The Conclusion of John Chapter 6
by Lane Rogers
I. Before we embark on this lesson a few words are in order to complete last week's lesson. In verse 37 and also in 44 we find that “The Father” gives people to Jesus.” We are also told that the Father “draws” people to Jesus.
a. He draws them to Himself and His Son by His love which has been shed abroad in our our hearts (Rom. 5:5, Jn 3:16).
b. He gives those to the Son through His drawing (that is those who choose to go to the Son). That is the freedom of choice which is man's prerogative and this is evident from all other Scripture context. Man will exercise his free will until the end of his life on earth. Even after having become a member of the body of Christ that person makes a choice as to whether he/she will remain in the fold or jump the fence. If they choose to leave the fold they are lost. Man must continually show his faith by works (James 2:18).
c. Jesus will never refuse or reject any who come to Him and abide in Him (Jn. 15:1-10). Man's rejection by God is caused by man's rejection of God.
II. Verses 39-44___These verses explain the “will of the Father.” God forknows who will believe and who will reject Him. He sees at time in the present. These verses do not teach once saved always saved or any such nonsense as that. It is the will of God (God wishes) that no one will be lost. God wants all men everywhere to be saved (II Peter 3:9). But all men will not be saved and one can fall from Grace (Jn. 17:12; Acts 8:14-24; Gal. 5:4).
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60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" 61But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, "Do you take offense at this? 62Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63It 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. 64But 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.) 65And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father." |
I. An Explanation as to "What is the Bread of Life?"
A. Last week we discussed the discourse of Jesus and how the foundation (shadow) for John Chapter 6 was the "Peace Offering" and not the "Passover" or Lord's Supper. Now in verse sixty at the end of this chapter we see the reply of the Jews to this conversation. They were "repulsed" at Jesus' claim that He was the bread of life and that someone ought to "eat his flesh." It is a shame that our Roman Catholic friends do not undertand this section of texts. Was Jesus speaking about His real body being the bread of life? The answer to that is NO. According to Jesus Himself, the "flesh is of no good at all."
B. So what is the "Bread of Life" in context? The Bread of life here is "Words" (see verse 63) that Jesus spoke. Jesus was making a spiritual point (v. 63) but the Jews only saw things in light of the flesh.
II. Thus, According to Jesus, His Words (the entire body of the docrine of Christ) are the things that give eternal life.
A. His Words shall judge us (Jn. 12:48).
B. His commandment is life eternal (Jn. 12:50).
C. His Word is able to build up and give us inheritance among the saints (Acts 20:32).
D. His Word is able to save our souls (Jas. 1:21).
E. His Word gives us new birth (I Peter. 1:22-23).
F. Verse 60___”many of His disciples heard this and said, This is a hard saying and who can hear it”? The real truth of the matter is that these disciples were offened and didn't want to understand. What Christ was saying clashed with their own preconceived ideas and they did not receive the Word. What their own views were are plain from John chapter 12. When Christ told of what kind of death He must die, “The people answered Him, We have heard out of the law that the Christ abideth for ever, so why is it you say that the Son of man must be lifted up”? (v.34).
In applying this verse there are two things to note. First, professing Christians criticize a servant of God who is really teaching the Divine truth, and complain that his teaching is “a hard saying” it is always to be traced back to the same cause as we see here. Many disciples still reject the Word of God when it is ministered in the power of the Spirit and they do so because it conflicts their own views and traditions. In the second place note that these men complained among themselves. This is evident from the next verse. “When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples murmered at it.” Notice, they did not come directly to Christ and tell Him openly that we can't understand you are your teachings are just to hard. Nor did they ask Christ to explain Himself. Why? Because they were not anxious for the light or the Word of God. Had they been so, they would have sought Him out.
Verse 64___As usual in every crowd and in every age there are those who do not believe. This is the first mention of the betrayal by Judas. Yes, it is interesting to point out that Judas did not believe.
Verse 65___Jesus once again makes the same point as that in verses 37-44. Men cannot come to Him unless they are spiritually drawn by the Father and by submission of their own wills. (See notes above).
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66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67So Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?" 68Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God." 70Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil." 71He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the Twelve, was going to betray him. |
Verse 66__It is a shame that some do not believe and even reject our Lord over a misuderstanding. It happens time and time again. In the context, those who turned back were upset over the conversation about “eating the flesh” of Jesus.
Verse 67-68__And now we have Jesus challenging the twelve and Peter's confession that the Words of life are from Jesus. It seems obivious to me that Peter understood the conversation above for if we remember back in verse 63 Jesus said He was speaking about His Words' and Peter now tells us he understands.
Verse 69-71___Peter understands that Jesus is God and Jesus calls Judas the Devil. Once again, we are reminded that Jesus is about to be betrayed.
Why was there a “Judas among the disciples of Christ?
1. It furnished an oppourtunity for Jesus to display His absolute perfection to doing the will of the Father.
2. It provided an impartial witness to the moral excellency of Christ.
3. It gave occasion to uncover the awfulness of sin.
4. It supplies sinners with a solemn warning.
5. It tells us to expect hypocrites among the followers of Christ.
6. It shows us that a devil is to be expected among the servants of God.
7. It affords an illustration as to how radically different God's thoughts are from our own thoughts. (That God should allow a “devil” to be a close companion of the Saviour).