New Life Bible Fellowship Church
11-10-24

      • Ephesians 6:5–8ESV

      • Bible Trivia
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      • Psalm 46:4–7ESV

  • He Keeps Me Singing
  • Wonderful Words Of Life

      • Psalm 112ESV

  • Introduction:

    Over the last several weeks, we have been challenged by the sufficiency of Christ in our lives and the meaning behind true discipleship. This challenge began when Jesus fed the five-thousand, from which Jesus used this sign miracle to explain the deep, detailed meaning of what it meant that Jesus himself was the true bread of life. As we ended last week, we were shown that true discipleship was the partaking of Jesus body and blood, signifying the total identification and assimilation of Christ in a true disciple’s life. So what was the response to all this?
    We will see that response in this morning’s passage, as it captures a defining moment in Jesus' ministry when His followers grapple with the weight of His challenging teachings that call for radical commitment to Him. Many disciples, unable to accept the difficulty of His words, choose to abandon him, portraying the pivotal choice between convenience and conviction in one's discipleship journey.

    Text: John 6:60-71

    John 6:60–71 ESV
    60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” 66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.

    Main Idea: Because the call to discipleship is a call to radical commitment, it may mean that the world will oppose us as a result.

    I. Understanding Hard Teachings (60-63)

    It is always a challenge to understanding and accepting difficult teachings. Jesus' words can seem hard and perplexing, but He invites us to seek spiritual understanding rather than rely solely on the flesh. The life-giving power of the Spirit will enable true comprehension of Jesus' message, encouraging believers to trust in Christ's words for guidance and transformation.

    A. Inability of the Flesh (60-62)

    60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?”
    This is a hard saying because they wrongly interpreted Jesus’ statements literally
    many of his disciples. These disciples take offense at Jesus’ words, refuse to listen to Jesus’ explanation, and are unwilling to accept the message of salvation by grace, through the bloody sacrifice of His life.
    61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this?
    knowing in himself (6:61, 64, 70). Three examples of Jesus’ divine knowledge of the thoughts in others’ minds and allegiances of others’ hearts.
    62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?
    see the Son of Man ascending. Like “lifted up” (3:14 note), “ascend” here probably refers to the events beginning with Christ’s being “lifted up” on the cross and climaxing in His exaltation at the right hand of the Father. If many of His disciples grumble at the hard sayings of vv. 53–58, what will their response be to the scandal of the crucifixion?
    where he was before. A reference to the eternal preexistence of the living Word (1:1–3; 17:5).
    In essence, Jesus is saying that if you can’t understand the spiritual truths that I have been giving you while I am in the flesh, you will not begin to understand the entire redemption plan that began in eternity past and will be culminated at the cross, resurrection, and ascension.

    B. Ability of the Spirit (63)

    63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
    the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. This makes it plain that a merely physical understanding of Jesus’ words is utterly mistaken. Note the close cooperation of the Father (vv. 37–40, 44–46, 57, 65), the Son, and the Holy Spirit (v. 63) shown in this passage.
    The flesh (i.e., human nature including emotions, will, and intellect) is completely incapable of producing genuine spiritual life (see Rom. 7:14–25), for this can only be done by the Spirit. But the Holy Spirit works powerfully in and through the words that Jesus speaks, and those words are spirit and life in the sense that they work in the unseen spiritual realm and make alive a genuine spiritual life.

    II. Unbelief Verses Belief (64-66)

    The theme here is belief versus unbelief. Some disciples choose to leave because they do not truly believe. This highlights the reality of apostasy and the choice each Christian faces when confronted with challenging truths.

    A. Unbelief: From the Flesh (64, 66)

    64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)
    Jesus’ divine omniscience is shown by the fact that he knew the status of everyone’s heart and therefore he knew who those were who did not believe. He also knew the future because he knew who it was who would betray him. Only God could know these things.
    66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.
    Many of these early disciples were not genuine disciples of Christ, for they turned back. Their initial “faith” was not genuine and they were perhaps following Jesus only because of the physical benefits he gave, such as healing and multiplying food.
    This is a crucial turning point in this gospel. Many disciples, together with the crowds, reject Christ in unbelief. This shows an important characteristic of true disciples…

    B. Belief: From the Spirit (65)

    65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
    no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father. It is impossible for anyone to come to Christ without the enabling call of God (vv. 44, 45). The sinner’s moral inability to choose Christ must be overcome by the gracious and sovereign power of the Spirit (3:5–21); and when the Spirit acts to overcome this inability, everyone whom the Spirit draws to the Son will come to Him in faith (6:37–40).

    III. True Faith Perseveres (67-71)

    We will see here that true faith remains steadfast and committed. This is the mark of true discipleship.

    A. True Faith Remains (67-69)

    67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”
    This is the first reference to the Twelve in this Gospel (cf. 70, 71; 20:24). Their existence and appointment are assumed from the Synoptics.
    Do you want to go away as well? Jesus’ question elicits the firm confession of Peter as the spokesman for the Twelve.
    68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,
    Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life
    This confession of Peter rightly implies that there is no other teacher who can lead people to eternal life and to true fellowship with God himself.
    Therefore, we see here the exclusivity of Jesus Christ alone to give eternal life, and it is his exclusive words that must be believed for eternal life to take place.
    69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
    We have believed implies that Jesus’ disciples at this point had genuine, saving faith (though they would still have to learn much more about Jesus’ death and resurrection and the meaning of these things for them).
    Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Holy One of God anticipates later references to Jesus being consecrated, or set apart for service to God (10:36; 17:19). In the OT, God was called “the Holy One of Israel” (Ps. 71:22; Isa. 43:3; 54:5). See the similar confessions of Jesus as the Christ by Peter in the Synoptics (Matt. 16:16; Mark 8:29; Luke 9:20).

    B. False Faith Abandons (70-71)

    70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.
    Jesus declares two things here:
    His omniscience to know all things as the Son of God;
    That even in God’s ordained plan, there will be those who are apostates.
    1 John 2:18–19 ESV
    18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

    So What?

    Do we comprehend that Jesus' words, though difficult at times, are nonetheless meant to encourage believers to trust him for guidance and transformation?
    Do we understand that the signs of an authentic disciple of Christ is one who stands firm in the midst of testing?
    Do we understand that we are called, as true disciples of Jesus Christ, to maintain unwavering commitment to Christ in all circumstances?
    Being reminded of how Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,

      • John 6:60–71ESV

      • John 6:60–62ESV

      • John 6:63ESV

      • John 6:64ESV

      • John 6:66ESV

      • John 6:65ESV

      • John 6:67–69ESV

      • John 6:70–71ESV

      • 1 John 2:18–19ESV

  • He's All I Need
New Life Bible Fellowship Church
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