After Jesus’ teaching, many say, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” (John 6:60). John reports that many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him (John 6:66).
In John 6:60–71, many followers react to Jesus’ teaching as too difficult to accept and begin to pull away. Jesus addresses their complaint, points to the meaning of his words, and notes that some do not believe. As a result, many stop traveling with him. Jesus then turns to the Twelve and asks if they also plan to leave. This scene closes the wider exchange in John 6 that follows the feeding of the crowd and Jesus’ extended teaching about what he offers and what it means to receive it. The focus narrows from the crowd to “many of his disciples,” and finally to the Twelve, highlighting different levels of response.
This scene shows a turning point: some people who had been following Jesus decide his teaching is too difficult and stop traveling with him (verses 60, 66). Jesus does not soften the moment; he names their inner complaint and asks whether his words are becoming a cause for them to stumble (verse 61). Jesus frames the issue around how his message is received.
A careful answer keeps the immediate passage, the book's argument, and the whole-Bible storyline together, so the question is answered in context instead of as a detached idea.
Start with John 6:60, then read the surrounding section so the answer stays connected to the passage's flow.
60Therefore many of his disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying! Who can hear it?"