Why did so many walk away from Jesus?

In John 6:60-71, a large crowd that had eagerly followed Jesus suddenly turns and leaves. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt examines the hard teaching that thinned the crowd down to a faithful few.

The people loved Jesus’ miracles, but when His teaching grew hard, many grumbled and walked away. Dr. Holt distinguishes “followers,” who came for what they could get, from true “disciples,” who stay and learn. What drove the crowd off, he explains, was Jesus’ teaching that no one can come to Him unless the Father draws them — the truth that salvation is God’s gracious work, not our own. When Jesus asks the Twelve if they will leave too, Peter answers, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

Questions this study answers:

1. What first drew the crowds to Jesus? Mostly His miracles and the benefits they hoped to gain — not His teaching or His person.

2. Why did so many walk away? Because Jesus’ teaching was hard to accept, especially that salvation is God’s gracious work and not something we achieve.

3. Why did the Twelve stay? Because, as Peter said, there is no one else to go to. They had come to see that Jesus alone has the words of eternal life.

“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” — John 6:68 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the John Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.