John 6 - Jesus is our Spiritual Sustenance

Let me pray before I get started father. Thank you. For the opportunity to preach your word. I pray that you would speak through me and changed us all into the likeness of your son. Give me Clarity of speech and give us all Clarity of Mind as we consider the truth of your word. And the glory of your son. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.

Well, we're going to be in John chapter 6 today the whole chapter all 71 verses. And I John chapter 6 is probably one of the most famous chapters of John because of the well-known Miracles and Doctrine contained in his Pages. We get not one but two famous Miracles. The first miracle is the only one other than Jesus's resurrection this recorded in all four gospels the feeding of the 5000 and the second one is arguably the most iconic of Jesus's Miracles walking on water. I say it's the most iconic because there's even a lizard in South America that can run on water and guess what its name is the Jesus Lizard

We also have Jesus teaching some core doctrines that are nowhere else more clearly articulated doctrines including salvation by faith alone the sufficiency of Christ the resurrection of the Saints. Sovereignty in Salvation substitutionary atonement and Union with Christ. Although there's so much contained in this amazing chapter of God's word. There's one overarching lesson that God wants to impress on our minds today and I truly believe that this is the most important thing that you will here today. Not because I was so clever to come up with it cuz I didn't. But because God is clearly spoken at to us in his word. Jesus is the only true source of spiritual life and sustenance through faith in him and his death and Resurrection on our behalf. How do you say that again? Cuz I don't want you to miss. This Jesus is the only true source of spiritual life and sustenance through faith in him and his death and Resurrection on our behalf. Sometimes it's hard. To remember this as we work for things that will sustain our physical life and comfort. We get distracted by these things and we give little or no thought throughout the week about sustaining our spiritual life. We may even look at how the world works and think that God works the same way.

It's true that if we want to eat we have to work for it. But we sometimes think that if we want spiritual sustenance we have to work for that as well. But that is simply not true. As we'll see you in John chapter 6 John lays out his argument for Jesus being our only source of spiritual sustenance in three parts. The first is the miracle that no lesson then the response We seen this pattern before back in John chapter 5 John tells the story of Jesus performing a miracle. Then Jesus teaches about that miracle and then people respond to that teaching. But first we're going to look at the Miracles Jesus performed in verses 1 through 24.

After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of tiberias and a large crowd was following him because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain and there he sat down with his disciples now the Passover and the Feast of the Jews was at hand lifting up his eyes then and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him. Jesus said to fill where are we to buy bread so that these people may eat he said this to test him for he himself knew what he would do with Philip answered him two hundred denarii. I worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little one of his disciples Andrew Simon Peter's brother said to him. There's a boy here who has five barley Loaves and two fish. But what are they for? So many Jesus said have the people sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down about five thousand in number Jesus then took the Loaves and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish as much as they wanted and when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples gather up the leftover fragments that nothing may be lost. So they gathered them up and fill twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten when the people saw the sign that he had done. They said this is indeed the prophet who has come into the world receiving. They were about to come and take him by force to make him King Jesus with Drew again to the mountain by himself when evening came his disciples went down to the Sea got into a boat and started across the sea to capernium. It was now dark and Jesus had not yet come to them the sea became rough because of strong wind was blowing when they have Road about 3 or 4 miles. They saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming. The boat and they were frightened but he said to them it is I do not be afraid then they were glad to take him into the boat and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going on the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the Seesaw that there had only been one boat and a Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples but that his disciples have gone away alone other boats from tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord have given thanks. So in the crowd saw that Jesus was not there nor his disciples. They themselves got into the boats and went to compare to him seeking Jesus.

So I want to start to analyze this story a little bit. I want us to notice the prominence the nature and the response in this story as it sets up. Jesus is teaching but he will give later on first. Let's look at the prominence of the miracle. Like I said before this is the only Miracle other than Jesus's resurrection that's recorded in all four gospels that fact alone makes this miracle something special something important that we should take notice. This miracle also display Jesus's Divinity more publicly than any others up to this point in John's gospel. Turn the water to wine displayed his glory to the servants the wedding servants and Jesus's disciples and healing the official son was displayed to the official and his household. and healing the invalid at the pool of Bethesda was displayed to the religious leaders in Jerusalem, and there were also many signs that Jesus did that weren't recorded that were probably very public but

Of those recorded up to this point. This is the most public. I mean the crowd that came to Jesus was massive. And the people would have gone hungry were it not for Jesus's compassion and provision? You see the people had a legitimate pressing need. It seemed impossible to fill. Jesus ask Philip where to buy bread for so many people and fill it basically says that an average annual salary will not even be enough to buy bread for everyone. Philip understands that even if there were a place that sold that much bread they didn't have enough money to afford it even if they bought it in bulk from Costco. Well, then Andrew Simon Peter's brother comes from a slightly different angle. If we can't buy enough bread. Maybe the people have enough bread. But the only food to be had was one little boys lunch 5 barley Loaves and two fish. and Andrew despairs saying what are they for so many Five Loaves and two fish are not sufficient to feed this many people. We're told there were five thousand men. I think it's not a stretch to think that there were just as many women and children as well. That's a lot of people. It doesn't seem to be an apparent solution to the problem. But Jesus has an answer and he's going to perform a miracle to solve this problem and show his glory as the Christ. Now let's look at the nature of the miracle itself. First thing I want to point out is Jesus's posture of thankfulness. Jesus gave thanks before he distributed the food. It may not seem like an important detail, but it was important enough to John refers to it later in verse 23. But why did Jesus give thanks before this miracle? He didn't give thanks before the other Miracles why this one? We might assume that Jesus was thankful in general at all times. But especially when he was doing things that so evidently pointed to the work.

But he was that he was doing to fulfill the father's will. We're going to see that later as Jesus teaches about this miracle, but here it's enough to notice that Jesus was thankful for the opportunity to show so many people his sufficiency. The next thing I want to point out is the fact that Jesus created out of nothing. This is how God created everything in the beginning in Genesis 1. Each of the six days of creation. God spoke and what he spoke came into being out of nothing.

Nobody but God has that ability. Sure, we can be creative. We can rearrange God's original creation to make it something beautiful or clever. But we cannot create out of nothing. Only God can do that. This is another proof that Jesus is God. He took the Five Loaves and two fish that were insufficient and out of nothing. He created more pillows and more fish so that everyone had as much as they wanted and ate their fill and even had leftovers. The last thing I want to point out about this miracle is how Jesus had his disciples participate.

This is kind of like how Jesus had the servants participate when you turn the water to wine and chapter two, but here he asked his disciples to help we can assume from the other gospel records of this Miracles at the disciples helps to distribute the bread and fish to the people and in our passage specifically Jesus asked asked them to collect the leftovers so that nothing would be lost. And each of the 12 disciples brought back a full basket of leftovers twelve baskets and all. This is an amazing miracle. And the people thought so too. As we'll see in their response and verse 14 the people conclude that Jesus is the prophet.

Other referring to the prophet Moses spoke about in Deuteronomy. 18:15 Moses says the Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you from your brother's it is to him. You shall listen now. We know that the prophet Moses was speaking about is the Christ. God's chosen one but the Jews at that time saw difference between the prophet and the Christ remember back in John 1. The religious leaders question John the Baptist asking him if he was the Christ. Or Elijah or the prophet? They thought the Christ and the prophet we're going to be two different people. But we know that they're the same person Jesus.

Well their conclusion that he is the prophet and no doubt the free food made them want to make Jesus their King. instead of Herod or the Roman Emperor Universe 15, we find that they intend to make Jesus their King whether he wants to or not.

They absolutely could not have forced Jesus to do anything against the father's will but Jesus knows their thoughts. He knows that their idea would be contrary to the father's well, it would be counterproductive for the reason he came from Heaven to Earth in the first place. He did not come to rule and reign as king he came to suffer. And died so that we would be free from sin and death.

The people's intention to make him King was a bit of a problem. So Jesus leaves. But the way you leaves it's almost like part of a spy movie. Inverse of 16 to 21. Jesus has his disciples go on ahead of him to capernium and he catches up with them halfway there. Jesus has retreated to the mountain. But before he left he made an escape plan with his disciples while he's gone. The disciples leave in their boat. So the people will see them leave without Jesus and think the Jesus is not with them almost like a red herring.

well

It was dark and the sea was rough. They only got about halfway across they start to wonder how Jesus is going to catch up with them.

And just then they see a figure walking toward them on the water. I'm sure they all about jumped out of their skin thinking they're seeing a ghost or something. So there are even harder trying to get away from whatever is chasing after them. And then they hear voice. They're all too familiar with. And it brings a wave of comfort. Jesus says it is I do not be afraid. What a relief. Okay. If so glad there's Jesus not a ghost. The Jesus gets in the boat with them to get to their destination without further incident but has their escape plan worked. Well, it kind of worked. In verses 22 to 24 reread that the people followed them to capernium anyway looking for Jesus. These people are Relentless. It's going to take more than a clever escape plan to just way these people from making Jesus their King and messing up God's plan. So Jesus Takes the opportunity to teach the people. What's the miracle was all about then they'll respond with either belief or unbelief. Those who believe will follow Jesus and see how he will bring about what he explains here. And those who do not believe will go away thinking that Jesus is a crazy person. Either way, they'll stop trying to get in the way of Jesus's mission. So we saw the prominence the nature and the response to the miracle of multiplying food. Now, let's look at the lessons Jesus teaches about this miracle to the people who followed him to the Jews in the synagogue in Capernaum in verses 25 to 59. Jesus first teaches the people who followed him in twenty-five to forty and he begins his teaching with three contract. The first contrast is in 25 to 27.

When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him Rabbi. When did you come here? Jesus answered them truly truly. I say to you you are seeking me not because you saw signs. But because you ate your fill of the lobes do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life with the son of man will give to you for on him God. The father has set his seal. This is the contrast between physical food and spiritual food physical food parishes, it gets eaten up and then it's gone. This is like the phrase you can't have your cake and eat it too that phrase always confuse me as a kid, but this is what I'm talking about. Once you eat it. You don't have it anymore. It's gone. It's perished. And you have to work for physical food, whether you grow the ingredients yourself or work to earn money to buy the ingredients or whether you bake the bread yourself or work to earn money to buy the bread from a baker. Work is always involved in getting physical food. but spiritual food spiritual food never parishes because when you partake of it It's still there with spiritual food. You can have it and eat it, too.

And you don't have to work for spiritual food. We read that and Isaiah earlier. You don't have to work for spiritual food because it's given to you. All you have to do is accept it. By the people still think they need to work to get it. So Jesus goes on to teach them another contrasting verses 28 and 29. Then they said to him what must we do to be doing the works of God. Jesus answered them. This is the work of God that you believe in him whom he has sent. This is the contrast between works and Faith. The only thing that must be done to receive the spiritual food that endures to eternal life is to believe in Jesus. To do the works of God you must believe in him whom he has sent. The father sent Jesus to do all the work. All we need to do is believe in him. We don't need to do anything else. These people think that Jesus is the profit a Reincarnation of Moses. If you will who supposedly gave the Israelites Manna From Heaven to eat like Jesus did with the Loaves and fish, but they asked Jesus for another sign. To prove that he is more than the prophet to prove that he has more to prove that he is the Christ. So Jesus teaches them a third contrasted versus 3334. So they said to him then what sign do you do that? We may see and believe you what work do you perform our fathers ate the Manna in the wilderness as it is written he gave them bread from Heaven to eat. And then Jesus said to them truly truly I say to you it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my father gives you the true bread from heaven for the bread of God. Is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world? They said to answer. Give us this bread always. This is the contrast between Moses and Jesus. Moses had no power in himself to do any of the Miracles including providing Manna in the wilderness. God did those Miracles through Moses. But Jesus has the power in himself to perform these Miracles because he is God. Well, then Jesus dive deeper into the food metaphor food sustains life and the true sustainer of Life. Jesus came down from heaven like the Manna did. Well, Jesus has convinced the people that the bread he's been describing is better than the bread. They ate the day before and better than the Mana they say Sir. Give us this bread always this is like in chapter 4 when Jesus describes the Living Water, he could provide to the Samaritan woman at the well, she also said sir. Give me this water. Then in a gloriously simple phrase Jesus clarifies the metaphor. He's been using a nice contrast to teach his sufficiency in verse 35.

Jesus said to them I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

A similar to the previous chapter Jesus began his teaching by talking indirectly about the son of man and him whom the father has sent and he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. But now he switches to using the first person claiming all those titles for himself as the bread of life. Whoever comes to Jesus will never hunger or thirst because Jesus is Holy satisfying Now this is clearly not talking about physical hunger or thirst. Does there are plenty of people. Who are spiritually satisfied with Jesus who go without food and water everyday? Jesus will clarify this point later to the Jews in the synagogue by here. It's enough to say that Jesus is sufficient to give spiritual life and to sustain spiritual life through faith in him. Then Jesus Built on to teach the Assurance of spiritual life in verses 36 through 40.

But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe all that the father gives me will come to me and whoever comes to me. I will never cast out for I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me and this is the will of him who sent me that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me but raise it up on the last day for this is the will of my father that everyone who looks on the son and believes in Him should have eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day.

Continuing with his use of the first person pronoun. I and Me Jesus remarks on the people's unbelief because they still only think that he's the prophet. They've seen him they've seen his miracles his proof that he is the Christ. I still don't believe

but for those who do believe Jesus says all that the father gives me will come to me. And whoever comes to me, I will never cast out. Absolutely not. The father won't let anyone he's chosen slip through the cracks and Jesus will hold securely everyone the father brings to him. Becoming a child of God is determined by God not by your Merit or your faults. And remaining a child of God is also determined by God. Not your merits and not your faults.

Then Jesus is shortest and that he came down from heaven to do the will of the one who sent him the father. He's already said that the father is giving them bread from heaven in the form of a person who gives life to the world and he claimed to be that person the bread of life. So now he puts those two truths together for them claiming to have come down from heaven. And he says that he came to do the will of the father. And the will of the father is that Jesus would lose nothing of what the father has given him. All of God's children will be saved not a single one will be Locust. Just like the leftover bread that nothing would be lost.

The insurance we have that nobody will be lost is that Jesus promises to raise all of God's children up on the last day. We look forward to that glorious day when we will be with our loving savior forever. And Jesus said something very similar to his conversation with Nicodemus in chapter 3 he referred to Moses lifting up the bronze serpent. So that all who looked at that statue wouldn't die from snake venom. And he says that the will of the father. Is that all who look, On the sun in faith will have eternal life. Things may look bleak. God's children will be persecuted and killed. But we have present tense. We have eternal life any promises to raise us up on the last day. After he teaches the people who followed him Jesus goes and teaches the Jews in the synagogue in Capernaum in vs41 259 notice that Jesus is now speaking to the Jews rather than the people Jesus is audience has shifted and inverse 59 John notes that the location shifted to the synagogue in Capernaum him as well. Hear Jesus teaches the Jews about the father's sovereignty in Salvation in 41 through 46. So the Jews grumbled about him because he said I'm the bread that came down from heaven. They said is not this Jesus the son of Joseph whose father and mother we know how does he now say I have come down from heaven? Jesus answered them. Do not Grumble among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the father who sent me draws him and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the prophets and they will all be taught by God everyone who has heard and learned from the father comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the father except he who is from God. He has seen the father.

So the Jews were grumbling. No doubt, they heard what Jesus had taught the people earlier, but they know Jesus they know his family the premiums probably where Jesus his family lives now having moved from Nazareth. And these Jews are sure that he came from his parents not from heaven. Do Jesus answers their grumbling by explaining exactly what he had talked to people earlier, but in terms of the Jews unbelief, no one can come to Jesus unless the father draws him and anyone whom the father draws has eternal life and Jesus will raise him up on the last day. There's no other way to be saved. We cannot do it on our own. We cannot give ourselves eternal life. We cannot save ourselves from God's Wrath against in Jesus is the only Savior and the only way we will come to him to be saved. Is it the father draws us?

How does the father draw us?

Oh, Jesus quote Isaiah. 54:13. All will be taught by God. You see the father draws Us by teaching us?

This concept is also found in the passage about the New Covenant in Jeremiah 31. 32 33 34 that says for this is the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days declares the Lord. I will put my law within them and I will write it on their hearts and I will be their God and they shall be my people and no longer tell Each one teach his neighbor and eats his brother saying know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest declares the Lord for I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their sin no more. God writes his law on our hearts and we don't need to teach each other about knowing god because all who have his love written on our hearts know God. He's taught us. Everyone who has God's law written on their hearts comes to Jesus without exception. And just so we don't get the wrong idea knowing god in this way does not mean seeing him. The only one who has seen God is the one who came from God the Christ Jesus. Just like John Rowe back in 1:18. No one has ever seen God. The only God who is at the father's side. He has made him known. Ninja, Jesus summarizes do the Jews what he had taught the people earlier that he is the bread of life in verses 47 through 51. Truly truly I say to you whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life your fathers ate the Manna in the wilderness and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven. So that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. Jesus is the bread of life and believing in him results in eternal life. You see the juice thought very highly of the manner that God gave their ancestors in the wilderness. It was proof that God cared for them. And wanted them to live. They even kept some in the Ark of the Covenant.

But that bread as great as it was.

You could not give them eternal life.

Play Israelites ate that bread but they still all died even Moses. But Jesus says that he is better than the manner because he gives eternal life.

He is the living bread and all who partake of him will live forever. Then Jesus reveals some of the reality behind the metaphor the bread that Jesus provides. Is is Flash? We know that Jesus was referring to his death on the cross, but the Jews didn't know that. They thought he was advocating cannibalism. But Jesus doubles down on the metaphor without clarification. As he foreshadows the atonement and vs 52 through 59. The Jews then disputed among themselves saying how can this man? Give us his flesh to eat. So Jesus said to them truly truly I say to you unless you eat the Flesh of the son of man and drink his blood. You have no life in you whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks. My blood has eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day for my flesh is True Food and my blood is true drink whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abide in me and I in him as the living father sent me and I live because of the father. So whoever feeds on me. He also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven not like the bread the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever. Jesus said these things in the synagogue has he taught at capernium Who is paragraph? Is right up there with the most misunderstood passages in Scripture.

Obviously eating Jesus his flesh and drinking his blood are reminiscent of the Lord's Supper. But the entire Roman Catholic Church in quite a few other Christian denominations think that Jesus here is specifically referring to the Lord's Supper.

The problem comes when Jesus says unless you eat the Flesh of the son of man and drink his blood. You have no life in you. If Jesus was referring to the Lord's Supper the ordinance then what he says here means that partaking of that ordinance eating the cracker and drinking the juice is the necessary work to be saved. And Jesus has just been teaching that works cannot save anyone.

The only work of God is to believe in him whom he has sent so this cannot be what Jesus is talking about. Up to this point. The metaphor has been a bit ambiguous regarding Jesus being the bread that gives life. But if we understand that eating in this metaphor is face. And reminding ourselves what we believe. Then things start to click into place.

When Jesus says unless you eat the Flesh of the son of man and drink his blood you have no life in you he is saying that unless you have faith in Jesus who gave his body and shed his blood to give you eternal life. You have no life in you.

Faith in Jesus is necessary to have eternal life.

The eternal life that he purchased with his body and blood on the cross. And when he says whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks, my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day. You saying that reminding ourselves of the price Jesus Paid to purchase our eternal life is what keeps us satisfied and persevering. Unto eternal life. This is why we rehearse the gospel.

This is why we have communion every week. Why would encourage each other with a glorious? Hope of Jesus's return?

Because he will raise us up on the last day for X. Jesus has repeated that same phrase in this chapter. I will raise him up on the last day. Cuz it's an important promise. of Hope in the midst of this broken world

We have hope that Jesus is coming back to make all things new and he will raise us up on the last day because he's given us eternal life by giving his body and shedding his blood on the cross on our behalf.

Jesus's flesh is True Food and his blood is true drink because that's what truly sustains our souls unto eternal life. And just like food goes into our stomach and becomes a part of our bodies. Jesus's body and blood given for us on the cross become a part of us as we become a part of him.

The living father sent Jesus to give life to everyone who feeds or believes on Jesus and his death on the cross on our behalf. Jesus came down from heaven to give his body and blood on the cross so that all who figuratively feed on him will not pair is like the Israelites who literally fed on the Manna in the wilderness. But they will live forever.

So we saw the miracle where Jesus created food for a massive group of people. Then we saw the less than the Jesus taught about that Miracle specifically that faith in him and his sacrifice on the cross is the only way to have eternal life. Now, let's look at the response to Jesus's difficult lessons in versus 6271 where Jesus's disciples respond in either unbelief or belief. When many of the disciples heard it they said this is a hard saying who can listen to it. But Jesus knowing himself that his disciples were grumbling about this said to them do you take offense at this then what if you were to see the son of man ascending to where he was before it is the spirit who gives life the flesh is no help at all. The words that I've spoken to you are spirit and life. 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 and he said this is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the father after this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the 12 do you want to go away as well? Simon Peter answered him Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life and we have believed and I've come to know that you are the Holy One Of God Jesus answered them. Did I not Choose You the twelve and yet one of you is a devil. He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot for he one of the 12 was going to betray him. The first let's look at the response of unbelief. The disciples heard what Jesus had taught and they responded by grumbling about the difficulty of Jesus's teaching. Remember instead of explaining his food metaphor Jesus double down on the ambiguity so that it appeared as if he was telling them to literally eat his flesh and drink his blood. They didn't get it yet because Jesus had not gone to the Cross yet. We have the advantage of hindsight.

We can see clearly that Jesus was referring to his death on the cross on our behalf, but they had to rely on prophecies like Isaiah 53. I don't have time to go into that, but it's a great when you should read it. They're just as obscure as Jesus's teaching here, though.

So their grumbling about Jesus's difficult lesson and Jesus calls them out, but he adds in first 62 what if you were to see the son of man ascending to where he was before?

Well, they will see that. After he goes to the cross and rises from the dead once they see Jesus is Ascension, then his teaching will be clear to them because at that point they will have hindsight. They will have the Holy Spirit just a few days after his Ascension. And he says as much in the very next verse it is the spirit who gives life the flesh is no help at all. They're trying to understand. Jesus is teaching from a fleshly or physical. Understanding and it doesn't make any sense. Because they need the Holy Spirit to make things clear. The truth that Jesus is our only source of spiritual sustenance. But some of Jesus his own disciples did not believe Jesus knew from the beginning who did not believe in who would betray him, but did that stop him?

From calling them to follow him. No.

He called all of his disciples both believing and unbelieving.

And not just the 12. Jesus had many disciples but even among his closest 12 one would betray him because of his unbelief. Diamond versus 70 and 71 Jesus called all 12 of his disciples including Judas knowing that Judas would betray him. Now Jesus David genuine call to follow him even to those he knew would not believe and would even betray him. How much more should we give a genuine offer of the Gospel to everyone regardless of whether we think they might believe or not?

Jesus said this is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the father. Unbelief is the default setting.

Of every person because of the Fall. It takes a special call of the father teaching Us by writing his law in our hearts through his word and his Spirit who gives us Life by producing in us the faith in Jesus and his death on the cross on our behalf. It's necessary for eternal life.

Belief can only happen when God acts on our hearts. and many of Jesus Jesus's disciples did not believe In fact, many of them stopped following Jesus after this because they could not understand Jesus's teaching and they would not believe what they could not understand.

Now, let's look at the response of belief on a lighter note. Jesus asked the 12 if they also wanted to leave and Simon Peter response for the group affirming their belief despite the difficulty of Jesus's blood lesson Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life and we've believed and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God. At least Peter understood that Jesus his identity as the Christ was more important than completely understanding this difficult lesson. Jesus is the Christ. There is no other. Jesus is the savior. There is no other. Jesus is the only source of eternal life. There is no other. Jesus is our only spiritual sustenance. There is no other.

Now if you've never put your faith in Jesus that I beg you to believe that he is the promised one the son of God. He came to Earth lived a perfect sinless life died in your place on the cross and then rose again. And right now he's seated at the right hand of the father interceding on your behalf, and he's coming again to judge and make all things new. Repentant faith is all it takes for Jesus to take your place on the cross. And intercede on your behalf. So that you can be forgiven and have eternal life.

Turn and believe the truth of the good news and say yes. Jesus has died from my sins. So that I can be forgiven.

He believed it then you have eternal life. If you believe and you are a child of God.

And God feeds all of his children with the comforting knowledge of this gospel is good news. All of us need to be reminded of the truth of Jesus's death and Resurrection everyday.

This is how we're strengthened and sustained as we live in our fallen world. Too often the World the Flesh and the devil try to distract us from feeding on these truths. And if they successfully distract us temptation is waiting to pounce. Drive us away from God by your sin. We must remain strong and fight against Temptation by reminding ourselves of the Gospel by feeding on Jesus. He's the only one who gives us strength to fight sin since he defeated the power of sin on the cross. And he's the only true source of spiritual life and sustenance through faith in him and his death and Resurrection on our behalf.

Father. Thank you. For revealing is amazing truth to us in your word. Thank you for sending your son. To take our place on the cross so that we could be forgiven and have eternal life.

I pray that you would impress this on our hearts and Minds. We would never forget it.

I'm Lord. Don't don't let us ever take for granted the price you paid to give us eternal life.

And we are so excited to spend eternity with you. when Jesus comes back

we thank you and praise you in Jesus name. Amen.