Knowing Who Jesus Is Makes Following Possible

Knowing who Jesus is makes following him possible. The narrative contrasts two responses to Jesus’ teaching: the crowd that grumbles and turns away when doctrine becomes difficult, and the faithful few who cling because they have come to believe. Jesus’ identity—God incarnate who can read hearts, who came down as living bread, and who will be “lifted up” by the way of the cross—frames every demand he makes. Fleshly reasoning and cultural categories cannot account for the mystery of incarnation, atonement, and resurrection; only the Spirit gives life and opens minds to receive those words as spirit and life.

Following Jesus is often lonely and costly. Many who followed for miracles or provision abandon him when his claims offend comfortable assumptions about lineage, honor, or power. Yet true discipleship is marked not by casual attendance but by faith wrought by the Father: those drawn by God will persevere. The text holds up Peter as the exemplar of resolved trust—“To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life”—while also warning against arrogance by reminding believers that election is God’s work, not human merit.

The cross is central: Jesus’ ascent is inseparable from his descent into death. The scandal of a suffering Messiah removes every human category for victory and requires a posture of humility and dependence on God. Believers are called to put on God’s armor, endure opposition, and accept that Christianity is not a comfortable vacation but spiritual warfare stewarded by divine grace. Suffering and loss for Christ are not meaningless; they form character and strengthen faith when anchored in the assurance that God has chosen and preserves his own. The invitation is both urgent and hopeful: investigate the claims, allow the Spirit to illuminate, and stand firm because the one who speaks carries the words of eternal life.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Knowing Jesus enables true following When identity precedes duty, discipleship becomes possible. Understanding Jesus as God-incarnate and bearer of life reorients motives: following is no longer a social affiliation but a response to revealed truth. Faith that persists under pressure flows from this recognition, not from convenience or cultural conformity. [02:18]
• 2. Spiritual truth requires the Spirit Jesus’ teachings are “spirit and life,” intelligible only by the work of the Spirit. Intellectual assent without spiritual illumination leaves one susceptible to offense and retreat. The Spirit converts cognitive knowledge into trusting reception, enabling what human reasoning alone cannot. [13:38]
• 3. The cross defines Jesus’ exaltation “Lifting up” in John always points to the cross—victory through apparent defeat. Any theology that separates Christ’s glory from his suffering misunderstands God’s economy of redemption. Believers must learn to read triumph through the lens of the cross, where God’s wisdom overturns human expectations. [10:50]
• 4. Belief is God’s gracious gift Coming to faith is evidence of God’s drawing, not merely human effort. Assurance of salvation rests in God’s choosing and preserving, which inspires humility rather than boasting. This truth frees Christians to persevere in obedience and gratitude. [22:13]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:15] - Band of Brothers analogy
• [01:00] - Dismissal and setup
• [02:18] - Main point: knowing Jesus
• [03:10] - Reading: John 6:60–71
• [04:33] - Two responses: grumblers and followers
• [07:35] - Jesus reads hearts; his deity
• [10:20] - Ascending means the cross
• [13:38] - Spirit gives life, flesh is no help
• [17:45] - Chosen by the Father; assurance
• [24:26] - Following is costly; put on armor
• [27:32] - Prayer and the Lord’s Table

Bible reading
John 6:60-71 (ESV)
When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 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.” Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.

Observation questions

1. What two distinct responses did people have to Jesus' difficult teaching in this passage?
2. What specific claim did Jesus make that caused many of his followers to grumble and turn away? [06:26]
3. How does Peter's response to Jesus' question differ from the response of the other disciples?
4. What does Jesus reveal about the source of a person's ability to come to him and believe?

Interpretation questions

1. Why is it significant that Jesus' "lifting up" or ascension in John's Gospel always refers to the cross, and how does this redefine victory? [10:50]
2. Jesus says the Spirit gives life and the flesh is no help. What does this mean for our ability to understand spiritual truths on our own?
3. What is the connection between Jesus knowing the hearts of those who grumbled and his statement that no one can come to him unless the Father grants it?
4. How does Jesus' statement about choosing the twelve, including a "devil," serve as a warning against pride in those who continue to follow him?

Application questions

1. Following Jesus is often a lonely and costly business. [04:33] When have you experienced this loneliness or cost in your own life, and what was your initial reaction?
2. What are some specific teachings of Jesus that you find yourself tempted to grumble about or mentally push back against? [08:25] What would it look like to bring that struggle to him in faith instead of turning away?
3. The Christian life has been described as signing up for war, not a vacation. [24:58] In what area of your life (work, family, school, community) do you most need to consciously "put on the full armor of God" to stand firm this week?
4. Peter's confession, "Lord, to whom shall we go?" came from a place of resolved trust. When you feel pressure to compromise or follow the crowd, how can you actively remind yourself that Jesus alone has the words of eternal life?
5. The assurance that God chooses and preserves his people is meant to produce humility, not pride. [22:13] How does remembering that your faith is ultimately God's gift protect you from both arrogance and despair when you fail?
6. Suffering for Christ is not meaningless; it builds character and strengthens faith. [26:27] Can you recall a past difficulty or opposition that, in hindsight, God used to deepen your trust in him? How does that memory help you face current challenges?