John 6:41-71

Jesus feeds the five thousand, then slips away before they can take him by force and make him king (v15).  He then goes one step further by making it across the sea while having the crowd believe that he is still on the same side.  When they finally catch up with him, he tells them that they are seeking him for the wrong reason: they ate their fill of the bread (v26).  He tells them that they are to work for food that endures to eternal life instead of food that perishes (v27).  He tells them that the work of God is to believe in the one whom he has sent (v29).  Finally, if they haven't figured it out already, he tells them that he is the bread of life (v35).  Somehow, they still don't get it.


The Jews Grumbled
v41-59

When Jesus tells them that he is the bread of life, he has some pretty amazing things to say in a few short verses (v35-40).  Yet, in response to all that Jesus says, the Jews grumbled about him.  The reason that they grumble is because of something that Jesus said: "I am the bread that came down from heaven."  It's not actually the "bread" part, but the "came down from heaven" part that the Jews are focused on.  The text goes on to further explain their reasoning.  Apparently, it seems as if the fact that they know Jesus' father and mother causes them to question whether or not Jesus came down from heaven.  I guess you could argue that they would simply know a person's origin by his or her parents.  The Jews obviously knew Mary and Joseph.  They probably also knew Jesus when he was little since he was being raised by his parents.  To be fair, I'm not sure I would believe Jesus either.  If he was the kid down the street that I saw grow up, how would it be possible that he actually came down from heaven?

Though it may be hard to believe that Jesus's words, the main reason that the Jews are grumbling is not because it seems incomprehensible that he "came down from heaven".  Instead, it is their pride that is getting in the way.  To the Jews, Jesus is below them.  They cannot swallow their pride to accept the fact that this same kid who they knew as a little boy can be above them in some way.  They are still the ones who see and yet do not believe.

In response to their grumbling, Jesus repeats a number of things that he has already said.  He tells them again that "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day."  He also repeats the fact that "whoever believes has eternal life".  Jesus also moves on to speak more about bread.  Not only is he the bread of life and the bread that comes down from heaven, but eating this bread will result in eternal life.  This is in contrast to those who ate the manna in the wilderness and they died.  With all that said, Jesus gives one final clue about the bread.  He specifies it by telling the crowd that "the bread that I will gives for the life of the world is my flesh".

The Jews don't understand how Jesus can give them his flesh to eat.  It certainly is a valid question.  It is a question I would've probably asked.  Did Jesus mean for them to feed on him like a cannibal?  The truth is that Jesus is talking about his dying on the cross.  Jesus is referring to his body that will be broken and his blood that will be shed.  We can see this by the fact that he goes on to talk about his flesh and his blood.  Not only that, but he relates the feeding of his flesh and drinking of his blood to eternal life.  The Jews just couldn't understand it.


The (Other) Disciples Grumbled
v60-66

There's actually another group that has remained quiet since the crowd found Jesus on the other side of the sea, and that's the disciples.  Jesus' disciples are the people who are following him.  Of these people following Jesus were the twelve disciples.  However, there were more than just the twelve who were following Jesus.  At this point in the story, we get to see the disciples reaction to Jesus' words.

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?”
John 6:60

To be clear, this doesn't include the twelve disciples.  The twelve will be addressed at the end of the chapter.  At this point, these are disciples of Jesus who aren't the twelve.  These disciples have a hard time with what Jesus is saying.  They find it hard and difficult to listen to (v60).  They grumble about it (v61).  Finally, they turn back and no longer walk with Jesus (v66).  It's not only the Jews who have difficulty with Jesus' words, but also his disciples.


The Twelve (Eleven) Believe
v66-71

The Jews have a hard time with Jesus' words.  Even Jesus' own disciples have a hard time with what he is saying.  What is the response of the twelve?

So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
John 6:67-69

They believe.  They recognize that Jesus has the words of eternal life.  They know that he is the Holy One of God.  With that, where else would they go?  They're not leaving.  With Jesus is exactly where they want to be.


Why?

Why is it that the Jews grumbled?  Why did the other disciples turn back and no longer follow Jesus?  Why was it only the twelve that remained?  If Jesus really is the Bread of Life and has the word of eternal life, why do so many people reject him?  There are a number of different verses in this chapter that give us an answer.

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

v37

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

v44

And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

v65

It is the Father who gives.  It is the Father who draws.  It is the Father who grants.  This is why there are some who do not believe, as it is described in verse 64 and 65.  This is why the Jews grumbled, the other disciples no longer walked with Jesus and yet the Twelve remained.

Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.

John 6:70-71