From that time on many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him.
Parallel translations
- WEB At this, many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
- KJV From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
- NKJV From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
- NASB As a result of this many of His disciples left, and would no longer walk with Him.
- NLT At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Because of these sayings, many disciples turn back and no longer follow Jesus. His teaching sifts the crowd, separating true followers from the merely curious.
Overview
The hard words about His person and sacrifice prove to be a dividing line. Many who had followed for bread and signs now abandon Him. John shows that genuine discipleship endures the offense of Christ's claims, while superficial attachment falls away when faith is truly tested.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Luke 9:62Then Jesus declared, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
- 1 Jn 2:19They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us.
- John 6:60On hearing it, many of His disciples said, “This is a difficult teaching. Who can accept it?”
- Heb 10:38But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he shrinks back, I will take no pleasure in him.”
- John 8:31So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples.
- Matt 19:22When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.
- 2 Tim 4:10because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
- Zeph 1:6and those who turn back from following the LORD, neither seeking the LORD nor inquiring of Him.”
- John 6:64However, there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray Him.)
- 2 Tim 1:15You know that everyone in the Province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
- 2 Pet 2:20–22If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, only to be entangled and overcome by it again, their final condition is worse than it was at first.
- Matt 13:20–21The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
- Matt 12:40–45For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
- Matt 21:8–11A massive crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
- Matt 27:20–25But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus put to death.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 6:66 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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