These mysterious words provoked still greater opposition on the part of the Jews; they _strove with one another, saying, How can this man give us His flesh to eat?_ But their opposition and questionings moved not His calm majesty. With the same formula of solemnity, which He had already thrice used[341] (Jn. vi. 53), He resumed in language still more emphatic His assertion, that unless they _ate the flesh of the Son of Man, and drank His blood, they could have no life in them――that His Flesh was meat indeed, and His Blood drink indeed――that whoso ate His Flesh and drank His Blood had eternal life, and He would raise him up at the last day_ (Jn. vi. 53–58). These solemn words, so entirely in keeping with the associations of the Passover, now on the point of being[342] celebrated at Jerusalem, exerted a great influence on those who heard them. The Jews, as we have seen, were deeply offended. But many even of His disciples regarded what they had heard as a _hard saying_ (Jn. vi. 60), and walked no more with Him (Jn. vi. 66). Turning to the Twelve, the Saviour enquired whether they too were about to join the general defection, whereupon Peter replied, in the name of the rest, that there was no other Teacher to whom they could go, for He had the words of eternal life, and they believed and were assured that He was the _Holy One[343] of God_ (Jn. vi. 69). This declaration of faithful adherence their Omnipotent Master accepted, but with the sad remark that even now there was a traitor in their midst (Jn. vi. 70, 71). After this memorable day in the synagogue of Capernaum, the Holy One appears to have continued a short time in the Plain of Gennesaret, during which period the excitement caused by His first landing was not diminished, His popularity was great in spite of the mysteriousness of His doctrines, and His mighty power continued to be marvellously displayed[344]. But soon His labours of love were interrupted. Having kept the Feast at Jerusalem the Scribes and Pharisees returned (Mk. vii. 1), and soon found matter for accusation against Him. In the social gatherings of the Saviour and His Apostles they noticed that He did not observe the strict and minute traditions of the elders, but ate bread with unwashen hands (Mtt. xv. 2; Mk. vii. 5). In reply the Holy One told them that by those _commandments of men_ which they so studiously observed they were making of none effect the commandments of God, whom, in the words of the prophet Isaiah, _they honoured only with their lips, while their hearts were far from Him_ (Isai. xxix. 13). The external defilement they were so careful to avoid was, He declared in the hearing of the people (Mk. vii. 14), nothing compared with the defilement of the heart, out of which proceeded all manner of evil thoughts, which ripened into the worst crimes――these truly defiled a man (Mtt. xv. 13–22).