Responding to John 6:65!

First we must put this controversial passage in context:

John 6:53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever. 59 These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum. 60 ”Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?”

61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”

68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” 71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.

Jesus has been followed by many, they are even referred to as disciples, but the majority turn away and follow no more, once the teaching goes beyond their natural ability to understand or accept it. Yet, Peter and the rest of the twelve stay. Why do they stay and others leave? Are they smarter, humbler, better or maybe worse in some way?

Well, we and they would probably think so, but Jesus makes it clear in vs. 65 that "no one can come" to Him unless granted by the Father, and if that weren't shocking enough, He destroys any chance of pride in those who remain by simply saying in vs. 70 "did I not choose you"! Of course He has already set the stage for this teaching in vs. 63 by declaring "it is the Spirit that gives life".

This is controversial because we wonder why He chose us and not others? Peter might well have wondered why he was chosen and others were left unchanged by the Spirit.

So how do we respond to the fact that if we believe upon Jesus for salvation, it is not because of anything we did, but rather because the Father granted it, Jesus called us and the Spirit has given us life?

I would suggest responding with -

Thank you!