Sermon Series Blog: The 6IX Pt. 5

When Following Jesus Feels Too Hard

What Happens When Jesus Says Something We Don’t Like?

There are moments in life when the words of Jesus feel comforting: Come to Me… Cast your cares… Love your neighbour… I will give you rest.

But there are also moments when His words challenge us.

Forgive your enemies. Deny yourself. Take up your cross. Repent. Surrender. Follow Me.

John 6 brings us to one of the most sobering moments in Jesus’ ministry. After miracles, teachings, and the feeding of the five thousand, many people were following Him. But when Jesus began to speak about surrender, lordship, and the cost of discipleship, many turned away. John 6:66 says, “From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.”

That verse is heavy. These were not strangers. These were people who had heard Him, seen Him, followed Him, and received from Him. But when the teaching became difficult, they walked away.

The Flesh Resists What the Spirit Wants to Produce

Jesus said, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing.” He was not saying our bodies have no value. He was exposing the fallen part of us that wants life without surrender, blessing without obedience, and Jesus as Saviour but not as Lord.

That is the struggle in every heart.

The Spirit wants to produce humility, but the flesh wants pride.
The Spirit wants to produce forgiveness, but the flesh wants bitterness.
The Spirit wants to produce trust, but the flesh wants control.

And if we are honest, our culture often encourages the flesh. Follow your heart. Trust your feelings. Do what feels right. But the flesh makes promises it cannot keep. It promises satisfaction, but leaves us empty. It promises freedom, but often leads us into bondage. It promises life, but only Jesus can truly give it.

Wanting the Gifts More Than the Giver

One of the great dangers of faith is wanting what Jesus gives more than wanting Jesus Himself.

The crowd loved the bread. They loved the miracles. They loved the excitement. But when Jesus called them beyond provision into surrender, many walked away.

This is not just their story. It can become ours too.

We can want Jesus to bless our plans without letting Him lead our lives. We can want His help without His authority. We can want comfort without transformation.

But the greatest gift Jesus gives is not what He places in our hands. The greatest gift Jesus gives is Himself.

Everyone Must Decide Who They Will Follow

John 6 reminds us that neutrality is not an option forever. Every person must decide what they will do with Jesus.

Following Him was never meant to be a side project or a hobby. Jesus does not simply ask to be added to our lives. He calls us to follow Him with our lives.

And sometimes that path gets steep.

Like a child climbing a mountain who wants to turn back before reaching the summit, we often only see the difficulty in front of us. We feel the tiredness. We feel the cost. We feel the strain.

But what if the beauty is further up the trail?

What if the freedom, healing, breakthrough, and deeper relationship with Christ are on the other side of the climb?

Keep Following

Following Jesus is not always easy. Sometimes His words challenge us. Sometimes surrender costs something. Sometimes the trail feels steep.

But the answer is not to turn back.

The answer is to keep trusting. Keep surrendering. Keep following.

Because Jesus is not just pointing us toward life.

He is life.

So the question is simple: Am I following Jesus only when the path is easy, or will I trust Him when the trail gets steep?