55 For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink.

56 Whoever feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me and I in him.

58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”

60 When many of His disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?”

61 Aware that His disciples were grumbling about this teaching, Jesus asked them, “Does this offend you?

— John 6:55-56; 58; 60-61

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

— Isaiah 53:3

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

— 1 Corinthians 1:18

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, peace and joy from Christ to you!

After Jesus taught that His flesh is true food and His blood is true drink and whoever feeds on Him abides in Him and He in him, and he will live forever, a lot of His followers were greatly challenged and brought to a critical decision point. The truth about Jesus confronts all people with an unavoidable, personal and eternal choice. Jesus’ teaching like this seems unacceptable, harsh or offensive. Though Jesus offered these followers satisfaction and fulfillment in Himself, the wavering followers wanted a Messiah who fulfill their personal desires—miraculous bread, material blessings and political freedom.

A suffering Messiah, who would bear their punishment on the cross like a Lamb slaughtered and shedding blood to redeem them, did not match their expectations. The challenging truth Jesus unrelentingly taught sifted out His true followers from the fickle crowd. Just like what the Apostle Paul later would write: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Even today, following Jesus requires us leaving the crowd to stand with Jesus Christ.