Following The Word 15

Bread That Don’t Grow Mold

Text: John 6:37-59

Introduction

Question — What do you do with something either in your fridge or pantry when you notice mold growing on it? You will say, “It’s ruined.” You then proceed to throw it away. It has lost it’s intended purpose. You then have to replace it with the same thing or something similar.

Apostle John will continue to labor the point from Jesus’ own words about Him being the Bread of Life. Jesus has already described Himself to be the “Living Bread.”

Today, I want to guide you through some evidences from the text that Jesus is a spiritual bread source whom the Father leads lost souls too, who is a universal Savior, who eternally keeps those who believe on Him, and who will raise them up from the grave on a future appointed day.

Keep in mind that Jesus’ audience transitions from those who had seen the miracle of the feeding 5,000, too primarily talking to the Jewish religious leaders of that day (“the Jews”). They practiced a “keeping of the law” based salvation. Many of them still claim that their genealogical heritage plays a significant role in them being “right with God.” They really thought they were ‘worshipers of God.’ When it came time for Christ to show up, thy found themselves to only be religious.

1) The Father’s Gift To Christ

Verses 35-40

A. The handoff of true worshipers

This is a much debatable questions today.

This passage is a major proof text for what is called Calvinism (many chosen for salvation because we lack the ability to believe on Christ)

However, this is NOT talking about Calvinism!!!

We MUST answer the question, ‘Who is the Father giving to the Son?’

a) Jesus speaks of those who are coming to Him (v35)

Disclaimer…I am going to get a little bit technical with you…stay with me!

“Cometh” (present/active/indicative) = action is taken by the individual; Responsibility is on the individual.

“he that” (present/active/indicative) = anyone/everyone

“Believeth” (present/active/indicative) = Belief is on the individual

b) The Bible speaks of “true worshipers” of God.

John 4:23–24 “23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

John 14:1 “1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”

John 14:9 “9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?”

c) Jesus speaks of those whom the Father is giving Him (v37)

Words you won’t find here: Chosen, elect, beforehand, or sovereign.

“All that the Father giveth me” — Not mentioned anywhere else in scripture.

“Gives” (present/active/indicative) = Speaking of those whom the Father was giving in that current day during the ministry of Jesus.

“shall come” (future/active/indicative) = true worshipers will continue to be given to the Son

No matter what there past may have been, if there are a true worshiper of the Father, Jesus receives them ALL!!!

Keep in mind…this is a unique point in God’s redemptive plan for humanity.

All prior to Jesus’ ministry, rested their faith in the Father. Now it is time to turn them to the Son!

B. (v38-40) The handoff for security and future resurrection

Jesus is operating within the boundary of the Father’s will!

The Father’s will concerning Jesus’ role in salvation is in TWO PARTS…

a) (v39) Jesus loses NONE of those whom the Father gives Him

I ask my friends who struggle with eternal security… ‘How do you put this ‘square peg’ in your role whole of ‘losing your salvation?’

“I SHOULD LOSE NOTHING”

“should raise ‘it’ up again at the last day.

‘it’ in an interesting word to use here.

Matthew 28:18 “18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

John 3:35 “35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.”

You get this picture that this pertains not only to people, but also to everything else the Father has given to Jesus.

b) (v40) Everyone who comes to Jesus, has eternal life and will be part of the first resurrection.

LISTEN…Jesus will never allow you to be overcome by Satan and lose your salvation!!!

Ephesians 1:13 “13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”

Ephesians 4:30 “30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

Philippians 1:6 “6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

Jesus will one day resurrect you from physical death!

1 Corinthians 15:52 “52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

2) The Father’s Gift Through Christ

Verses 41-59

A. What gift is the Father offering to the world? (v41-42, 47-51)

a) Jesus, the eternal Bread of Life (v47-51)

The Jews had mistakenly identified Joseph as the father of Jesus and made it the basis for their unbelief. By this constant reference to God as his Father the Lord endeavored to set the record straight and also open up a channel for belief. John Phillips, Exploring the Gospel of John: An Expository Commentary, The John Phillips Commentary Series (Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp., 2009), Jn 6:45–46.

The family of which Jesus grew up in was a hinderance to the Jewish leaders believing Him to be the Son of God.

They had watched him grow up.

They had known him as a schoolboy as the village carpenter.

They knew the house he grew up in.

(v41)TO BE HONEST…it was the message of truth Jesus preached that they could not tolerate.

LISTEN…Jesus is not some ordinary man who had an earthly biological father or mother.

Mary was a vessel for the Christ child to grow and be born into this world.

Father was the foster father who protected, provided, and trained in the skill of wood or stone work.

Notice verse 46.

Jesus makes His claim to deity.

The one they mistaken to be Joseph’s son, was the One who existed eternally as God the Son.

Jesus’ incarnation did NOT change his identity or personality as the Son of God!

(v41) I have heard many claims from liberal to discredit Jesus from being the Son of God.

In reality, it’s the demands of surrender, loyalty, and obedience that they couldn’t accept.

The best way to protect themselves from the message is to reject the messenger.

Quote: John Dyer, a Welsh poet and pastor from the 1700s once wrote, “A man may go to Heaven without health, without riches, without honors, without learning, without friends; but he can never go there without Christ.”

b) Jesus was offering this bread to the entire world

John 11:26 “26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”

Hebrews 10:5 “5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:”

B. How can the world receive this life gift? (44-45; 53-59)

a) You must hear, learn, and believe

(v45) This is a direct quote from Isaiah 54:13 “13 And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; And great shall be the peace of thy children.”

This is a kingdom age prophecy anticipating the millennial reign of Christ.

It assures all the Jews would be taught by God.

Had the Jews accepted Christ, the prophecy would have been fulfilled.

John 5:37–40 “37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. 38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. 39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”

Only those who have heard and learned from the Father will He give to the Son.

The only way for any of you today to be given to the Son is to HEAR, LEARN, AND BELIEVE!

Romans 10:13–14 “13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”

Romans 10:17 “17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

b) You must FULLY accept Him in the depth of your soul

Jesus is teaching from the metaphor “eating” and “drinking” his body and blood, that we must with out minds “inwardly digest” His truth.

Illustration: Have you every heard the phrase, “Let me ‘chew’ on that for a while?’ Or maybe, ‘Swallowing a lie?’ Or even hearing someone say, “I devoured that book?’

(v58) It is like Jesus is saying to His listeners, “Take it or leave it!”

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Six: Jesus Loses His Crowd (John 6)

It is not difficult to see in the manna a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ. The manna was a mysterious thing to the Jews; in fact, the word manna means “What is it?” (see