Words to the Disciples

59 These things He said (A)in the synagogue as He taught (B)in Capernaum.

60 So then many of His (C)disciples, when they heard this, said, “(D)This statement is very [a]unpleasant; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, (E)aware that His disciples were complaining about this, said to them, “Is this [b](F)offensive to you? 62 What then if you see (G)the Son of Man (H)ascending to where He was before? 63 (I)It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh provides no benefit; (J)the words that I have spoken to you are spirit, and are life. 64 But there are (K)some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus (L)knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and (M)who it was who would [c]betray Him. 65 And He was saying, “For this reason I have (N)told you that no one can come to Me unless (O)it has been granted him from the Father.”

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Footnotes

  1. John 6:60 Or hard
  2. John 6:61 Or shocking
  3. John 6:64 Or hand Him over

59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Many Disciples Desert Jesus

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

61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?(C) 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man(D) ascend to where he was before!(E) 63 The Spirit gives life;(F) the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit[a] and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known(G) from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.(H) 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.”(I)

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Footnotes

  1. John 6:63 Or are Spirit; or are spirit

59 Jesus was teaching in a synagogue in Capernaum when he said these things.

The Words of Eternal Life

60 Many of Jesus' disciples heard him and said, “This is too hard for anyone to understand.”

61 Jesus knew that his disciples were grumbling. So he asked, “Does this bother you? 62 What if you should see the Son of Man go up to heaven where he came from? 63 (A) The Spirit is the one who gives life! Human strength can do nothing. The words that I have spoken to you are from that life-giving Spirit. 64 But some of you refuse to have faith in me.” Jesus said this, because from the beginning he knew who would have faith in him. He also knew which one would betray him.

65 Then Jesus said, “You cannot come to me, unless the Father makes you want to come. That is why I have told these things to all of you.”

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59 He said these things while teaching in the meeting place in Capernaum.

Too Tough to Swallow

60 Many among his disciples heard this and said, “This is tough teaching, too tough to swallow.”

61-65 Jesus sensed that his disciples were having a hard time with this and said, “Does this rattle you completely? What would happen if you saw the Son of Man ascending to where he came from? The Spirit can make life. Sheer muscle and willpower don’t make anything happen. Every word I’ve spoken to you is a Spirit-word, and so it is life-making. But some of you are resisting, refusing to have any part in this.” (Jesus knew from the start that some weren’t going to risk themselves with him. He knew also who would betray him.) He went on to say, “This is why I told you earlier that no one is capable of coming to me on his own. You get to me only as a gift from the Father.”

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