Hard Teaching. John 6:56-69

This is a good passage to read every so often to remind us of how radical it is to follow Christ. Christianity is very socially acceptable in our culture (Bible Belt), but I wonder if this teaching would be socially acceptable. I wonder if we stood in the pulpit and said, "You're not worthy of Jesus unless you eat his flesh and drink his blood," would people be deserting the churches in masses?

Obviously Jesus did not want the people to come up and take a bite out of his arm, but that doesn't take away from the severity of the call. Jesus was teaching that life comes from him and nowhere else. He is like the manna God sent from heaven for the Jews in the wilderness, only better. Because the one that feeds on Jesus will never die. Jesus call is a call of surrender, giving up everything else and living on him alone.

John 6:56-69
56Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." 59He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

60On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?"

61Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? 62What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. 64Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him."

66From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

67"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.

68Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."

Questions
1. How do you think you would have responded if you were in the crowd that day?
2. What did you learn about Jesus from this passage.
3. Is there anything you should change because of what you learned?