints, asked, “Does this offend you?” (John 6:61) He then pointed them to the greater truth—that he would ascend to where he was before (John 6:62). If they struggled to accept his words now, what would they think when they saw him return to heaven? He clarified that the Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. His words are spirit and life (John 6:63). But some still did not believe.
Jesus knew from the beginning who would not believe and who would betray him (John 6:64). He repeated that no one can come to him unless it is granted by the Father (John 6:65). Many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him (John 6:66). Jesus then asked the Twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” (John 6:67) Peter replied, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have believed and come to know that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68-69). This response showed true faith—rooted not just in the miracles but in Christ’s words. Even if others left, Peter and the others knew there was no one else who could give what Christ offered.