John 6:51-71
In spite of the promise which God had made to them, when the children of Israel found the manna in the desert, they had asked one another, "What is it?" (Exodus 16:15; JND trans.). The same unbelief manifests itself in their descendants. They are arguing amongst themselves about the strange food of which the Lord Jesus had spoken: His flesh and His blood; in other words, His death. A Christ living down here is not enough to give life to our souls. We must claim His death for ourselves (in figure – eat His flesh and drink His blood) in order to have eternal life. Then we have to identify with Him daily in His death. We are dead with Him in relation to the world and sin. The natural man cannot understand this. He is willing to have an example to follow but it is too hard for him to recognize his own state of condemnation of which the death of Christ speaks.
Instead of questioning the Lord, many who had professed to be His disciples go away offended at what He says. He does not try to keep them by "toning down" the truth. But He probes the hearts of those who are left, "Will ye also go away?" "Lord, to whom shall we go?" is Peter’s beautiful reply. May it also be ours (vv. 68, 69; read Hebrews 10:38-39).