John 6:60-70
60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.”
Main Idea
TRUTH CAN BE OFFENSIVE.
Outline
1. Truth can be offensive, but it leads to greater Truth (vv60-63)
2. Truth can be offensive, but it leads to greater Revelation (vv64-65)
3. Truth can be offensive, but it leads to greater Faith (vv66-70)
Discussion Questions
Truth can be offensive, but it leads to greater Truth (vv60-63)
What is a truth you initially resisted or didn’t want to hear, but eventually realized you needed? What made it difficult to accept?
The disciples respond, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” What do you think made Jesus’ teaching “hard”?
Jesus doesn’t soften his teaching when people are offended by it. In fact, he presses further. What does that tell us about Jesus’ relationship to truth and our comfort?
Jesus says, “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” How should that shape the way we respond when something Jesus says conflicts with what we feel, want, or believe?
What teaching of Jesus do you personally find difficult? What would it look like to wrestle honestly with that teaching without simply rejecting it?
Truth can be offensive, but it leads to greater Revelation (vv64-65)
Jesus moves beneath their objections and identifies a deeper issue: “There are some of you who do not believe.” How can intellectual objections, cultural disagreements, or personal discomfort sometimes reveal a deeper issue of trust?
Verse 65 emphasizes that coming to Jesus is ultimately a work of God. How does that truth affect the way we think about our own faith? How might it change the way we pray for and interact with people who don’t believe?
Sometimes difficult truth reveals something not only about God, but about us. What might our reactions to uncomfortable biblical truth reveal about our hearts?
Truth can be offensive, but it leads to greater Faith (vv66-70)
Verse 66 is striking: “Many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.” Why do you think Jesus allows them to leave rather than changing his message to keep them? What does that teach us about genuine discipleship?
Jesus asks the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Imagine Jesus asking you that question. What makes you stay with Jesus when following him is costly, confusing, or difficult?
Peter doesn’t say, “Jesus, now everything makes sense.” He says, “Lord, to whom shall we go?” What is the difference between faith that says “I understand everything” and faith that says “I trust the One I’m following”?
Peter says, “You have the words of eternal life.” Where are you tempted to look for “life” apart from Jesus? What promises does that alternative make, and where does it ultimately fall short?
Looking Forward
Where is Jesus currently be asking you to trust him even though his truth feels difficult or costly?
Prayer Focus
Pray for…
A heart that receives truth — Pray that God would make you humble and teachable, especially when His Word challenges, confronts, or offends you.
Wisdom to recognize what is true — Pray that when your feelings, preferences, or culture conflict with Jesus’ words, you would trust His truth over your own understanding.
The Spirit to give understanding and life — Pray that the Holy Spirit would help you understand God’s Word and use it to transform your heart, not merely increase your knowledge.
God to reveal areas of unbelief — Pray that God would expose places where you say you trust Jesus but still resist what He says.
Faith when following Jesus is hard — Pray for the courage to keep walking with Jesus when obedience is costly, confusing, or unpopular.
A deeper confidence in who Jesus is — Pray that you could increasingly say with Peter, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
People in your life who are struggling with Jesus — Pray by name for someone who is questioning, doubting, or walking away. Ask the Father to draw them to Jesus and open their heart to His truth.
Your group to become faithful disciples — Pray that you would be a community that doesn’t run from difficult truth but helps one another trust and follow Jesus through it.