At this, many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
Parallel translations
- KJV From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
- BSB From that time on many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked 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 9:62But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for God’s Kingdom.”
- 1 Jn 2:19They went out from us, but they didn’t belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have continued with us. But they left, that they might be revealed that none of them belong to us.
- John 6:60Therefore many of his disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying! Who can listen to it?”
- Heb 10:38But the righteous will live by faith. If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”
- John 8:31Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples.
- Matt 19:22But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions.
- 2 Tim 4:10for Demas left me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
- Zeph 1:6those who have turned back from following Yahweh, and those who haven’t sought Yahweh nor inquired after him.
- John 6:64But there are some of you who don’t believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who didn’t believe, and who it was who would betray him.
- 2 Tim 1:15This you know, that all who are in Asia turned away from me; of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.
- 2 Pet 2:20–22For if, after they have escaped the defilement of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in it and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
- Matt 13:20–21What was sown on the rocky places, this is he who hears the word, and immediately with joy receives it;
- Matt 12:40–45For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
- Matt 21:8–11A very great multitude spread their clothes on the road. Others cut branches from the trees, and spread them on the road.
- Matt 27:20–25Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
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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