(John 6:60-71)-"NOT EVERYONE WALKS AWAY"
Intro:  Every ministry faces difficult times. It is just a given! There will be times when things are up and there will be times when things are down.  Christian ministries are doing all they can to ensure the continued success and growth of the ministry!  I get all kinds of JUNK MAIL with suggestions on how to grow a church...clown and puppet minitries....fund raisers....christian rock concerts....youth camps, etc!!!!!!!
In John chapter 6, Jesus seems to be doing all He can to drive away as many people as He can from His ministry. When John chapter 6 opens, Jesus has over 5,000 people following Him and listening to Him speak. When this chapter closes, He only has 12 men with Him and one of them is not even a true believer!  If Jesus is doing anything in these verses, He is issuing a call to commitment. He knows that many of these followers are merely there for what they can get out of it!  There's not a week that goes by but what I hear about someone falling out by the way, giving up on the church and on God!
Here, we are allowed to see thousands of people turn their backs on Him and walk away. After the crowds leave, v. 66, Jesus immediately turns to His 12 disciples in verse 67, and asks them to make a personal commitment as well. One can almost hear His heart break as He asks them, "Will ye also go away?"  We are living in an hour when many are walking away from the things of the Lord. This should not surprise us because it is exactly what the Bible said would happen in the last days. We are told that there will be a "falling away", 2 Thes. 2:3. We are also told that in the end times, men will "have a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.", 2 Tim. 3:5.
As this chapter unfolds, it becomes increasingly clear that doubt, suspicion and hostility are mounting against the Lord Jesus. These people who wanted to make Him king after He fed them, v. 15, want nothing more to do with Him after they hear His message, v. 26-65.
Notice His claims:  1. To Be The Way Of Salvation - v. 29          2. To Be The Son of God - v. 32       3. That He Is Superior to Moses and the Manna - v. 35; 49-58       4. That Salvation was a matter of faith alone - v. 35-40; 63            5. That apart from God's intervention, they could not believe - v. 44; 65

*When truth is revealed to us, there are only two possible reactions to it: It can be received, or it can be rejected.
(1). Some People Misunderstood the Truth - Nicodemus thought Jesus was talking about gynecology, when He was actually speaking of the new birth. The woman at the well thought Jesus was talking about plumbing, when He was actually talking about Himself, the Water of Life. The man at the pool of Bethesda thought Jesus was talking about a rescue mission, when He was actually talking placing faith in Jesus. This trend continues today! That is why people join the church and are baptized without ever being saved. That is why the Word of God is so offensive many people. They misunderstand the truth and, as a result, they reject it.
(2). Some People were Mad at the Truth -v. 41-42; 52; 60. The Jews were not able to accept His Deity, His impending Death or His claims of Dominion
(3). Some People were Meandering from the Truth- All the way through this passage, the Jews had this approach to Jesus: "Show us and we will believe." They had already seen Him feed five thousand with five loaves of bread and 2 fish, v. 5-13. They had already surmised that He had somehow, miraculously, crossed the lake, v. 22-25 ;yet they were blind to Who He was and what He was doing.

(4). Some People Wanted the Material blessings but not the Motivation of the Truth - These people were following Jesus because He had satisfied their fleshly appetites...(For example: The singing made me feel good, but visitation doesn't!   The Preacher preached a GOOD MSG (meaning, it kept me alert so I didn't go to sleep!)...The MOTIVE of what goes on here is NOT to entertain you...but to CHANGE YOUR LIFE AND POINT YOU TO WORSHIP AND EVANGELISM!!!
They wanted the miracles and the sensational. But, when Jesus began to talk about His expectations and issued a call for commitment, they turned away from Him and walked away. Why? They wanted to be carried away in the excitement of the moment with no commitment.  They want to serve God for what they can get out it, without any concern for His glory of His will. They want entertainment and excitement without the commitment that comes along with the proclamation of the truth. The churches that are growing the fastest today are those who minimize biblical doctrine the requirements of the faith and emphasize entertainment and experience. 
All you need to succeed today as a church is a contemporary band, a message that challenges no one's life, a youth program that will babysit the children while the parents are lulled to sleep by a "touchy feely" religion that is devoid of the truth!   Imagine how the disciples felt when the multitude walked away. How would YOU feel?  Those who are left are always adversely affected by those who choose to walk away.    In the 27 years of my ministry, I have come to realize that some people will NEVER change...they will never be committed to His will or His work, but at the same time, they want the benefits they can derive from being in the church and being around God's people.

*In verses (67-69) we learn that a GENUINE FAITH CANNOT WALK AWAY!!!  When the disciples are asked by Jesus if they too will leave Him, Peter answers for the group. He expresses their total commitment and states the fact that they know Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and is the way to eternal life.   Peter was made the partaker of two great possessions. These two possessions allowed Peter to make an absolute commitment of his life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Those two possessions are:
1. Faith - ("we believe") An inward conviction that Jesus is Who He claims to be.
2. Experience - ("and are sure") A changed life, a full heart and a new desire and direction in life are all to potent to be ignored. 
Peter knew how his life had been changed and this was enough for him to make this statement with confidence that he would not walk away!  One once said that the word "Christian" means this: "One who cannot walk away!"  You may wander for a time, but you, like the Prodigal son will "come to yourself". You will remember what it was like in the Father's house and you will come home! 
Jesus asked His disciples in the beginning, "Will ye also go away?" Not everyone walks away from Him! In fact, some people make a total commitment to the Lord and to His will for their lives. I hope that is you. On the other hand, some people hear the claims of Christ and the demands of the Gospel and just walk away. They go off in search of a better deal, of something more agreeable to their flesh....But remember, not everyone walks away!!!