“Lord, To Whom Shall We Go?” True and False Disciples – John 6:60–71

In this episode, we finish John chapter 6 and watch a massive turning point in Jesus’ ministry. After His hard teaching about being the true bread from heaven, many who had called themselves “disciples” decide they’ve had enough. They grumble, take offense, and ultimately walk away from Him. Jesus doesn’t soften the message or chase them down—He lets them go and turns to the Twelve with a piercing question: “Do you want to go away as well?”

Peter’s answer, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,” becomes the backdrop for a careful look at the difference between false disciples and true disciples, the importance of knowing truth versus living on feelings, and the ongoing struggle of the believer’s heart as described in Romans 7. We also wrestle honestly with the tension between God’s sovereignty in salvation and our responsibility to preach the gospel, and then pivot into John 7, where opposition escalates and we see Christ moving according to the Father’s perfect timing.

Key Topics Covered

• Recap of John 6:63–65 – the Spirit gives life, the flesh is no help at all

• Why people reject the gospel: not lack of information, but unbelief and hard hearts

• Verse 66 as a turning point: many “disciples” turn back and no longer walk with Jesus

• Jesus’ question to the Twelve: “Do you want to go away as well?”

• Peter’s confession:

  • “Lord, to whom shall we go?”

  • “You have the words of eternal life.”

  • “We have believed and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

• Knowing vs. feeling: why Christian faith is rooted in truth, not emotional highs

• How doctrine sustains us in trials (cancer, job loss, betrayal, persecution)

• Romans 7 and the believer’s ongoing battle with remaining sin

• Contrast between false disciples and true disciples in John 6:

  • False: demand signs, grumble, take offense, and ultimately walk away

  • True: come to the end of themselves, cling to Christ as the only hope

• Wrestling with election and human responsibility: God grants, we still must preach and believe

• Encouragement for evangelism when family and friends reject Christ

• Transition to John 7: opposition intensifies and Jesus moves according to the Father’s timing

Scripture References

Primary Texts

• John 6:60–71

• John 7:1–2

Supporting Texts

• John 6:22–63 (context of the Bread of Life discourse)

• Romans 7:22–25

• James 1:2–4

• 1 Chronicles 29:11–12

• Philippians 2:12–13

• Romans 10:14–17

Key Ideas / Phrases to Highlight

• The gospel is rejected not because it’s unclear, but because hearts are hard.

• “Lord, to whom shall we go?” – there is no alternative Savior.

• Our assurance is anchored in what we know about God and His promises, not in how we feel on a hard day.

• True disciples may stumble (like Peter’s later denial), but they ultimately return to Christ because He holds them fast.

• We are called to hold together two truths: God sovereignly grants and we boldly preach and believe.

• We dare not boil the gospel down until it fits comfortably inside our limited understanding—its power is greater than our categories.

Big Takeaways

1. True Disciples Stay Because They Have Nowhere Else to Go False disciples follow Jesus as long as He fits their expectations. True disciples, like Peter, recognize that Christ alone has the words of eternal life—even when His teaching is hard and the crowd is walking away.

2. Truth, Not Feelings, Carries Us Through Trials When suffering hits—diagnosis, loss, betrayal—it’s not spiritual “vibes” that hold us; it’s what we know about God’s character, Christ’s finished work, and His promises in the Word.

3. God is Sovereign, and We Still Preach No one comes unless the Father grants it, yet God commands us to proclaim the gospel to all. We rest in His sovereignty, but we do not retreat from evangelism or missions.

4. Jesus Walks According to the Father’s Timetable As we move into John 7, we’re reminded that all opposition, timing, and outcomes fall under God’s rule. Christ is never rushed, never late, and never out of control.