“This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” (John 6:60b)

When do you nod or say “amen” in a sermon? When the teaching is relatively easy? When you agree with the pastor or think the person next to you ought to hear this? But what about when the sermon gets personal? Or the teaching is hard? Who’s nodding now?

But that’s precisely when we need to nod, need to jot down that too-close-to-home point, need to approach the pastor. But do we? Isn’t it easier to ignore the conviction of the Holy Spirit once we’re out of the church, eaten Sunday dinner, and settled into the football game? “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” Jesus’ disciples exclaim when He challenged them to hunger after food that lasts, by hungering after the very one God has sent (6:60). They want simple answers: “Just tell us what to do to earn God’s favor now” (my paraphrase, 6:28). They want to nod.

But when Jesus continues the hard teaching, focusing on the forever, many turn away and stop following Him (6:66). Do we also throw up our hands at His hard teachings, preferring simpler tasks of obedience? Test your reactions to these:

• “Anyone who loves his father or mother, son or daughter, more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matt. 10:37) 

• “Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matt. 5:43) 

• “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mark 8:34).

Yes, they’re hard to process, hard to practice. Jesus didn’t come to soothe our feelings and make life easier for us now, but to push us into living with forever in mind.

Notice who stays with Jesus at the end of Ch.6 - his Twelve. That’s quite an attrition rate from the 5,000+. It must have broken their hearts to hear Jesus ask, “You don’t want to leave, too, do you?” (6:67). Humble submission to this Teacher with the impossible teaching is hard; see how many turn away. But the Twelve know Jesus teaches from a heart of love, that He is “the Holy One of God,” that - despite how hard his teachings are to comprehend - He alone “has the words of eternal life” (6:69,68). 

Peter proclaims, “Lord, to Whom else shall we go?” (6:68). I bet you’re nodding now.

If you struggle with a hard saying above or the teaching in John 6, could you trust God enough to know He says this in love? Instead of pushing the hard stuff aside, sit with it awhile, consult a commentary, pray that God would explain it to you. Let Him teach you about forever things.

To read or re-read the overview/summary of this week’s passage, you can click here.