After the Crowd Left: A Call to Press On

Hey Guys,

Yesterday we continued our series Believe: A Study of John with a powerful message from John 6:60–71 entitled “Turning Back or Pressing On.” It was a passage that forced us to consider one of the most searching questions Jesus ever asked:
“You do not want to go away also, do you?” (v. 67).

This moment in John’s Gospel is both sobering and hopeful. Sobering, because many who once followed Jesus turned away when His words became too difficult. Hopeful, because Peter’s confession points us to the heart of genuine discipleship:
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” (vv. 68–69).

What We Learned Together
We saw that true discipleship is not about convenience but about commitment. It means:

• Facing the challenge of Christ’s words – Some walked away because they wanted bread, not truth.
• Standing firm in the crisis of decision – Jesus’ question demands an answer from each of us.
• Confessing Christ alone as the source of life – Only Jesus saves.
• Recognizing the difference between false and true disciples – Judas was close to Jesus but far from salvation.

The Christian life is not about starting well, but finishing well. It’s about pressing on when others turn back.

Why This Matters Today
We live in a culture where many start strong but fall away when discipleship costs something. Following Jesus may bring ridicule, sacrifice, or hardship—but He alone has the words of eternal life. If we walk away from Him, where else can we go?
This passage reminds us that our faith must be more than surface-level. It calls us to examine our hearts: Am I truly pressing on in Christ, or am I drifting away?

A Call to Response
If you’ve trusted Christ as Savior, press on. Don’t let the pressures of this world or the difficulties of discipleship cause you to turn back. Remember that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion (Philippians 1:6).

If you’ve never trusted Christ, hear this clearly: He alone offers eternal life. Good works, religion, or empty promises of this world cannot save you. But Jesus can. Will you trust Him today?

Moving Forward This Week

• Reflect: Spend time reading John 6:60–71 again. What part of Peter’s confession speaks most to you?
• Pray: Ask God to give you endurance to keep pressing on in your walk with Him.
• Share: Talk with a friend, coworker, or family member about what it means to follow Jesus when it’s hard.

The crowd turned back—but the true disciples pressed on. Let’s be a people who do the same, holding fast to Christ who alone has the words of eternal life.

Serving Him,

Pastor Joey