Sermon Listening Guide
Speaker: Dr. Condy Richardson
Scripture: John 6:60-71
Sermon Title: “Three Answers”
Date: July 5, 2026
John 6:60-71 (NIV)
60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”
61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit[a] and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”
66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)
61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit[a] and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”
66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)
First Thoughts
Sometimes it is hard to tell genuine faith from fake faith.
Jesus dealt with fake people as we do today.
A Clear Choice
The entirety of the Gospels presents people with a clear choice.
Jesus presented himself as the “Bread of Life” and urged people to partake deeply of him.
The two thieves on the crosses embody the choice we are all faced with.
When we choose or reject Jesus, we also choose eternal consequences.
Two Fakers
The crowd that follows Jesus splits into true followers and those that cannot follow anymore.
Following Jesus was hard, so they quit.
Verses 70 and 71 show Judas Iscariot is a fake follower who will eventually fall away.
Many today only follow Jesus to receive a benefit from him.
When commitment is called for or sacrifice is demanded, many followers fall away.
Matthew 7:21 reveals that many who claim to know Jesus will not enter heaven.
One Authentic
When confronted by Jesus’ question, Peter and the Twelve promise they want Jesus’ words of life.
While Peter is no perfect follower, he is a committed follower.
Confessing to be a Jesus follower means something is demanded of us.
True followers have no “escape valve” from Christian life/service.
What is your commitment level?
Final Thoughts
Fake followers want Jesus but do not want to carry the cross.
Have you given your all to Jesus?
Sometimes it is hard to tell genuine faith from fake faith.
Jesus dealt with fake people as we do today.
A Clear Choice
The entirety of the Gospels presents people with a clear choice.
Jesus presented himself as the “Bread of Life” and urged people to partake deeply of him.
The two thieves on the crosses embody the choice we are all faced with.
When we choose or reject Jesus, we also choose eternal consequences.
Two Fakers
The crowd that follows Jesus splits into true followers and those that cannot follow anymore.
Following Jesus was hard, so they quit.
Verses 70 and 71 show Judas Iscariot is a fake follower who will eventually fall away.
Many today only follow Jesus to receive a benefit from him.
When commitment is called for or sacrifice is demanded, many followers fall away.
Matthew 7:21 reveals that many who claim to know Jesus will not enter heaven.
One Authentic
When confronted by Jesus’ question, Peter and the Twelve promise they want Jesus’ words of life.
While Peter is no perfect follower, he is a committed follower.
Confessing to be a Jesus follower means something is demanded of us.
True followers have no “escape valve” from Christian life/service.
What is your commitment level?
Final Thoughts
Fake followers want Jesus but do not want to carry the cross.
Have you given your all to Jesus?