Travis Reese

Friends,

In John 6:60-71, we learn of the fallout from Jesus’ increasingly intense teachings. By this point Jesus seems to know what his future holds and realizes that he has so much more to teach his followers.

Verse 60 opens with the disciples admitting how difficult it is to accept the message they just listened to; Jesus speaking on how his body and blood are the ways to eternal life. 

There are unlimited commentaries and interpretations one can find related to the idea of Jesus introducing the Eucharist in John 6.

Let’s just say for argument’s sake that the idea of Jesus’ body and blood being the way to eternal life was disruptive to his audience. And in John 6:60-71 we hear some of the back and forth between him and his disciples.

Jesus was asking his people to believe in something that upended their belief system. To have faith. His call to action at that moment is just to believe in the words he’s saying. And Jesus asks if his words are offensive. 

And then some of his followers walk away.

We’re given the gift of knowing how this story plays out throughout the gospels. We know what happens and we celebrate it each year during the Easter season.

But in that moment? How would I react? 

How do we handle something presented to us that upends our belief system?

In Christ,

—Travis