Go! And Follow When It’s Hard To Understand - John 6:60 Series

Go! And Follow When It’s Hard to Understand

John 6:60 (NLT): “Many of his disciples said, ‘This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?’”

Introduction: When Faith Doesn’t Make Sense

Have you ever faced a moment when following Jesus simply didn’t make sense? When His Word cut across what the world calls “reasonable”?

Maybe you’ve read something in Scripture and thought, “Lord, this is hard to understand!”

You’re not alone—because even the followers of Jesus said those very words in John 6:60.

John 6 is one of the most revealing chapters in the Gospels. Jesus has just performed the miracle of feeding the 5,000. Crowds flock to Him, eager for bread that fills the stomach. But then Jesus declares something far more radical—He calls Himself the Bread of Life. He tells the crowd that they must eat His flesh and drink His blood if they are to have eternal life (John 6:53–54). The language shocks them. It sounds scandalous, offensive, incomprehensible.

And so we read: “Many of his disciples said, ‘This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?’” (John 6:60 NLT)

This verse captures one of the great crises of discipleship:

What do you do when God’s truth challenges your understanding?

When Jesus’ words offend your pride, stretch your faith, or demand your surrender?

Today’s message, “Go! And Follow When It’s Hard to Understand”, calls us to faith that holds fast when reason falters—to trust Jesus not because we always understand Him, but because we know Him.

Point 1: The Crisis of Faith — When the Word Offends the Flesh

John 6:60–61 (NLT): “Many of his disciples said, ‘This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?’ Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, ‘Does this offend you?’”

Jesus does not soften His teaching to make it more palatable. He does not apologise for His words. Instead, He exposes the root issue—offence.

The Greek word translated offend is s?a?da???? (skandalizo)—from which we get our English word “scandalise.” It means to cause to stumble, to trip up, or to be ensnared.

The truth of Christ became a stumbling block to those who were not ready to believe.

In 1 Corinthians 1:23 (NLT), Paul says, “So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.”

Why? Because the cross challenges human logic. The idea that salvation comes through the suffering and death of a crucified Saviour defies worldly wisdom.

But faith is not built on what is logical; it is built on what is true.

John Piper once said, “Faith in Jesus is not merely accepting His gifts but trusting His character when His ways are confusing.”

And that is exactly what John 6 calls us to—trusting the heart of Christ even when His words confound our minds.

When you don’t understand what God is doing—when the healing doesn’t come, when the prayer isn’t answered, when obedience costs you dearly—remember that faith is not about comfort; it’s about commitment.

Real discipleship begins where convenience ends.

A young missionary couple once went to a remote tribe to share the Gospel. After two years, they saw no visible fruit. One day, discouraged, they prayed, “Lord, we don’t understand why You sent us here.”

That very week, a villager came, saying, “We’ve watched your love and patience for two years, and we want to know your God.”

Faithfulness in confusion often precedes fruitfulness in God’s timing.

Point 2: The Cross Reveals Who Truly Believes

John 6:66–68 (NLT): “At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, ‘Are you also going to leave?’ Simon Peter replied, ‘Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.’”

This moment is one of the most defining in all Scripture. Many walk away. The crowd thins.

Following Jesus is easy when the bread is free and the miracles are frequent. But when He speaks of the cross, of sacrifice, of total surrender—many turn back.

Peter’s confession here is beautiful and profound. The Greek phrase “You have the words that give eternal life” uses ??µata ???? a?????? (rhemata zoes aioniou)—literally, “utterances of life without end.” Peter recognises that eternal life is not found in understanding, but in trusting the Person of Christ.

R.T. Kendall said, “Faith is doing what God says, even when it doesn’t make sense—because you trust that He knows more than you do.”

When Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go?” he was acknowledging: even when I don’t understand, I know there is nowhere else to turn but You.

Proverbs 3:5–6 (NLT): “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”