After what appears to be several of Jesus’ teaching sessions, held in the synagogue at Capernaum, during the second Passover of his public ministry (spring of 29 AD), many of Jesus’ disciples struggled with his words, because they hadn’t a spiritual context in which to put them (John 6:60). These seemed to be leading members of Galilean social life, many of them zealots, and they prided themselves in their ability to understand scripture (cp. John 9:40-41). The problem was, they weren’t very good at that in which they thought they excelled (cp. Matthew 13:15; John 3:3-4). When one believes he understands, but doesn’t, it is difficult to get that one to admit his error, and these folks weren’t any different, so they murmured over Jesus’ words that they must eat his flesh and drink his blood, if they could hope to live eternally (John 6:53-54).
When Jesus realized what they were doing, he asked them if what he claimed, vis-à-vis his reference to the crucifixion, offended their scruples (John 6:61). Were they shocked at his words, and did they see them as a stumbling block, and does this cause them to doubt? If they stumbled at these words, how would they react, if the saw him as he departed this life to go to the Father, vis-à-vis at his crucifixion (cp. John 7:33; 13:3; 14:12, 28; 16:5, 28; 17:11, 13; Luke 23:46)? Jesus, then, reminded them that it is the spirit, not the flesh, that profits in life, and the words he spoke couldn’t be understood through one’s physical senses (John 6:63), or the five gates, through which men understand their world (1Corinthians 2:11). These folks thought they are able to understand good and evil (John 9:40-41), but Jesus’ claims about the Kingdom of God couldn’t be understood, unless one is born again (John 3:3). In other words, a man’s five senses, which profit a man in this world, profit nothing when it comes to understanding Jesus’ claims about the Kingdom of God. Jesus’ words must be believed (John 6:29), and, once they are believed, the Father will give understanding (cp. John 6:44-45). In other words, Jesus’ miracles are enough to show he is a man sent by God. Therefore, believe him, no matter what one does or doesn’t understand. Once one believes, understanding will come.
However, some doubted and wouldn’t receive Jesus’ words, concerning their spiritual significance, but he knew from the very beginning who they were (John 6:64). So, Jesus reiterated that to doubt is to place oneself outside of the Father’s power that would draw them to Jesus and give them understanding (John 6:64-65). Nevertheless, from that time forward many of Jesus’ disciples walked away from him, never to return (John 6:66).
Turning to the Twelve, Jesus asked: “Will you also walk away?” (John 6:67), but Peter spoke up and said that they had nowhere else to go, because only he (Jesus) had the words of eternal life. Moreover, they believed that he was the Messiah, the Son of the Living God (John 6:68-69).
Then, thinking of Judas Iscariot, Jesus replied that he had chosen the Twelve, yet even one of them is someone who slandered him (John 6:70-71). But, one may ask, why would Jesus choose someone he knew from the very beginning would betray him? Wouldn’t that sow the seed of his own crucifixion? No, when the time was fulfilled, Jesus would have been crucified with or without someone betraying him, because his enemies sought his life even before Judas agreed to turn Jesus over to them. All Judas offered was an easier route to fulfill their desires. I believe the reason Jesus chose Judas Iscariot is to fulfill all things. Just as in the beginning of the first creation, Adam slandered God (cp. Genesis 3:4-5), so in the beginning of the second creation a slanderer must be present. Just as in the beginning of the first creation, Adam betrayed God (Genesis 3:3; cp. 2:16-17),[1] so, too, in the beginning of the second creation Jesus chose to have a betrayer (John 6:70-71).
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[1] Take note that Eve claimed she would die if she ‘touched’ the tree. That isn’t what God told Adam. Adam lied to Eve, betraying God by giving an evil witness of God’s character. So, when Eve touched the fruit and didn’t die, she believed Adam that God had ulterior motives regarding mankind. Therefore, she ate and gave also the Adam who was right there with her, apparently approving of what she did (Genesis 3:6).
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