In today’s gospel, Jesus’ words or deeds are met with disbelief by some of his own disciples. They were scandalised by what he said. Rather than soften the hardness of his message, Jesus responds to their challenge with one of his own. If they were troubled by the thought of him descending from heaven, what would they think about him ascending back to where he had been originally? Jesus further insists that the flesh (the human way of living) cannot give life, which the spirit can. Faith in Jesus does not come easily or naturally. It is a grace given by God. While some of Jesus’ followers have turned away, others have been convinced of the trustworthiness of his claims.