John 6:64 – “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.”

Extended Explanation

In this verse, Jesus directly addresses the reality that not everyone who follows Him truly believes in Him. Many had been drawn to Him because of His miracles, but they were unwilling to fully trust in who He was.

1. Jesus knew that some of His followers did not truly believe.
   • Many people in the crowd had followed Jesus after He miraculously fed the 5,000 (John 6:1-14).
   • However, they wanted Him to be a provider of physical needs, not the Savior who gives eternal life.
   • They struggled to accept His teaching about being the Bread of Life (John 6:35-58).
2. Jesus had full knowledge of who truly believed.
   • He was not surprised by their unbelief—He already knew from the beginning who would reject Him.
   • This includes Judas Iscariot, who would later betray Him (John 6:71).
3. Jesus exposes false disciples.
   • Some people appeared to be disciples, but their hearts were not truly with Him.
   • Jesus is making it clear that real discipleship is about more than just following Him outwardly—it is about genuine faith.

Jesus is separating true believers from those who are only following for selfish reasons.

Historical Context

1. Many in the crowd followed Jesus for the wrong reasons.
   • In John 6:26, Jesus rebuked the people for following Him only because they ate the bread He provided.
   • They wanted a political leader or a miracle-worker, not a Savior.
2. The Jewish leaders were already rejecting Jesus.
   • Many of the religious leaders had been plotting against Him because His teachings challenged their authority (John 5:18).
   • Some of the people likely followed Jesus out of curiosity, but they were not willing to fully commit to Him.
3. Judas Iscariot was already in the process of rejecting Jesus.
   • Even though Judas was one of the Twelve, he did not truly believe in Jesus.
   • This verse foreshadows that Judas would betray Jesus later (John 13:21-30).

Jesus was teaching that true discipleship is not about outward appearances—it is about real, life-changing faith.

Theological Implications

1. Jesus knows who truly believes and who does not.
   • People may be able to fool others, but they cannot fool Jesus.
   • He sees the heart and knows whether a person’s faith is real or not.
2. Not everyone who claims to follow Jesus is truly saved.
   • There are many who like the idea of Jesus but refuse to fully surrender to Him.
   • Jesus warns in Matthew 7:21-23 that not everyone who calls Him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven.
3. Faith is more than just outward actions.
   • Being near Jesus, listening to His teaching, or even doing religious works does not guarantee true faith.
   • Judas walked with Jesus for years, yet he never truly believed.

Jesus is teaching that true faith is a matter of the heart, not just external actions.

Literary Analysis

This verse is part of a turning point in John 6, where many disciples begin to reject Jesus’ teaching.

1. It highlights Jesus’ divine knowledge.
   • The phrase “Jesus had known from the beginning” emphasizes that He is not just a man—He has full knowledge of people’s hearts.
   • This echoes John 2:24-25, where Jesus knew what was in people’s hearts.
2. It foreshadows Judas’ betrayal.
   • The last part of the verse points directly to Judas Iscariot, setting the stage for his later betrayal.
3. It contrasts true disciples and false disciples.
   • True disciples trust in Jesus fully, even when His teachings are hard.
   • False disciples follow for a time but eventually walk away.

John frequently contrasts belief vs. unbelief, and this verse makes it clear that many who followed Jesus outwardly were not truly committed.

Biblical Cross-References

• John 2:24-25 – Jesus “knew all people” and “knew what was in each person.”
• John 6:66 – Many disciples turn away from Jesus after this teaching.
• John 13:11 – Jesus says, “Not all of you are clean,” referring to Judas.
• Matthew 7:21-23 – Jesus warns that not everyone who calls Him “Lord” will be saved.
• 1 Samuel 16:7 – “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

These passages confirm that Jesus sees beyond outward actions and knows who truly believes.

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

1. We must examine our own faith.
   • Many people attend church, do good deeds, and even serve in ministry, but Jesus asks for real, personal faith.
   • We must ask ourselves, Do we truly trust in Jesus, or are we just going through the motions?
2. God is not fooled by outward appearances.
   • A person can say the right things and act religious but still not have a heart that belongs to Jesus.
   • Jesus calls us to genuine faith, not just surface-level belief.
3. Some will reject Jesus, even after seeing His power.
   • Not everyone who hears the Gospel will believe—some will walk away.
   • This should not discourage us—Jesus Himself experienced rejection, even among those closest to Him.

Jesus is calling us to true, deep, and life-transforming faith—not just religious activity.

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

1. God offers salvation to all, but not all accept it.
   • Even though Jesus knew who would reject Him, He still gave everyone the opportunity to believe.
2. God desires genuine relationship, not empty religion.
   • He does not want fake followers—He wants people who love and trust Him fully.
3. God is patient even with those who reject Him.
   • Jesus did not immediately cast Judas out, even though He knew Judas would betray Him.
   • This shows God’s patience, giving people time to repent.

God’s love is shown in how He gives people the opportunity to believe, even though He knows some will turn away.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

1. Jesus knows the hearts of all people.
   • He is not just a teacher—He has divine knowledge of who truly believes.
2. Jesus experienced rejection, even from those close to Him.
   • Judas, one of His disciples, betrayed Him despite walking with Him for years.
   • Many others walked away because they could not accept His teaching.
3. Jesus calls for genuine faith.
   • He does not seek large crowds—He seeks real disciples who trust Him fully.

This verse reminds us that Jesus is not looking for religious followers—He is looking for true believers.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. What does this verse teach about the difference between true and false disciples?
2. How does knowing that Jesus sees our hearts challenge us to examine our own faith?
3. Why do you think some people follow Jesus for a while but later walk away?
4. How should we respond when we see others rejecting Jesus?
5. How can we be sure that our faith in Jesus is genuine?