"By the public rebuke of their unbelief these disciples were still further alienated from Jesus. They were greatly displeased, and wishing to wound the Saviour and gratify the malice of the Pharisees, they turned their backs upon Him, and left Him with disdain. They had made their choice,—had taken the form without the spirit, the husk without the kernel. Their decision was never afterward reversed; for they walked no more with Jesus. DA 392.1"
"From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him."
Both passages describe the departure of disciples from Jesus. EGW provides additional details and interpretation of the event mentioned in John 6:66.
"willing to take up the self-denying work. Therefore they are angry when their sins are discovered. They go away offended, even as the disciples left Jesus, murmuring, “This is an hard saying; who can hear it?” DA 392.2"
"Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?"
The EGW passage directly quotes John 6:60 and references the disciples leaving Jesus after hearing a 'hard saying,' making it a clear and explicit allusion.
"Praise and flattery would be pleasing to their ears; but the truth is unwelcome; they cannot hear it. When the crowds follow, and the multitudes are fed, and the shouts of triumph are heard, their voices are loud in praise; but when the searching of God's Spirit reveals their sin, and bids them leave it, they turn their backs upon the truth, and walk no more with Jesus. DA 392.3"
"From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him."
The EGW passage describes the disciples turning away from Jesus after a difficult teaching, which directly parallels the event described in John 6:66. The context and outcome are the same.
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;"
Both passages discuss people rejecting truth and sound doctrine in favor of what pleases them. The EGW passage amplifies the idea of people turning away when confronted with their sin, while 2 Timothy 4:3 speaks of seeking teachers who cater to their desires.
"As those disaffected disciples turned away from Christ, a different spirit took control of them. They could see nothing attractive in Him whom they had once found so interesting. They sought out His enemies, for they were in harmony with their spirit and work. They misinterpreted His words, falsified His statements, and impugned His motives. They sustained their course by gathering up every item that could be turned against Him; and such indignation was stirred up by these false reports that His life was in danger. DA 392.4"
"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you."
Both passages deal with the hatred directed towards Jesus and his followers. The EGW passage describes the actions of those who turned away from Christ, mirroring the hatred described in John 15:18.
"But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils."
Both passages illustrate the act of misinterpreting and falsely accusing Jesus. The EGW passage describes the disaffected disciples' actions, while Matthew 12:24 shows the Pharisees attributing Jesus' power to Beelzebub.