John 6:66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.

No, not that other 666 but rather this one. To me the issue of 666 isn’t so much about identifying the man as much as understanding the reasons behind behaviors.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

What will cause the faithful to lose faith? If we can understand that important issue perhaps we might be able to avoid rebellion within ourselves. Maybe.

The first issue which should be addressed is the definition of disciple in John 6:66. They stopped following Jesus. Were they true disciples?

John 6:26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.

Ask ourselves, why do we follow Jesus? That is a very personal question, one I cannot answer for you. I know why I do, but I will not say it is the only answer and that it must be yours also. That comment can be used to declare pride is at the heart of my thoughts. Withholding my reasons does not prove humility. It is wisdom that says search the scriptures for answers.

John 6 represents a series of issues, teachings and challenges associated with people who were raised in the Jewish faith. If we were not raised in that faith their reasoning might be lost on us, even if we think we understand. Stand outside another man’s house and look through the window and tell me that what you can see from the outside lets you understand what it means to live there. It does not.

Some of the principles may still apply even though we are not Jewish.

• John 6:54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
• John 6:56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.

For the Jew these comments are in opposition to everything they were taught. The other argument is this: “I don’t know how to do that!”

Do we believe by faith? Romans 3:22 Romans 4:5 2 Corinthians 4:13 Hebrews 11:6

Ecclesiastes 2:1 I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:10 And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.

Consider the words of King Solomon, the wisest of all Kings. In verse 2.1 he recognized that testing pleasure resulted in vanity which is defined as “emptiness of results”. It did not accomplish what he set out to achieve, lasting pleasure.

Then he went on to achieve pleasure by another means, doing other things. What he did to achieve pleasure changed. What he did to achieve pleasure was successful in limited terms.

4 I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. 5 I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. 6 I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees.

And in the end: 11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

At the end of this chapter his conclusion is;  26 For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Joy is found in pleasing God, not self.

Think about what is fun in specific details. Does it last? Can we sustain enjoyment?

It is like going to an amusement park and riding the rides. One ends so we go on to the next ride, and then the next and eventually we ride every ride but then the park closes and we have to go home. Then we are left with nothing but the memory and an empty wallet.

The root of recreation is re-create, always trying to recapture fun that does not last.

The joy of the Lord does not leave us empty and longing for more like sin does.

“whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again” John 4:14