BACKGROUND AND LINKS
100. The people disagree that Jesus is from heaven: John 6:41-59
Jesus' claim as the Bread of Life from heaven causes murmuring among the Jews. How could Joseph's son talk this way? Last night, in our study of John 6, people asked, "Wouldn't they have known about the virgin birth? Why would they think of Him as only Joseph's son?" We surmised that maybe they did not know He was born in Bethlehem. Perhaps the story was lost when the toddler returned from Egypt and moved to Nazareth. One woman said, "Eat His flesh. Drink His blood. I probably would have thought He was crazy too!" It is easier for us to understand what He meant with the whole of Scripture at our disposal, but these Jews did not know what He was talking about and had preconceived notions about what the Messiah would do for them. He was blowing their misconceptions out of the water.
In all this, Jesus tells them that the Father has to reveal this to them (John 6:45). Many see that this passage gives credence to the doctrine of election because He said, "No man can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him" (John 6:44). The manna (that means "What is it?") was a mystery to the Jews during the time of Moses (Exodus 16:15), and Jesus was a mystery to them now. Eating flesh and drinking blood was prohibited (Genesis 9:3-4; Leviticus 17:10-16; 19:26), and they did not understand that Jesus was speaking figuratively (John 2:19-21; 3:4; 4:11) and not literally (John 6:63). Figuratively, He meant, "Just as they eat and drink and that food becomes a part of your body, so you must receive Me within your innermost being in order to have eternal life." Even though eating flesh and drinking blood was prohibited, blood was also the means of atonement for their sins because "the life of the flesh is in the blood" (Leviticus 17:11). The people were not willing to look beyond and believe.
Just for those who may think He was talking about the Lord's Supper, John 6:50-51, and 53 are in the aorist tense in Greek meaning that it is a once-for-all action. So, it could not be the Lord's Supper because we do that over and over again.
101. Many disciples desert Jesus: John 6:60-71
Sadly, many of His disciples (followers and not the 12 apostles) could not handle these difficult statements He was making because they did not understand that He was speaking figuratively. They also probably realized that He was not going to deliver them from Roman domination. They could not receive His words into their innermost being (John 5:24; Jeremiah 31:31-34).
Eleven of His twelve apostles did not desert Him (Judas deserted Him in his heart), and Peter's declaration that Jesus was the "Holy One of God" and had "words of eternal life" sealed that at least some understood what He meant!
REFLECTION
Who do you say that Jesus is? Do you understand that He is the Holy One of God?
The Pam Mark Hall song from the 70s, "Who Do You Say That I Am?" keeps running through my mind. Let it usher you into prayer today:
APPLICATION
Meditate on some of the lyrics from this song today:
You are the Lord
You are the Christ
You are the Holy Messiah
That was promised to us
From days of old
You are the Lord
You are the Christ
You are the Holy Messiah
And it's You alone
That we adore
You are the Lord
You are the Christ
You are the Holy Messiah
We will follow You
All of our lives
Do you believe He is the Bread of Life and Promised One? Will you follow Him all of your life?
PRAYER
You are more awesome than anything I know. I would not want to go anywhere else. Just sayin'. Amen.
There is so poignant about listening to this Pam Mark Hall song that I listened to with my life ahead of me (in 1977, I was a senior in high school) and praying that I would "follow Him all of my life," as the song says, and I am 46 years down the road, and I have been following Him 'most of my life." I cried like a baby at 5:30 this morning rejoicing that following Him has been a very good decision (i realize it was Him drawing me to that decision too). He is LORD, CHRIST, HOLY MESSIAH; worthy of worship; worthy to be followed all the days of my life!
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