In John Chapter 6, why did many disciples of Jesus say it was a hard teaching and leave Him because of it?

Question

And why do many Protestants today find the teaching of Jesus in John Chapter 6 to be a hard teaching and reject it?

Answer 1

He said you must eat this bread (my body) and drink this wine (my blood). I can imagine they were most shocked! They did not have the holy spirit to enlighten them but they did have Jesus before them. But it seems they may have viewed him as a man. Those who knew who he was stayed with him. Might as well weed out the weak believers before the going gets too tough.

Answer 2

Christ teachings are based on love. Mind is unable to comprehend true love as it is unable to comprehend God. Both are behind time, space and matter.
For us people is very difficult to practice forgiveness in the case where somebody have hurt us. Another aspect of his teachings that might be found difficult lays in the point that a disciple must have a tremendous amount of faith in his teacher.
On the other hand there are many misunderstandings about his teachings. Some are based on lack of understanding of translators, some in the fact of misgivings of some so called authorities.
Today there are no scriptures that fully represents his teachings and even if there were some there would be big amount of misunderstandings. We people are not in the position to understand each other in the simple issues, what to say about spirituality.
So a True and Living teacher is essential.

Answer 3

Brother -

May I simply say that we all make up the body of Christ. Therefore, I would not condemn another denomination on such a broad basis.

We need to learn from one another. John Chapter 6 is a perfect illustration of others not being able to hear. Our teacher told us that it is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh conveys no benefit, and that the words of truth bring life.

Also what stands out to me is the teaching of manna and that our Brother, Friend Christ Jesus was the true bread sent down from heaven and not like the manna which Moses had in the desert.

When you study the hebrew tradition on how they made bread at that time from the seeds, and then compare that to how Christ was beaten and treated, you can begin to understand this parable even further.

Answer 4

they left him because of their earthly belief. They really believed they had to eat the body of Jesus, which of course in cannibalism. that's why they called it a hard teaching.

Protestants have a different look on it. When John said Jesus is the Word and the bread of life, the hard teaching the disciples referred to means that Jesus Christ has the Words of eternal life, meaning that by believing in your heart and accepting His words as truth, you accept Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Not everyone can accept this either.

Its not like the catholic belief that you actually eat the body of Jesus, at communion. If you read Christ said "Do this in remembrance of me as oft as you get together." No where is it mentioned that it actually becomes the body of Christ. The church is not the saviour of the world Christ Jesus our Lord is. blessed be His name.

Answer 5

It would be helpful if your question quoted the "hard teaching", but in the passage Jesus proposes "The Holy Sacrament", and it probably sounded like cannibalism to his unenlightened followers. His followers haven't changed much, most are like the seed fallen on hard ground.

Answer 6

and just to let you know the bread and wine just symbolize. Jesus does not try to make them actual flesh and blood he makes them as bread and wine they are just symbols of what the bigger picture really is.