Death and Life. Part 2 John 6:60-69

Introduction

He has risen. (He has risen indeed). Good morning church and a special welcome to all our friends and family who are joining us this Sunday for worship as we remember that we serve a risen Savior.

Our sermon series this Easter is a two-parter. We’ve called this series “Death and Life” coming out of the themes Jesus taught in John chapter 6. Last week we discussed palm Sunday and the crowds who were clamoring for the arrival of the king to usher in a world they had designed in their heads. A world where they would have prosperity, power, strength, and position. All the while, they didn’t understand that Jesus was coming, not to be their military or political leader but to die for their sins. The same people that were crying Hosanna on Sunday would be crying out “crucify” on Friday. He came to save them by dying for them and they killed him for it.

You’ll remember that last week we left by explaining, that for us to have the Life Christ paid for, for us, we must be willing to accept his death. Its by Christ’s death we have access to life.

Tension

To be fair, even Jesus’ 12 had a problem with this. No matter how many times he told them that he’d be leaving them, they wouldn’t listen. They even went as far as to scold him for talking this way. Peter, in Matthew 16:22 took Jesus aside from the group and rebuked him “Never, Lord!” “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus famously responded to his disciple “Get thee behind me Satan.” Harsh words for sure but notice what was happening. His disciples, out of love and devotion to their teacher never wanted him to leave. Jesus, out of love and devotion to them and commitment to his Father’s will, was not willing to let anyone, for any reason, keep him from completing his primary goal: to die for the sin of mankind. There is no life without first death, and for us, Jesus’ death paid the price of sin. It is this way and must be understood if we are ever able to fully comprehend what has been done for us.

Today we will be telling the rest of the story. We will be celebrating together, the life that has been given to us by Christ. Let us continue this morning in the word as we open again to John 6, verse 60.

Truth

John 6:60–69 (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.”

Pray

Exposition

A quick recap. You’ll remember from last week that Jesus combined what the prophets thought about the messiah, the ideas of eating food for physical nourishment, and the crowds desire for bread together to make a point. The point was that while these men craved physical and temporary bread to fill empty stomachs, they didn’t fully understand that what they really needed was eternal spiritual bread that would fill up their empty spirits. They were spiritually bankrupt without a way to pay for their sin yet all they wanted to talk about was growling bellies. How many of us could and still do identify with that, after all, you’re not yourself when you’re hungry, have a snickers. They were blinded by their stomach and what they wanted to see that Jesus was offering what they really needed.

this culminated in Jesus’ death for them on the cross. They would need to own that sacrifice and take its truth into their very being if they were to be full and satisfied. “whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” This bread, being the full and finished work of Jesus on the cross.

Today’s passage, jumps right off of Jesus’ previous points.

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?

The way in which the disciples talk about Jesus’ words here is not that this his teachings are hard to understand but that they are “harsh” in nature. That what he is saying is getting a little spicy for the people’s palate. In essence, two things are happening now: Jesus’ words are getting a little radical for popular tastes and he’s giving them things that feel a little too big for them to be able to accept. Who could accept such teachings? who could succeed in obeying them? Aren’t you asking something that is impossible for us?

Jesus response was to ask them what about the things he said to them was too much or too offensive to them? Offend in the Greek is where we get the word “scandalizei” and scandalous. Verse 62...

62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?

Just as Jesus’ statements are winning him no popularity points with the people who want a political savior the idea of an ascended Messiah was equally unhelpful. After all, how can you lead to prominence and then bail, who is to say that Rome won’t just come and take back what we took?

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.

They wanted a physical leader. A king. A general. A guy who would roll up on a white horse and take names, kicking Rome out and bringing them in. Yet Jesus refused to be the kind of leader for them. His work was going to be one not of this world but of spiritual victory. He’d wage war on sin and die to win the victory. They didn’t want that though. They wanted a different kind of savior.

To be fair, we still have this problem today. Many in our world want a Christ, a Messiah, a Savior that represents their internists, their values, their prerogatives, and their worldview. Yet Christ came to save sinners from their sin. How can he save you if you don’t even think sin exists? Or that you have ever sinned? Or if you think right and wrong are just created societal constructs and no moral absolutes exist. But Jesus is not a bumper sticker we can simply slap on our causes and make him our champion. He came for his own cause. He saved us his way, the right way. They couldn’t see it and wouldn’t accept it and we can be guilty of the same thing if we are not careful.

One of the sobering things about this text is that Jesus called their disobedience. He knew this about them and their fair-weather, sunny day faith. As long as Jesus was doing what they wanted they would be on his team but the second he said anything hard or required anything out of them they would bail. Why? Because they didn’t really believe in his mission because they didn’t really believe in Him. To have such belief would require not only for them to change their own minds but for God to give the eyes that could see. Their hearts were hard and they were so sure of their right-ness that there is no way they would relent or even consider that Jesus’ way could be better than their own.

So they bailed. many who would have called themselves his followers and his disciples gave up when it got even remotely difficult and left.

Remind you, this great difficult teaching, the one that they are having such a hard time dealing with and getting on board with is that he is not going to be the kind of savior they want, but that he will die to save them from their sins. That, in order to be saved, they must accept him as their savior and the sacrifice he is bringing them. This is not a massive ask, nor one that requires much out of them. Essentially, this is simply they must give up their way and follow in his. Yet, for those convinced of the righteousness of their own story, it is too much. You see, To come to Christ requires humility and sober judgement. It requires a done-ness and fed-up-ness with our sin and our ways that causes us to want to abandon them for his truth. They aren’t there. So they move on to the next person who might make them a more palatable bread.

I have heard from many of my contemporaries, those who have pastored and led churches in the past how it was a different day. One of my mentors served in the same church for 23 years before retiring. He talked about how he was welcomed into all the firehouses, police stations, government buildings, and could walk onto any school campus and most of the town knew his name. He’d be not only allowed but welcomed to pray for the sporting teams and had a standing time of prayer each month with the mayor and city department heads. He explained, “The Pastor used to be a honored position in the community even if you weren’t apart of his church, or for that fact, even a believer.” Most days when he would take a member out to eat at the restaurant, his meals were just on the house by either the owner or another member who beat them to the punch. While this didn’t ultimately cause him to retire, he missed the days when he was well thought of simply because he worked for Jesus.

It can be discouraging when we see how many turn their back on the things of God. I wouldn’t argue otherwise. However, not growing up in or tasting that age of popularity, i’ve only ever seen “this”. I had some students who were getting their feet wet in the medical world during covid and for them, this world is all they’ve known. It didn’t look like anything previously because this is how its always been. The world we live in where we are the underdogs. Where we as believers are the minority. Sure many might claim themselves to be followers of Christ but, they like the disciples in this story have a very different picture of what it looks like to follow Jesus. They too might be following a “Jesus” of their own design. Their Jesus, Who only wants them to be happy or who really just wants us to love our neighbors and has very little to do with confronting sin. But when they hear his actual words. His actual teachings. His real stances. They bail. It can become discouraging for us to see so many get it wrong. The same happened here. But the story isn’t over.

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.”

As the crowds start to disperse Jesus looks over to his first 12 and asks them “et tu brute?” Are you going to join them? Are you out too? Is your faith equally wishy-washy? Peter then brings his famous remark and the crux of our hope here this morning.

“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

In the midst of the exodus of fake followers and dim disciples are left a remnant, a small few, who see it. They understand. They get who Jesus is and what he is doing and Its better than what the rest of them are clamoring for.

Last week we discussed how there is no life without first death. That is the death of Jesus. Jesus’ death and burial precede his resurrection and if we cannot participate in, believe in, own, his death then we cannot have life.

But, for those who have. Those who have placed their faith, hope, and trust in Jesus’ words and in the finished work that he did on the cross, life eternal is opened up. As Peter said, “Only you have the words of eternal life”. Only Jesus can offer it because only Jesus has earned it. Our salvation was bought and paid for by his blood and his broken body.

But, friends, the cross and the tomb didn’t have the final word. His death is essential but it made way to life anew. Mark 15:33 tells us the story of Jesus ultimate victory.

Mark 15:33–16:7 (ESV)

33 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

35 And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.”

36 And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.”

37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last.

38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

40 There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.

41 When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.

42 And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath,

43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead.

45 And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph.

46 And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.

47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

1 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.

6

1 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.

2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.

3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”

4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large.

5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed.

6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.

7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”

Jesus death made a way for Life. Not just for Christ who came back from the grave but for you and I who were dead in our trespasses and sins. Because Jesus beat sin, death, and hell, I can be freed from the debt of my depravity. I can be set free from my prison of sin. I can have life. This is the hope of Easter. The Hope of a resurrected Savior. The culmination of Jesus’ words that they would destroy the temple and then it would be be raised back up in 3 days.

This resurrection is also available to you. You can know that you are saved from your sin, raised to walk in the new life provided by Christ that starts now and never ends. If you believe on the name of Jesus, that he was killed, buried, and that he rose from the grave 3 days later. If you believe this in your heart and confess him with you mouth you will be saved. This is the hope of the gospel, the hope of the cross, the hope of Easter. It is held out for you and for me. Will you receive it?

Invitation

Lord’s Super

As we come this part of the sermon and our service this morning it is appropriate to remember that we already have given to us a meaningful symbol of the justice and wrath that Jesus swallowed up on the cross for us. The Lord’s super is a powerful reminder of the cost of our sin and the sacrifice of Jesus blood and body in our place.

At this time I will ask the Deacons who will be helping us serve the super this morning to come and sit on the front row as we prepare

First, I want to remind our visitors this morning that we serve an opening table at our church. Meaning that if you are a follower of Christ who has repented of your sin, believed in your heart that Jesus died for your sins and rose from the grave, then you are welcome to participate with us no matter where you hold membership.

Secondly, I think it is also appropriate for us to start with 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 before we begin.

1 Corinthians 11:27-29

27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

You see, the super is not supposed to be something we just waltz into haphazardly. We spend some time in prayer and reflection. We take our time and make sure our heart is ready to fully be present in the moment. Perhaps, as I say this to you, you know that your heart is plagued by sin right now. Perhaps your mind is wandering all over at the moment. I want to offer us all a moment of prayer to refocus and go before the Lord and ask him to impress upon our hearts the importance of the Super and fill us anew with gratitude.

30 Seconds for silent prayer

Deacons pass out the bread. (5 mins)

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for[f] you. Do this in remembrance of me.”[g]

Deacons pass out the juice. (5 mins)

25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Amen and Amen

Dismiss.