60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” 61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.” 66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
Commentary
Vs. 60-62 60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” 61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?
When many of Jesus’ followers heard what He had just said they said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” Meaning that it was not so much hard for them to understand, as it was hard for them to hear it, or bear it, for it was offensive to their “sensibilities.” Now when Jesus knew in Himself that they were complaining about His doctrine He did not capitulate, or try to make His teaching more palatable to them, rather He confronted their unbelief by saying to them, …“Does this offend you? 62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?” Vs. 61-62 For if they were offended by Him saying that He was the true bread of life come down from heaven, what would they say if they saw Him ascend back to heaven?
Vs. 63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”
The Lord Jesus Christ now makes it clear that the flesh profits nothing, because eternal life does not come through it, (by seeking to satisfy its cravings and desires) but only through the Holy Spirit! “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be Spiritually minded is life and peace” (Rom. 8:6). Therefore, Jesus now makes it clear that the bread from heaven which they are to eat is not His literal flesh to live forever, but rather it is by the Spirit that eternal life comes to all who believe in Him. Thus, to eat His flesh and to drink His blood is to accept and believe in His Person and His Word unconditionally, for when anyone does the Spirit comes and brings them to everlasting life!
Vs. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.
From the beginning then when people begin to follow Him, Jesus knew who they were who did not believe in Him; thus, their grumblings did not move Him in the slightest to change or altar what He said or did. Indeed, He knew from the beginning who they were who would betray Him. The same then holds true today, for many will start off following Him and then at some point they too will be offended by Him and walk away, and some of them will even go on to betray Him, and seek to undermine Him, His Word and His people!
Vs. 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
The Lord Jesus Christ then reasserts His Father’s Sovereignty over all things, including coming to Him, for no one can come to Him, (to believe in Him), unless it has been granted them by His Father (consider Acts 13:48).
Vs. 66 “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.”
Scripture Quotations
New King James Version (1982): Thomas Nelson.
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