Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- Before looking at John 6 - some verses from 1 Cor 13
- Love is patient, kind
- Love covers a multitude of sins and does not keep record of wrings
- Love hopes, believes and endures all things
- Love never fails
- Love is not easily offended
- A deeply challenging passage
- John 5/6 - a group of people easily offended by the words and deeds of Jesus Christ
- We looked at a man who was paralysed 38 years, whom Jesus healed - they took offence because of their religious ideas/views (explanation)
- Reading John 5:16-18
- His actions and His words - offensive to the Jews
- Jesus was claiming Deity and to be one with the Father
- They were offended at this
- The offence continues in John 6 - Jesus had fed the 5'000 and they wanted to make Jesus king but then took offence when He begins to teach them
- They were following Jesus because of what they can get from Him - food and miracles
- John 6:41-42
- They complained
- They questioned how Jesus could come down from heaven
- John 6:41-52
- They did not understand about His flesh
- John 6:61
- Those Jewish disciples (not the twelve) who were following Him - were offended
- Does this offend you?
- What was the offensive teaching? (v53-58)
- What was their response and why?
- How did the twelve respond?
What was the offensive teaching? (v53-58)
- It offended them because it was a hard saying (v60)
- It was hard to accept - spiritually and intelectually
- There were many sayings that people did not accept:
- Rich men entering into heaven - covetousness
- A narrow gate to life found by few - not easy to get to heaven
- Many are called but few are chosen
- Forsaking all you have
- Many will claim to have worked in His name but Jesus did not know them
- Do these sayings of Jesus offend you?
- Do you recognise them as difficult truths?
- Do you accept them from Jesus?
- The offensive teaching (v51)
- Speaking about flesh, blood and death... (but also...)
- Speaking about life, a living bread, everlasting
- They needed to 'feast' on Jesus
- Jesus gave His flesh/body on the cross that many would be saved
- v53 - an emphatic statement
- It is associated with Communion
- We remember what Christ has done for us
- We do not sacrifice Jesus over and again
- Jesus was sacrificed once for all
- The bread does not turn into Jesus' flesh
- The wine does not turn into Jesus' blood
- Not cannibalism or animism
- Sinners need to put their trust in Jesus blood/sacrifice
- Sinners need to come into union with Jesus
- Can you see how this would be offensive to the Jews?
- If taken literally - cannibalism and drinking of the blood
- But Jesus was speaking in metaphor - picture language giving spiritual truth
- That they could not affect their own salvation
- If you trust in Jesus as Lord and Saviour, you will live forever
- The offensive bits seem to block out the promises
- Example
- Life everlasting (v58)
- We often think that we must do something to reach God - examples
- For the Jews it was about following lots of laws
- Jesus says no - you must trust Jesus
- They had no power to save themselves
- God must draw people (v44)
- Dead in trespasses and sins - the Spirit gives life (v63)
- God must grant that people draw near (v65)
- That they could do nothing for their salvation
What was their response and why? (v66)
- What Jesus said was too much for them, even those disciples who were following Him more closely (not the twelve) - they turned their backs on Him
- It is sad when people turn away from God - but God can draw them back
- Example
- John 6:15 - they wanted to make Jesus King (after such an amazing miracle)
- How fickle the human heart
- Many of these same people are now rejecting Him
- Example of the Parable of the Sower
- John 6:29 - to believe in Jesus
- John 6:35 - to come to Christ and receive His promises
- John 6:40 - everlasting life
- The greatest problem for mankind - unbelief
- Denial of the word of God
- Examples
- An eater - to receive
- Have you come by faith to Jesus and received Him into your life?
- Do not respond like these disciples?
How did the twelve respond? (v68)
- Jesus asks if the twelve want to turn away
- Peter knows Jesus has the words of eternal life
- Peter knows there is nowhere else to go
- Do not harden your hearts with the things of the world and miss out on eternal life
- The twelve disciples had found Jesus' words to be spirit and life
- Judas did not believe (v70)
- Peter is clear - there was no-one else to turn to
- When others reject - are you prepared to stand for God
- None but Christ that satisfies