Inclusive Jesus?

On Mondays God grants me the privilege and joy of mutual encouragement with two brothers, Sanford & Sandy. This morning we looked at a passage in John 6. In verse 51 Jesus begins to tell his listeners that they must eat His flesh. In verse 52 His auditors clearly understand Him to be talking about cannibalism, something abhorrent not only to the Jews, who were not to touch dead bodies, but to most societies in the history of the world. Jesus does not say that they are misunderstanding Him, but essentially throws it back at them still harder by saying, "Except you eat of the flesh of the son of Man, and drink His blood you have no life in you. He continues to hammer the point in verses 53 through 58.
    It appears that three groups of people followed Jesus in contrast to those who opposed Him. There were the twelve chosen to be apostles, other disciples such as those sent out in Luke 10, and then the multitudes such as the five thousand plus who were fed. In John 6:60 many of the disciples began to doubt. The response of Jesus? "Does this offend you?" (v. 61) He does not try to cajole  or sympathize or even explain Himself. Rather He asks what they would do if they saw Him ascend to heaven. And then He makes the socially incorrect statement that some of them don't believe. I suspect He hurt their feelings.
     Verse sixty-six gives their response. Many went back and no longer walked with Him. Verse sixty clearly says that these were disciples. They had been following Jesus. He does not plead with them or pursue them or try to help them understand. He simply lets them go. Then He challenges the 12. Peter, the spokesman, says "We believe that you are Christ, the Son of the living God." (v. 69) All of the disciples heard Jesus teach, saw Him heal people and perform other miracles, saw Him feed thousands. Only a handful truly believed. The response of Jesus?  "One of you is a devil." (v. 70) How would that go over in a Christian culture which places such a high value on harmonious relationships, and always being nice to one another? I think we would have a hard time with Jesus.
     Thank God for the provision of the Holy Spirit without whom we could please God.