Andy Mangus Supporter I am a Christian since October 1979 & devoted truth seeker.

They 'fell away' as some would call it, but to me the answer to this question is that "they never truly believed that Jesus Christ was "God in the flesh"; born of a virgin, and whom God sent to be our sacrifice for all our sins, just as Jesus taught that He would do when it was time for him to "Go to the Father". Those 'fallen away' disciples just simply didn't have 'faith and belief' in Him that He was whom He said He is(was), so they ended up making the wrong choice!

Praise God that We have a Savior! And, His name is Jesus Christ! 
---Andy---

March 05 2016 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

Why did many disciples turn back from following Jesus during his ministry on Earth?

Many disciples turned from Jesus because His teachings became challenging and radical, particularly in John 6, where He spoke of eating His flesh and drinking His blood, which sounded like cannibalism and clashed with their expectations of a conquering Messiah, not a suffering one, highlighting a lack of true faith and spiritual understanding beyond material allegiance or good works. 

Read John Chapter 6, verses 48, 5,8 and then note verse 60 as to the reason why people left from following Jesus:

1: Challenging Teachings (John 6:60-66): Jesus' discourse on being the "Bread of Life," requiring people to "eat His flesh and drink His blood" for eternal life, was seen as a "hard saying" and literally interpreted as cannibalism by many.

2: Lack of True Faith: Jesus noted that some who left "had not come to believe," indicating their discipleship was superficial, based on His miracles or promises of earthly benefits, not a genuine, profound belief in Him as God's Son.

3: Spiritual Blindness: They struggled to grasp the spiritual meaning behind His words, focusing on the physical impossibility rather than the more profound truth about spiritual sustenance and union with Him.

4: Cost of Discipleship: Following Jesus demanded radical commitment, often involving hardship and rejection, which proved too much for those seeking an easy path or material gain. 

5: Unmet Expectations: Many followed Jesus, hoping for a political or military Messiah to overthrow Rome and establish Israel; His focus on spiritual truth, suffering, and eternal life, rather than earthly power, disappointed them.

The Significance of John 6:

This event served as a test, revealing the shallow faith of many followers and prompting Jesus to ask the Twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" John 6:67-68, to which Peter responded with the iconic affirmation of faith, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." 

During the "Bread of Life" discourse, Jesus stated that one must "eat his flesh and drink his blood" to have eternal life. Many listeners took this literally, finding it offensive, blasphemous, or even cannibalistic, especially given Jewish dietary laws prohibiting the consumption of blood.

This turning point resulted in such a significant exit that Jesus famously asked his core twelve apostles, "Do you also want to leave?" to which Peter replied that Jesus alone had the "words of eternal life."

Literal Interpretation of "Eating Flesh": Many disciples took Jesus's words literally, viewing them as cannibalistic and a violation of Old Testament laws against consuming blood (Leviticus 17:10-14).

Spiritual vs. Material Focus: They were accustomed to Jesus providing physical miracles like the feeding of the 5,000 and expected a political Messiah, not a spiritual one who demanded deep, sacrificial faith,

January 09 2026 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Leslie Coutinho Supporter

John 6:66: From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Lord Jesus, being born of the Spirit of God, as a child who grew up, He waxed strong in Spirit, filled with the wisdom of God the Father, for the grace of God was upon Him. As His parents went every year to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover, at the age of twelve, He tarried behind in Jerusalem in the temple. His parents then found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them and questioning them. All who heard Him were astonished at “His understanding and His answers to them.” (Lk 2:40-47) When He grew up at the “age of thirty,” he went to be baptized by John, which was the baptism of repentance. He was baptized and then went to the temple, where he began to preach the Word of God. Lord Jesus then called unto Him “His disciples and of them He chose twelve, whom He also named apostles.” (Lk 3:3,21-23/4:14-15/6:13)

A great multitude of about five thousand men followed our Lord Jesus, the disciples, who were among the apostles, for they saw his miracles which He did on those who were diseased. (John 6:2,10/Mat 4:25) Lord Jesus then departed again into a mountain by himself alone. His chosen twelve apostles then entered a ship that went over the sea towards Ca-per’-na-um, the sea then arose by a great wind. They then saw Lord Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the ship, and they were afraid. He then said to them, “It is I; be not afraid.” (John 6:15,19-20) The day following, the five thousand men, then came back again to Ca-per’-naum seeking Lord Jesus. When they found Him, they said, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? Lord Jesus then said to them, “Labour not for the meat that perisheth, but for the meat that endureth, for everlasting life, for the Son of man shall give unto you, for Him hath God the Father sealed. This multitude that followed Him wanted a sign of God to see and believe in Him, as in the days of Moses. (John 6:24-27,30-31)

This multitude, the disciples who followed our Lord Jesus, wanted to do the “mighty work, the works of God, as Moses was led to do.” Lord Jesus then said believe on Him, who God had sent, for the bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven and giveth life unto the world. For they then murmured at Him, because He said I am the bread that came down from heaven. (John 5:46,6:32-33,41,48-51) For in the days of Moses, Lord Jesus was the Bread of Life, who came down from heaven, who then stood before Moses. For they all eat the spiritual meat and drink the spiritual drink of the Spiritual Rock that followed them, for the “Rock was Christ our Lord Jesus.” (Exo 23:20-22/1Corin 10:4) Lord Jesus revealed to these disciples, these things, and said He in the synagogue, as he taught in Ca-per’-na-um. (John 6:59) Many disciples who followed our Lord Jesus, who then turned and walked away from following our Lord Jesus, were in fear of being put out of the synagogue by the Pharisees who ruled over them. 

Isaiah 29:13: Wherefore the Lord said, "Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men." Jude 1:4: For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report