“The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”
John 6:63 (NLT)
After Jesus finished teaching in the synagogue, many of His disciples said His message was too hard to accept. They loved following Him when He was feeding the crowds, but when He called them to feed on Him—to be consumed by His words—they grumbled. Jesus knew their hearts and asked, “Does this offend you?” He reminded them that only the Holy Spirit gives life. Human effort, no matter how sincere, accomplishes nothing. Every word Jesus speaks is Spirit and life—it can’t be grasped by intellect or sustained by willpower.
Many who followed Him turned away because they were seeking answers, not the Answer. They wanted His benefits, not His presence. But Peter understood. When Jesus asked the twelve if they would leave too, Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.” He knew that nothing else could satisfy.
True disciples don’t stay because it’s easy—they stay because they’ve been drawn by the Father, filled with the Spirit, and convinced that there’s nowhere else to go.
It’s possible to be around the things of God and still miss the heart of God. Many of those who followed Jesus saw miracles, heard His words, and still didn’t believe. The same is true today. Being in church, singing songs, or serving faithfully won’t save us. Only being consumed by Jesus—letting His Spirit become our source—gives real life. The question isn’t just whether we’ll stay; it’s what we’re truly staying for.