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This is the only record we have of any of Christ’s followers forsaking him for purely doctrinal reasons. If it had all been a misunderstanding, if they erred in taking a metaphor in a literal sense, why didn’t he call them back and straighten things out? Both the Jews, who were suspicious of him, and his disciples, who had accepted everything up to this point, would have remained with him had he said he was speaking only symbolically.

Because Jesus was trying to get rid of them...He knew they were hanging around just for a free meal...

Joh 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

So Jesus started saying things he knew they wouldn't accept...

Joh 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Joh 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Joh 6:30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

They didn't believe Jesus' message nor did they believe he was the Son of the Father...

Joh 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Joh 6:41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.
Joh 6:42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?

They were convinced Jesus was lying, about everything...

Joh 6:58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. Joh 6:60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

They understood what Jesus said and were grumbling among themselves saying to each other things like, 'this guy's a fruitcake...He a nut job' because they didn't believe a thing he said...

Jesus's super hearing was able to pick this up and yet, those disciples still did not leave even tho they didn't believe him...They were still looking for a free meal...So Jesus upped the rhetoric...

Joh 6:61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
Joh 6:62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?

They still didn't go so Jesus put the final nail in the coffin...

Joh 6:64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
Joh 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

Jesus said that if God didn't call them to the gathering, and you know who you are, you're wasting your time here, so just move along...

Joh 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

You will notice none of them left when Jesus said to eat his flesh...That's just a fallacy put out by the Catholic religion...They left when Jesus told them to examine themselves to really know if God sent them there...He didn't and they knew it, so they finally left...

So their leaving had nothing to do with any misunderstanding...Jesus was telling them 'Spiritual' truths knowing they would reject all of them...He knew who believed and who didn't...

I agree. Jesus called them on their unbelief. They'd been walking with Him for a while. They had an idea of Who He was. This is evidenced by Peter's reply when asked by Christ if he wanted to leave.

His reply is telling.

Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.

69“We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” John 6:68-69 NASB

I agree with Peter....I believe and know that He is the Holy One of God.

This post (406) was meant to be directed to ADSUM