True Discipleship

Certainly. Here’s an introduction that uses Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s insights to set the stage for the theme of true discipleship in John 6:59-71.

Introduction:

In his book The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” Bonhoeffer understood that discipleship wasn’t simply about agreeing with Jesus’ teachings but about following Him wholeheartedly, even when the path is difficult. Bonhoeffer himself paid this ultimate price, resisting the rise of Nazi Germany and ultimately giving his life because he believed true discipleship was worth any sacrifice. He reminds us that true discipleship demands something from us—it requires a decision to follow Jesus, not just in moments of comfort but especially in moments of challenge.

In John 6:59-71, we see Jesus teaching His followers a difficult truth. He reveals that He is the Bread of Life, the source of eternal life, and calls them to a radical commitment. Many who had been following Him turn away at this point, finding His words too hard to accept. And in a moment of intense honesty, Jesus looks at His disciples—the Twelve who have walked closest to Him—and asks, “Do you want to leave too?”

It’s a question for each of us: What kind of disciple am I? Will I stay close to Jesus, even when the teachings are difficult, even when the path is uncertain? Or will I choose a safer, easier path?

Bonhoeffer’s life and words remind us that true discipleship means counting the cost and staying committed to Jesus, no matter the challenge. Let’s look closer at this passage to understand what true discipleship requires of us today.

Certainly! Here’s an alliterated outline centered on the theme of True Discipleship from John 6:59-71.

Title: “True Discipleship: Staying with the Savior”

Text: John 6:59-71

Theme: Understanding the marks of true discipleship through our response to Jesus’ challenging teachings.

1. True Discipleship’s Struggle (v. 60-61)

• Setting: Jesus teaches in the synagogue at Capernaum.

• Scene: After performing miracles and proclaiming Himself as the Bread of Life, Jesus now faces responses from those listening.

• Significance: True discipleship begins in the everyday settings where Jesus calls us to hear His words and decide.

• Struggle: The disciples say, “This is a hard saying; who can accept it?”

• Skepticism: Many followers find Jesus’ teaching difficult, showing the natural struggle between fleshly desires and spiritual truths.

• Self-Reflection: True discipleship wrestles with tough truths and requires us to evaluate our willingness to follow despite difficulty.

Hard Sayings of Jesus:

Matthew 16:24-26 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Matthew 10:34-39 Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law – a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

Even in John 6 we see hard sayings concerning Jesus. John 6:37 “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”

John 6:44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”

Concerning Eternal Life

John 6:53–54 ESV

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

3. True Discipleship’s Source (v. 62-65)

• Source of Life: Jesus emphasizes that it is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no help.

• Spiritual Insight: Jesus possesses divine knowledge of those who truly believe and those who do not.

• Submission: True discipleship depends on the Spirit, requiring us to submit our understanding and seek spiritual life in Christ alone.

This is another hard saying of Jesus. That life is produced from the Spirit. We saw this before in John 3. The flesh cannot produce a belief in Jesus that brings about eternal life. Man’s will cannot bring himself to eternal life. It has to be done through the spirit.

Jesus in 64 makes it clear his understanding of the doctrine of election.

God knows who are his people. God is the one who sovereignly saves and brings to eternal life.

Ezekiel 36:22–32 ““Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall…”

4. True Discipleship’s Separation (v. 66-69)

• Separation: Many disciples turn back, choosing to walk away from Jesus.

• Statement of Faith: Peter’s words, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,” show his decision to stay.

• Steadfastness: True discipleship is marked by steadfast commitment, a decision to remain with Jesus even in hard times.

What election looks like to us is that we are able to confess that Jesus is Lord. That we believe, that we come to know that Jesus is the Messiah, that we follow him not matter the cost.

5. True Discipleship’s Sad Reality (v. 70-71)

• Sad Reality: Jesus chose the Twelve, yet acknowledges that one among them is “a devil” (referring to Judas).

• Sobering Truth: Proximity to Jesus doesn’t equate to genuine discipleship; it requires a true heart response.

• Self-Examination: True discipleship calls us to examine our own faithfulness—are we committed, or simply nearby?

Jesus is not only in control of those who come to him for eternal life but also in control of all things. Both good and bad, all are for his glory so that anything that is done is so that he may be known.

6. Conclusion: The Call to True Discipleship

• Stand Firm: Jesus invites us to embrace true discipleship by holding fast, even when it’s difficult.

• Strengthen through the Spirit: Seek strength from the Spirit to stay with Jesus, knowing only He has the words of eternal life.

• Supplication: Pray for a heart of true discipleship, willing to follow and remain with Jesus through every trial.