Soon after the feeding of the five thousand and His teaching in the synagogue, things changed dramatically around Jesus. Many of His followers, after hearing His teaching about being the “bread of life” and the necessity of consuming His flesh and blood, declared, “…This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” (John 6:60). This pivotal moment in the Gospel of John represents a major turning point in Jesus’ ministry — a transition from mass popularity to a narrower, more committed form of discipleship.
The phrase “hard saying” (Greek: skleros logos) refers to the entire teaching regarding Jesus as the bread from Heaven, which must be eaten to gain eternal life. The word “hard” here means “offensive” or “disagreeable” — a doctrine the listeners found impossible to accept. Jesus asserted He came down from Heaven, directly challenging their understanding of Him as merely the son of Joseph and Mary. His call to “eat His flesh and drink His blood” was interpreted literally by many, which violated Jewish dietary laws and was deeply repulsive to His listeners. They were seeking a political Messiah who would provide material sustenance, not a spiritual Savior requiring total commitment and sacrifice. They were looking for a king to feed them, not a Savior to transform them.
Jesus, knowing they were “murmuring” or grumbling about His words, addressed their unbelief by stating that His words were “spirit and life.” Instead of watering down His message to appease the crowd, Jesus allowed them to wrestle with the truth. He understood that true faith must be rooted in accepting His full, difficult, and divine message. Following this, Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter’s response serves as a cornerstone for true discipleship: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). Peter’s answer indicates that while the teaching was difficult, the Twelve understood that Jesus alone held the promise of eternal life. They chose to stay, recognizing Jesus as the “Holy One of God.”
Following Jesus has never been easy. Sometimes, His teachings challenge our culture, preferences, and understanding. The crowd left when the teaching moved from material blessing to spiritual demand. Genuine faith survives when the cost is high. When faced with the scandal of the cross or difficult doctrines, the response of faith is to recognize that there is nowhere else to go for salvation.
John 6:60 reminds us that Jesus does not offer a comfortable, convenient religion, but rather the life-giving truth of the gospel, which requires total submission and reliance upon Him.
From Our Missionaries
Ebenezer, West Little Rock: Ruben Isturiz writes, “I thank God that this week we were able to resume our regular activities at full capacity. All Discovery Bible Study (DBS) groups met successfully to develop deeper into the truths of the Word.
“Our Celebration Service was very inspiring; we had a special time of prayer for this year’s goals, both personal and congregational. In addition, we began a series of sermons on ecclesiology, starting with the purpose of the church.
“In terms of our community work, we collected a special offering for the ‘Caring Hearts’ pregnancy help center, supporting this ministry alongside our mother church.
“Also, during this month, we will be sharing about Global Missions in our services, preparing for the special offering we will take up on February 22 in support of this cause.
“On a personal note, I thank the Lord that my health has improved. Next week, I will resume my gym routine after a month and a half of absence due to breathing difficulties. I recognize that, as missionaries, maintaining good health is essential to carrying out the work that the Lord has entrusted to us.
“Thank you once again for your prayers and constant support so that Ebenezer can achieve its goal of becoming a church that glorifies the Lord. To God be the glory!”
Faith Chapel, Flippin: Johnny Shew writes, “What a great week we had at Faith Chapel! The weather all week was beautiful, especially for February. Our Sunday School attendance was excellent, and we set a new attendance record for the worship service, with 12 first-time visitors! Praise God! Granted, all those visitors were here for the baptisms that followed worship, and 11 of those 12 attend other churches faithfully, but I also know that everyone there heard the Word of God and the Gospel, and you never know who might need to hear your message. And then the baptisms just topped it off! I saw a lot of tears! Praise God again! We have two more to be baptized, and we are just waiting for their dad to be able to be here for it, as he is working out of state. But he assures us that it will be soon!
“The cabinets and countertops were installed, all the trim was installed, the plumber is supposed to be here this week to install fixtures and finish up, the classroom and kitchen doors and trim are being painted, and the baseboard moldings are being installed. I am not ready to confirm exactly when all the work will be completed, but it will be very soon. Praise God again and again!
“We thank you all for your support of this mission, and especially for your prayers! Please continue to pray for us, and we will pray God’s blessings on all of you and your churches.”
Faith Journey, Benton: Bryan Clay writes, “This week was such a big encouragement for us. The Bible talks a lot about encouraging one another, and we really felt that in a special way. I heard from the GMA counselor at Beacon Baptist Church in Bussey, who asked about Faith Journey Mission and the ministries we’re involved in. She shared that they’ll be praying for us and keeping up with what God is doing at the mission, which means a lot to us. We let the girls know we’re excited about their ministry, too, and will be praying for them as well.
“It was also a busy week at the mission. We had six small groups with great fellowship and spiritual growth. We also had several first-time visitors, which is always encouraging and shows our folks are inviting others.
“Sunday was a special time together. We held two services, and on Sunday night, we hosted a Valentine’s-themed service focused on biblical marriage. The men and women each reflected on what the Bible says about loving and caring for their spouse and created love notes, one for the husbands and one for the wives. It was a great reminder of how God calls us to love each other well every day.”
Misión Gracia Soberana (Sovereign Grace), NWA:Roberto Marcelletti writes, “Greetings, brothers and sisters in Christ. In my report last week, I told you about the young Francis who, last Sunday, gave his life to Christ when we visited him in the hospital. On Tuesday, I visited him, and he had already been diagnosed with acute leukemia, so he cried, and I was able to encourage him and pray. On Wednesday, he was sent to Little Rock for his first chemo. I thank you for your prayers for him and his family.
“Tuesday night we had our connection group at Rogers at Garcia’s home — Frank, Mayerlin, and Ashley, their children are very excited about this weather.
“Thursday, we had our connection group in Springdale.
“On Sunday, we had several absences. We began a series of preaching based on Prov. 11:30, encouraging brothers and sisters to share their faith. We are also forming an evangelism team, as in the spring, we will go out to share the gospel. We ask you to pray for God’s grace and favor.”
Epic Life, Pea Ridge: Jake McCandless writes, “Both groups met this week. Our Woodbridge Group welcomed a first-time guest as it studied how the enemy uses accusations and how they impact our families and churches. This has brought up some powerful conversations.
“Our Garfield Group met, and they have bridged from Hebrews 11 to a study through the lives of each of the disciples. I wrote a 10-week study that examines their lives in the Gospels, Acts, and beyond. They are enjoying that study, and it was a great transition from Hebrews 11.”
