“After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him” (John 6:66 ESV).
In John 6:66, the shocking statement that Jesus made concerning His body and blood as spiritual food, made many so-called disciples desert Him. Just as Moses had led a “mixed multitude” into the wilderness from Egypt (Ex. 12:38), so a mixed multitude followed Jesus. On this day in the synagogue in Capernaum, Jesus separated those who only followed for the free bread, from those who followed because they truly believed him to be the Bread of Life.
In John’s Revelation, he wrote of another “666” (Rev. 13:16-18), the mark of the beast, which in the last days will tempt many to turn away from God and turn to the Antichrist, in order to buy bread. Those who receive this mark will come under the “wrath of God” (Rev. 14:9-11), for they will have rejected the eternal Bread of Life, in order to eat the temporal bread of this world.
I suppose there are many “666” moments when those who follow Jesus must count the cost. In those moments, true believers will continue to follow Jesus no matter the cost. For they have believed that Jesus alone offers the “words of eternal life” (John 6:68).
PRAYER: Dear Father, do not lead us into temptation, but when “666” moments come, deliver us from evil. Help us to walk by faith in Your Son even when trial and temptation come. For Jesus is our eternal life. In His name we pray, amen.