When Following Jesus Gets Hard: Lessons from John 6:66

In John 6:66, we read, “As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.” This moment marks a significant turning point in Jesus' ministry. Up to this point, Jesus had gathered a massive following—hundreds, possibly thousands—who were drawn to Him by His miracles, including the miraculous feeding of the 5,000, and the hope that He might be the Messiah who would deliver them from Roman oppression. Many were amazed by His power, captivated by the promise of more miracles, and eager for the physical blessings He could provide. But when Jesus began to teach about the deeper, spiritual truths of who He was—how He was the Bread of Life, sent to give eternal life—many of His followers couldn’t accept what He was saying.

These people had tasted of the goodness of Christ, witnessed His miracles, and even been enlightened to the truth of His message. Yet when the cost of discipleship became clear, they turned away. Their faith was rooted in earthly expectations, not in a true understanding of Christ’s mission. The idea that following Him required total surrender, spiritual transformation, and a commitment that went beyond the physical realm was too much for them. As a result, “many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.”

This reality is still happening today. People hear the gospel, see God’s work, and experience His blessings. But when faced with the deeper truths and the cost of true discipleship, many choose to walk away, just as those in John 6:66 did. They want the benefits of knowing Christ, but they aren’t willing to give Him their lives fully. This rejection of Christ’s call to a deeper relationship is captured in the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:18-23, where Jesus describes different responses to the gospel message. Some receive the word with joy, but when hardship or persecution comes, they fall away. Others are distracted by the worries of the world or the deceitfulness of wealth, and their faith becomes unfruitful. Only those who truly understand the message and bear fruit remain faithful.

In Hebrews 6:4-6, we are warned about those who have “tasted of the heavenly gift” but then fall away. It says, “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.” This echoes the tragedy of those who, having encountered Christ, ultimately choose to walk away.

Jesus made it clear that following Him would require self-denial, sacrifice, and a willingness to follow Him even when the path was difficult. In Luke 9:23, He said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” This call to discipleship is not one of comfort or convenience, but one of total commitment. And in 1 John 2:19, we are reminded that not all who appear to follow Christ are truly His: “They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.”

In the end, John 6:66 serves as a powerful reminder that following Jesus is not about what we can get from Him, but about fully embracing His truth and the cost of discipleship. Many walked away because they were following for the wrong reasons, and this still happens today. True discipleship requires more than just enjoying the benefits of Christ—it requires a deep, committed relationship with Him, even when it challenges us to lay down our own desires and expectations.

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“What I write is not for everyone, but what I write is meant for someone.”

I am the author of two books: Embracing God's Wisdom: A Journey of Faith and Reflection and Embracing God’s Wisdom: Paul’s Commands for Victorious Living. Both are available on Amazon.

I’d love to hear how this post spoke to you. Have you experienced anything similar in your walk with God? Feel free to share. Let’s encourage one another in faith! Please reach out at: hopeinchrist2024@yahoo.com

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service. (1 Timothy 1:12)