Hi Michael, I think what has been explained, someone can correct me if I am mistaken, but it seems the belief that has been expressed to answer your question is this…
Because Christ had already spoke in a spiritual sense in Jn 6 and the disciples walking away did so because they were still not understanding and instead were stuck on the literal. In some way like the young rich ruler walking away because he was taking literally the words to sell all possessions. Or the woman who asked for water for thirst and Jesus offering another “drink” besides the well water to quench “thirst” eternally. All very figurative. I hope that helps with your question as to how others might answer. God bless and peace.
Matt:
I saw the question in the writings of St. Thomas More. It seems quite clear that if our Lord Jesus meant John 6 in the way most Protestants believe He did, he would have run after those Disciples who left saying, “Wait! This is all a misunderstanding!..” The fact is that not only didn’t our Lord do that, He “doubled down” by saying,
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.”
John 6:53-56 – RSV
And, Then letting them go -
After this many of his disciples drew back and no longer went about with him.
John 6:66 – RSV
This was a Passage, and a question, I had to deal with myself on my journey from Protestantism to Catholicism. I don’t think most Protestants have actually asked themselves that question. CKempson seemed to believe the ECF’s were divided about whether or not Christ was really present in the Eucharist. Despite their lack of Precision, they weren’t (Heresies such as Nestorianism , Pelagianism and the Protestant Reformation forced the Church to define Her Terms and to be more Precise in how She Spoke about the things of God)…
Regarding the Rich Young Ruler - He was worshiping another god before God - Money. As our Lord Jesus said, we can’t serve 2 gods (God & Mammon) at once. As the Commandments say, the Lord God delivered us out of the Land of Bondage, and we are to serve Him and Him alone. Yeshua means “The Lord is Salvation”. So God delivers us from bondage to sin and death - the least we can do is to worship Him and Him alone. Because of his wealth and his attachment to his money, the Rich Young Ruler wasn’t able to do that. That was proven by his inability to do the following:
*And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
…
*
*And when Jesus heard it, he said to him, **“One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” **
But when he heard this he became sad, for he was very rich.
Jesus looking at him said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” *
Luke 18:18-25 – RSV
One look at the Book of Acts will show that many Early Catholics took that as a command. Various Apostolic and Post-Apostolic Fathers commanded that widows, orphans, the poor and visitors be treated with the same reverence and respect we treat the Eucharist (remember, they died protecting the Eucharist), and Bishops were even instructed to give up their seats to the old and infirm who were visiting their Dioceses…
Just last week, I saw a contrast I think demonstrates this - My old parish had a sign which talked about the “Great Accomplishment” they had made paying for an ornament above their entrance (They had been raising funds for this for 1-1/2 to 2 years). Meanwhile, My New Parish had an “Appreciation Dinner” for all those who had given money to help pay for an aggressive Physio-Therapy Program (3 hours/Day - 6 Days/Week) which a young lady with a Spinal Cord Injury has undertaken since April, 2009. She’s trying to walk again, and the Maronites of Southern California are paying most of the bills for her “Aggressive Physio-Therapy Program” - So far, they’ve paid $200,000 (almost 10x what the ornament my old parish installed cost).
The “Dinner” was a Fundraiser", and I watched people who had already put $300 to $2,500 towards this lady’s P/T put another $100 to $500 in the till…
“Go, and sell all you have, and give…” Sure beats running around trying to buy more “stuff”. Remember,
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
Matthew 6:24 – RSV
Or in Musical form…
Servant - World of Sand - Two Masters
new.music.yahoo.com/servant/tracks/two-masters–175852627
Your Brother & Servant in Christ, Michael
However, unfortunately, we don’t have Jesus to audibly explain every detail of his teachings to us. Even Rome doesn’t claim to do that.
It would seem that they understood it literally, and he knew they understood it literally, and thus it was a “hard saying.”
I can recall the day when my parish priest at the time and the PCUSA pastor of my small hometown had a wonderful ecumenical relationship. So not futile to me. But peace and maybe others will yet chime in to help you understand how they see Jn 6:64. All the best on your faith walk. It’s a lifelong journey! God bless!