The Book of John - 40

Introduction: We have been slowly working our way through this large chapter in the book of John.

As we can see from the outline below, the chapter begins with two miracles and ends with two discourses.

The miracles the Savior demonstrated dealt first with the public and then His disciples.

The discourses follow the same pattern. He spoke to the multitudes and then with the discussion narrows with His disciples.

In this, I am reminded of the two methods of delivering the gospel.

There is public evangelism— we would think about preaching to a large group of people.

There is also personal evangelism— that which is accomplished one on one.

As would think about the Savior’s ministry as recorded in the gospel records we see both public evangelism and personal evangelism.

In other words, the Lord Jesus Christ preached the gospel to groups of people, but He also dealt with individuals… we would think of folks like Nicodemus, the woman of Sychar, and the impotent man.

As we have been looking at the discourse the Lord gives on the Bread of Life, we understand that the overwhelming message is the satisfaction and sustenance the Christian experiences in their relationship and fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

A. The Demonstration of His Power in Miracles vs 1-21

1. The Feeding of the 5000. vs. 1-15

a. The Problem Presented vs. 5-6

b. The Practical Prescription vs. 7

c. The Perplexing Pessimism vs. 8-9

d. The Proper Provision vs. 10-13

e. The Problematic Proposal vs. 14-15

2. The Lord walking on the water. vs. 16-21

a. The Descent to the Sea vs. 16

b. The Darkness and Despair They Faced vs. 17-18

c. The Drawing Near of the Savior vs. 19

d. The Dispelling of Fear vs. 20-21

B. The Demonstration of His Power in Message vs 22-71

1. The Discourse on the Bread of Life. vs. 22-59

a. The Seeking For Jesus vs. 22-24

b. The Savior’s Advice vs. 26-29

c. The Sign Requested vs.30-31

d. The Satisfying Truth vs. 32-40

e. Their Sour Thoughts vs 41-42

f. The Singleness of the Savior vs 43-51

g. Their Strife and Difficulty vs. 52

h. The Serious and Spiritual Message vs 53-59

2. The Discourse with the Disciples. vs. 60-71

Today we will be looking at these last two points, “Their Strife and Difficulty in verse 52 and “The Serious and Spiritual Message” in verses 53-59.

Let’s read those verses together and pray.

John 6:52–59 “52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. 59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.”

Let’s Pray.

We see first here in verse 52:

Their Strife and Difficulty

The word that is used here ‘they strove’ means they were fighting with one another about the words given by the Savior in verses 51.

John 6:51 “51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

In verse 51, as you can see, the Lord states, that He will give His flesh.

Why were they fighting?

As one expositor stated, “The veiled sayings of Jesus sparked conflict among the Jews who did not see beyond a mere physical perspective.” (John MacArthur, John: Jesus—The Word, the Messiah, the Son of God, MacArthur Bible Studies (Nashville, TN: W Publishing Group, 2000), 46.)

How do we know that the Lord is speaking of the spiritual?

John 6:63 “63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

“To the Jews, blood stands for life and belongs to God. They will not eat meat that contains blood. This is why they struggled with this statement. Taking blood and flesh was not literal. Instead, Jesus was speaking about taking His life into ours. As food becomes part of our lives, Christ is to become a part of our lives. Food influences our health and strengthens us. Jesus does the same thing for us.

* Eating is necessary and so is the Lord.

* Eating satisfies our hunger and so does the Lord.

* Eating is personal and choosing the Lord is personal too.

This passage is not about the Lord’s Supper. It has not been instituted yet. The Lord’s Supper is for believers.” (Matoon) Rod Mattoon, Treasures from John, vol. 1, Treasures from Scripture Series (Springfield, IL: Rod Mattoon, 2005), 207.

Remember earlier in the passage it seems that they were fixated on this matter of being fed bread, physical sustenance.

The Lord tells them simply “…cometh to me…” vs. 35

The Lord tells them believe on me. vs. 35

He tells them “…every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life:” vs. 40

The truth is the Lord Jesus Christ gave His physical body-His flesh and shed His precious blood on the cross of Calvary as the text states, “…for the life of the world.”

He indeed did give His flesh and He did give His blood.

1 Peter 1:18–19 tells us, “18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”

Speaking about the Savior’s body in Isaiah 50:6 it states, “6 I gave my back to the smiters, And my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.”

That messianic psalm speaks very specifically of His broken, torn and pierced body of the Lord on the cross.

Psalm 22:14–18 “14 I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint: My heart is like wax; It is melted in the midst of my bowels. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; And my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; And thou hast brought me into the dust of death. 16 For dogs have compassed me: The assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: They pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I may tell all my bones: They look and stare upon me. 18 They part my garments among them, And cast lots upon my vesture.”

The message the Lord is communicating is a comparison — just as you will die without physical bread or sustenance —- you cannot have eternal life without partaking of Him— the True Bread—the Bread of Life.

As He simply states in John 14:6 “6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

There are several things I want us to take note of as we see this develop.

Doctrine (truth) divides.

Those who refuse belief remain in darkness.