Cheryl Schatz

Peter, You presented the context of John 6:37 as the words of Jesus at the end of John. You wrote: Also, in verses 65-67, it is interesting to notice that COMING is juxtaposed against GOING AWAY: – verse 65 – “And he said, For this reason (some didn’t believe) I have told you that no one can COME to me unless it is granted by the Father” – verse 66 – “Because of this many of his disciples turned back and NO LONGER WENT ABOUT WITH HIM”. – Verse 67 – “So Jesus asked the 12, ‘Do you also wish to GO AWAY”? The context and the meaning must start earlier because you missed something. Starting with verse 60: John 6:60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?” The immediate reaction of “many” was to say “who can LISTEN to it”. The term “listen” is the Greek word akouō. This Greek word means to listen, hear, pay close attention to, and usually respond in conformity. https://mmoutreach.org/tg/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/john6-60conformity.jpg What the “many” was NOT saying is who can actually HEAR with the PHYSICAL ears. They were saying who can pay attention to this teaching and respond positively to it. Jesus responds to the ones who cannot accept His words with this statement: John 6:63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. Jesus defined His own words. They are spirit and life. Then Jesus shows that their response was unbelief. John 6:64 “But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. – In verse 66 the term “no longer walk with Him” is the Greek word peripateō and it means to walk, live. They were no longer willing to listen. – In verse 67, Jesus asks if the 12 want to “go away” also. Did Jesus’ disciples interpret this as physically going away? Or did the disciples interpret this to mean are they also going to turn away and not listen to Jesus? The disciples’ answer shows that this is all about whom will they listen to not about a physical walking away. John 6:68 Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. The “going” is connected to listening. To WHOM are they to go to listen? Jesus alone has the words of eternal life. The context is all about belief and unbelief, willingness to listen and unwillingness to listen. I will answer the last part of your context comment on my next comment.