Jesus explains that He is like bread but even better and many leave, then He explains why someone’s words matter more than washing hands: John 6:22–71; Mark 7:1–23; Matthew 15:1–20

It’s all too tempting to do things ourselves. We put in our own efforts, and try to do things in our own strength. This is futile. Jesus said:

^{John 6:63} The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

Even if you have faith, it is God who does the actual work part of it. As believers, we can say the work was already done by Jesus. We still need faith, but our own efforts accomplish nothing. That’s a hard lesson for our modern-day culture.