Jesus’s question isn’t just about whether they’ll leave; it’s a gentle nudge, expecting a “no,” to draw out their commitment. He knows not everyone is truly His, but he’s testing the genuine affection and resolve of these core followers in a moment of mass defection.
So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following a profound teaching about Jesus being the Bread of Life and a challenging discourse on eating His flesh and drinking His blood, many of Jesus' followers found His words too difficult and abandoned Him. In this moment of widespread departure, Jesus turns to His inner circle of twelve, posing a direct and poignant question about their own commitment.
When so many friends walked away, Jesus didn't force anyone to stay. He asked a question that still echoes today.
Jesus looked at the small group of twelve disciples who remained and asked, "Do you want to go away as well?"
This wasn't a rhetorical question designed to elicit a pre-determined answer. The Greek word used for "will" (thelete) implies a conscious desire or volition. Jesus was giving the twelve a genuine choice.
Jesus had invested so much in His disciples. When they left, it hurt. He understands when our faith is tested.
The departure of so many disciples wasn't just a statistic for Jesus; it was deeply personal.
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When everyone else left, Peter stood firm. His reason? Jesus had the irreplaceable words of eternal life.
Peter's response to Jesus' searching question is iconic. Faced with the possibility of everyone leaving, he declared:
"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."
Understand the original words
Kyrie · Greek Noun
An honorific title signifying authority and mastery; when applied to God or Jesus, it acknowledges His divine sovereignty, lordship, and rightful claim over the believer.
zōēs aiōniou · Greek Noun phrase
The quality of life that originates from God, is possessed by Him, and is granted to those who believe in His Son; it is characterized by eternal existence in union with God.
pepisteukamen · Greek Verb
A firm conviction or trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ, involving both intellectual assent and a personal commitment of the heart.
ho hagios tou theou · Greek Noun phrase
A term signifying a title of divine uniqueness and consecration; it identifies the Messiah as the one specifically set apart and commissioned by God for the salvation of humanity.
The turning away of many disciples after Jesus' challenging teaching about being the Bread of Life created a crisis moment. Jesus' question to the twelve wasn't just about their immediate loyalty, but about the enduring nature of faith in the face of difficult truths, contrasting superficial following with genuine commitment.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Ministry in Galilee
Jesus travels and teaches throughout Galilee, performing miracles and gathering a large following. This period sees many people drawn to his teachings and signs.
c. AD 30
Feeding of the Five Thousand
Jesus miraculously feeds thousands with only a few loaves and fish. This event draws a massive crowd, many of whom are seeking a free meal rather than spiritual transformation.
c. AD 30
Jesus Teaches on the Bread of Life
Following the miracle, Jesus delivers a profound discourse in the synagogue at Capernaum, identifying himself as the true bread from heaven and essential for eternal life. This teaching is challenging and exclusive.
c. AD 30— this verse
Many Disciples Depart
Jesus' difficult teaching on eating his flesh and drinking his blood causes many of his followers, who had previously been drawn by his miracles, to turn away. They find his words too hard to accept.
c. AD 30
Peter's Confession
In response to Jesus' question, Peter, speaking for the twelve apostles, professes his unwavering faith that Jesus has the words of eternal life and is the Son of God.
c. AD 30
Jesus Foretells Judas' Betrayal
Jesus reveals to the twelve that one of them is a devil, foreshadowing Judas Iscariot's future betrayal and highlighting the spiritual reality within the group.
This passage highlights God's choice of Israel not because of their numbers or merit, but purely out of His sovereign love. It mirrors Jesus' situation in John 6, where He gently questions the twelve, implying their continued presence is not guaranteed by their position but by a deeper, divinely-rooted commitment, just as Israel's existence was not due to their might.
Isaiah 8:11-18Isaiah was told to bind up the testimony and keep it among his disciples, even though many would stumble over him. This echoes Jesus' action in John 6:67, where, with many disciples departing, He turns to the twelve, highlighting that true adherence comes from divine revelation and commitment, not popular opinion or easy paths.
Matthew 16:13-16In this parallel account, Jesus asks His disciples who people say He is, leading to Peter's confession of Jesus as the Christ. This directly precedes Jesus revealing His suffering, testing their commitment in a way similar to John 6, where His challenging words about His identity and sustenance are met with the question of whether the twelve will also leave.
1 Corinthians 1:18-25Paul explains that the message of the cross is foolishness to the world but the power of God. This resonates with John 6:67, where Jesus' challenging teaching causes many to depart, while the twelve, through a divine enablement, remain, demonstrating that true understanding and commitment to Christ often defy worldly wisdom.
Jude 1:3Jude urges believers to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints, as some have crept in unnoticed. This theme of potential departure and the need for steadfastness is present in John 6:67, where Jesus' question to the twelve serves as a crucial moment of testing their commitment against the tide of apostasy.
barnesJohn 6:67: "Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?"
The twelve - The twelve apostles. Will ye also go away? - Many apostatized, and it was natural now for Jesus to submit the question to the twelve. "Will you, whom I have chosen, on whom I have bestowed the apostleship, and who have seen the evidence of my Messiahship, will you now also leave me?" This was the time to try them; and it is always a time to try real Christians when many professed disciples become cold and turn back…
vincentJohn 6:67: "Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?"
The twelveJohn assumes that the number is known. It is implied in the twelve baskets of fragments. As in so many other instances in this Gospel, facts of the synoptic narrative are taken for granted as familiar.Will ye also go away? (μὴ καὶ ὑμεῖς θέλετε ὑπάγειν)The interrogative particle μὴ shows that a negative answer is expected. Surely ye will not. Will ye go is not the future tense of the verb to go, but is expresse…
Jesus’s question isn’t just about whether they’ll leave; it’s a gentle nudge, expecting a “no,” to draw out their commitment. He knows not everyone is truly His, but he’s testing the genuine affection and resolve of these core followers in a moment of mass defection.
Following a profound teaching about Jesus being the Bread of Life and a challenging discourse on eating His flesh and drinking His blood, many of Jesus' followers found His words too difficult and abandoned Him. In this moment of widespread departure, Jesus turns to His inner circle of twelve, posing a direct and poignant question about their own commitment.
Following a profound teaching about Jesus being the Bread of Life and a challenging discourse on eating His flesh and drinking His blood, many of Jesus' followers found His words too difficult and abandoned Him. In this moment of widespread departure, Jesus turns to His inner circle of twelve, posing a direct and poignant question about their own commitment.
"So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”" — Jesus’s question isn’t just about whether they’ll leave; it’s a gentle nudge, expecting a “no,” to draw out their commitment. He knows not everyone is truly His, but he’s testing the genuine affectio…
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Last reviewed October 2026
