Today's reading, from the Gospel of John, includes miracles such as the five loaves and two fish feeding the multitude and calming a sea. At the end of the chapter is a significant teaching about disciples turning away. We may think of disciples as "The Twelve." Yet...disciples includes anyone who follows Jesus. Some realizing the commitment required chose to turn away. We also see a reference to "The Twelve" and that one will betray. This teaching about discipleship is most important for our modern concept of spiritual formation. We are invited by Jesus to not only be believers (Christians) but followers (disciples). Here is the passage to think about the broader meaning of disciples...
On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?""Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." Then Jesus replied, "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!" (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)"
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