Who can figure this Man out?
The Gospel of John: John 6.60-71
Read and meditate on John 6.60.
Apparently, Jesus was only worth following either if He gave people what they wanted, or they could make sense of everything He said. These are not proper motives for following Jesus.
60So then,
when many of His followers heard Him
say this, they said, “These words are hard; who can
make sense of this? And who can understand
it?”
– John 6.60
Reflect
1. John refers to these people as disciples. The word means learners, and John applies it to the many who had been following Him for some time. Is it wrong for disciples to puzzle about the Lord’s hard sayings? Explain. Complete this prayer: Lord, there’s plenty in Your Word that leaves me scratching my head, but…
2. These disciples are hung up on Jesus’ message about His flesh and blood. They can’t understand it, and they don’t seem to think anyone else can, either. What would you have said to these people, had you been in on their conversation? Father, help me to remember that understanding comes only partially before believing. But believing leads to…
3. Augustine once wrote that he did not have to understand the things of the Lord to believe in them; he believed in them, so that he might understand. How is understanding related to believing? Which comes first? Or are there levels of each? Should we expect to understand perfectly everything we believe? Explain. I believe, Lord, help me…
4. From verse 61, it’s clear these disciples were becoming exasperated. Why? When we can’t fully understand the Word of God, what should we do? I want to believe You Lord, and I want to understand as much as I can. Show me how to…
5. It was just too much for these disciples. Jesus knew these people would not understand what He was saying. He didn’t expect them to, and He wasn’t about to try to explain everything at this point. What He wanted was to discover who among these disciples would believe Him, simply because of what they’d seen Him do and heard Him teach. Is there a warning in the puzzling and questioning of these disciples for His disciples today? Bring together into one the prayers you composed for questions 1-4.
Summary
“They thought he spoke above himself, and more highly than he had a right to do. And so they said, ‘Who can bear it?’ Perhaps they were making excuses for themselves since they were about to leave him.” John Chrysostom (344-407 AD)
John is working hard to help us understand what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Disciples don’t follow Jesus for what they can get from Him. And they don’t follow Him because everything He says or does makes sense to them. Why do disciples follow Jesus?
Closing Prayer
Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;
But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him.
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous;
And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
Psalm 32.10,11
Psalm 32.8-11 (Hendon: Take My Life and Let It Be)
Teach me, Lord, how I should live; sound instruction ever give.
Let me never stubborn be; let Your eye watch over me.
Let Your eye watch over me.
Though the wicked wail and weep, they rejoice whose souls You keep.
Trusting, we exult with praise, joyf’ly singing all our days,
Joyf’ly singing all our days!
T. M. Moore
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Jesus is the Centerpiece of all Scripture, as He Himself explained (Jn. 5.39). But how can we learn to see Him there? How do the primary themes of Scripture revolve around Jesus? Our online course, Introduction to Biblical Theology, shows you how best to get at, get into, and get with the Word of God, so that you can grow more consistently in the Lord. It’s free, and you can study at your own pace. For more information or to register, click here.
Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.
