Reading for Aug 17: John 6:59-65

59 These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.    
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying; who can understand it?"
61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, "Does this offend you? 62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 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 would betray Him. 65 And He said, "Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father."

 

Comments:

Jesus had just taught some profound things in the synagogue at Capernaum, one of the most important was that He was God and that through Him came salvation. Some of the "disciples" who heard this thought that the teaching was too hard. Jesus rebukes them immediately, saying that they haven't seen anything yet.

He goes on to say that the reason that they can't understand is because they only have their fleshy natural minds to evaluate the situation with. He points out that "It is the Spirit who gives life and the flesh profits nothing" and there were some there who did not believe so they lacked the Spirit. So that brings us back to the question, why did they not believe? They had Jesus right there with them, they had witnessed great miracles; how could they not believe? Well Jesus says it plainly; they were not drawn by the Father and given to Jesus as He has planned.