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Lesson Notes:

(John 6:66) – The rebuke from the Son of God (God actively present on earth) causes committed
disciples to change course. The challenge to fully consume the truth revealed to them, reveals
the truth about them, – they cannot digest the true bread heaven. They cannot choose eternal
virtue over the value of temporal satisfaction.
The reaction described is the attitude and behavior of disciples not simply general followers.
These were the students of the Rabbi, committed to learn from Him and follow His example for
life. The students of the Teacher have decided to disobediently retreat because the lesson
became too hard. The text indicates that disciples went back, hinting between the lines, that
they returned to their previous life pattern in opposition to their Teacher.

The disciples that rebelled are said to have walked no more with Him, implying that they never
came back to resume the course they strayed from. This is the first formal apostasy (falling
away) within the ministry of the Messiah. The disciples renounced their claims and
commitments to the Teaching ministry of their Rabbi because He disclosed His identity as the
Son of God and true bread of Heaven. The paradox revealed by their action demonstrates that
men can be drawn to and driven away by the truth.

Pastor’s Note: “666” is Biblically noted as the mark (sign) of the Beast and the number of “Man” living in
subjection to the (Anti-Christ) Beast system. (Revelation 13:15-18) Receiving the mark was a choice of self-
preservation allowing a person to survive in the latter 3 ½ years of world-wide tribulation. Those that receive the
mark were counted as compliant to the anti-system, worshipping the Beast in exchange for their allegiance to
worship God. John 6:66 is the only verse in scripture with a numerical value that is equal to the number of the
beast mark. The subject within the verse identifies those that will walk with God no more describing the nature of
those that will take the mark of beast during the world-wide tribulation period.

(John 6:67) – The first disciples, the twelve directly selected by the Rabbi and Messiah, are
presented with the great question: “Will you also go away”. Asking the twelve that have
followed the ministry of the Messiah for three years is of itself a viewpoint into their spiritual
vulnerability. The track record of walking with Him for three years did not make them less
susceptible to walk away.
Their allegiance to the truth required affirmation. Would majority influence, represented by
their fellow disciples walking away, effect their commitment to follow the Rabbi? Could they
remain faithful to the Rabbi and digest the hard truth? The freedom to return to their previous
way of life was offered in the great question the Rabbi presented to them.

(John 6:68) – Responding for all twelve disciples, a single spokesperson replies with a question:
“to whom shall we go”? The tragedy of a person being fully committed to a single option is the
requirement at the outset to abandon all substitute options. Peter answered reflectively,
acknowledging that they did not have another person available for them to follow. They had
invested themselves fully to follow Him. Their option-less commitment included the immediate
moment they faced, filled with questions and curiosities about the truth.

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