Book of John,  Discipleship

#24 John 6:60-71

September 26, 2021 /

Leader:  Have your Student write down the Passage and the Questions. Then, give them a week to prepare.

Passage: John 6:60-71

Questions: 

  • 1) What is the “disciples’” reaction to Jesus’ teaching?
  • 2) What does Jesus tell them?
  • 3) What is Jesus’ interaction with the 12 disciples?
  • 4) What questions do you have?

Then, this week the Student will:  

  • Read the Passage every day!
  • Handwrite the Passage
  • Answer the questions 

When you do meet again, you will go over this… 

John 6:60-71

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

61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. 64 Yet 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. 65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”

66 From 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.

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

70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)

Notes for Leader:

Open your time together with prayer. Be sure to ask the Holy Spirit to lead the conversation and teach what needs to be learned and heard during your discussion. He will give you the words that you need! May you grow closer together and closer to Jesus.

Briefly review what you learned last week. Now, let’s see what else we can discover about who Jesus is…

1) What is the “disciples’” reaction to Jesus’ teaching?

The disciples in this passage are not the 12, but those others that are following Jesus.  They have a hard time with Jesus’ hard teaching about the bread of life. In v.60, they grumble and in v.66, many left him. Grumbling shows that they are not actually coming to Jesus with teachable hearts, they are complaining among themselves, not seeking time with him to try to understand. Jesus wants us to humble ourselves not grumble to ourselves when we encounter something that is hard and requires more faith than we currently have. This is how we grow… or fall away! These disciples did not see their need for a Savior!

Jesus smashes their preconceived notions and expectations about who their savior will be.  They have laws and sacrifices that they follow to handle the sin issue and want a savior who steps in to rule over the political situation. Jesus tries to help them see that their spiritual life is more important than their physical life and the current method of handling sin does not forgive them in the eyes of the Father. He is the bread of life!

2) What does Jesus tell them?

These disciples are too invested in the physical life and cannot focus on the spiritual life.  The physical life as a true disciple of Jesus is hard, but the spiritual life is the only way to life. Only the Father enables them to understand spiritual things. Eternal life matters… it lasts for… ETERNITY!

Check out the Francis Chan Red Rope Illustration! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86dsfBbZfWs

3)  What is Jesus’ interaction with the 12 disciples?

Jesus challengs the 12 who seem to really get it.  Peter gets it right when he says, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Jesus then reminds them that He has chosen them, just like he talked about in 6:44, the Father draws us. Each time that Jesus mentions God’s sovereignty, it is in response to unbelief. He wantst to to stir in people that God is in control, no matter what our circumstances or the decisions we make.  

4) What questions do you have?

Don’t be nervous about this one… the Holy Spirit will help you answer.  If you are discipling a young child (and most others!), remember that they are not expecting a doctoral dissertation when you answer, so keep it simple and true. And, it is ok to say, “I am not sure, let’s look into that together.”  And then add that question to your study for next week. 

Allow the Spirit to lead a great conversation!

***Here is the passage and questions for next week’s study. Give your student the week to write out the passage and prepare for your discussion.

Passage: John 7:1-13

Questions: 

  • 1) What is Jesus’ brother’s reason for Jesus going to the feast?
  • 2) What is Jesus’ response?
  • 3) What questions do you have?