From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. – John 6:66
Thus was fulfilled that saying, how "can two walk together, except they be agreed?" Amos, 3:3. This chapter is like a touch-stone; herein our Lord tries his disciples, to see who are his. Many who are his professed, are not his real disciples. Times of trial will come: they make manifest. The lowest hell is prepared for those who turn their backs upon the Son of God on earth. Lord, grant that our faces may be set like a flint towards thee; for, blessed be thy name, thou hast said of those who continue with thee in thy temptations: "I appoint unto you a kingdom; ye shall eat and drink at my table." Luke 22:29, 30.
But those who are not agreed with Christ, have not the mind of Christ, and will not walk with him. Some of these disciples followed Christ for the loaves and fishes. John 6:26. Those who follow Christ to get food for their bodies and the good things of this life, instead of food for the soul, will soon forsake him. Christ's blessings are spiritual, their views are carnal. Such are not agreed with him.
Others murmured at him because he said, "I came down from heaven." John 6:41. They were ignorant of his mission from the Father. Many people hear again and again of Christ, but have no solid, scriptural judgment of the divinity of his person clothed in human nature, nor of the end and design of his coming into the world; for want of knowledge of him, and faith in him, they soon forsake him.
Others could not receive his saying, "Except ye eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of man, ye have no life in you." John 6:53. His words were spiritual, their notions carnal: they could not see how Christ could be the spiritual food of souls by faith; so, many in our day cry, "Where mystery begins religion ends:" these left following Christ.
His doctrine of his Father's sovereign grace was galling to the pride of their self-righteous, self-sufficient hearts: "No man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father." John 6:65. "From that" speech, (time is not in the original) "many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him." O how many still oppose the truth of the sovereign love and efficacious grace of God the Father, in drawing sinners to his Son for salvation! Alas, they have not the mind of Christ; they see not the special mercy of being under the efficacious influence of the Spirit of the Father. O disciple, let the falling away of others warn thee: be strong in the Lord: he diffident of self: look constantly to "Him that is able to keep you from falling." Jude 25.
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