What on earth could Jesus have possibly said that would result in many of His disciples refusing to remain in His company? He said something "hard to endure" and take seriously (Jn 6:60):

• "I Myself am the Living Bread come down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread he shall live forever; the bread I will give is My flesh, for the life of the world" (Jn 6:51).
• "If you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you" (Jn 6:53).
• "He who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood has life eternal, and I will raise him up on the last day" (Jn 6:54).
• "My flesh is real food and My blood real drink. The man who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in Him" (Jn 6:55-56).
• "Just as the Father Who has life sent Me and I have life because of the Father, so the man who feeds on Me will have life because of Me" (Jn 6:57).
• "The man who feeds on this bread will live forever" (Jn 6:58).

Do these hard words of Jesus "shake your faith"? (Jn 6:61) They're supposed to. Therefore Jesus refused to recant or modify them just to keep the group together. After the disbelieving disciples left, Jesus then spoke to those who remained with Him, people like you and me. All that was left for Jesus to say was: "Do you want to leave Me too?" (Jn 6:67) How will you answer Jesus?

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 30, 2013

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