²³ Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

⁷ Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,^(A)

⁸ and,

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.^(E)

¹⁴ The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God^(A) but considers them foolishness,^(B) and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world^(A) through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save^(B) those who believe.^{(C) 22} Jews demand signs^(D) and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified:^(E) a stumbling block^(F) to Jews and foolishness^(G) to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called,^(H) both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God^(I) and the wisdom of God.^{(J) 25} For the foolishness^(K) of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness^(L) of God is stronger than human strength.

²⁶ Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.^(M) Not many of you were wise^(N) by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose^(O) the foolish^(P) things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not^(Q)—to nullify the things that are,

³² Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.^{(A) 33} As it is written:

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)

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

³⁴ Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother:^(A) “This child is destined to cause the falling^(B) and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,

⁵⁷ And they took offense^(A) at him.

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”^(B)

⁵⁸ And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.