John 6:60–71 Sermon

Sermon Text

John 6:52–59 ESV

52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 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. 54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57 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. 58 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.” 59 Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.

1. The Dispute (v.52)

Verse 52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

2.

John 6:60–71 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.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.

Verse 53 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.

Verse 54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

Verse 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.

Verse 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.

1. A Question from man (v.60)

2. Questions from Christ (v.61-67)

3. The Response (v.68-71)

Verse 57 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.

Background

In the beginning of John chapter 6, we see Jesus going away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee to Tiberias.

There He had fed a large crowd of about 5000 with only five barley loaves and two fish.

This happened while the Passover was at hand.

This was a miracle and the people responded in verse 14.

John 6:14 ESV

14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”

Afterwards they tried to take Jesus by force and make Him King. But He withdrew to the mountain by Himself.

The disciples during the evening would get into the boat to cross the sea.

Jesus would appear to them while walking on water.

He would then enter the boat and sail with them to Galilee.

This happening at around 3:00AM to 6:00AM, most likely to keep the crowds from following them.

The next day, the crowds that were fed would seek Jesus and sail to where He was.

John 6:25–26 ESV

25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 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 loaves.

Jesus exposed their issue here in explaining to them that their seeking Him was not for salvation but rather to fill their stomachs.

Right after this they would ask for a sign which according to the previous passages and afterwards, is not a good sign.

The sign they asked for can be found in verses 30 to 31.

John 6:30–31 ESV

30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ”

This was the sign they were looking for. It wasn’t Christ who was bread from heaven.

They only sought the same bread that their father’s ate. Proving again what Jesus had said from the beginning. They were looking for their fill of the loaves rather than the bread of life.

That they were looking for their fill of the loaves rather than the bread of life.

This is the basis of why Jesus is saying what He is saying here.

He is responding to what they needed not what they wanted.

They needed saving but they only knew of their hunger for bread that would perish.

The Passover was upon them and He would speak in passover language to reveal who He was.

Prior to our passage Jesus called Himself:

the Son of Man (v.27)

the true bread from heaven (v.32)

the Bread of Life (v.35)

the One is from God and has seen the Father (v.46)

the living Bread that came down from heaven (v.51)

He then continues to say that the bread He spoke of was His flesh (v.51)

the

Then, we see in verse 52 that the Jews disputed among themselves over what Jesus had said about His flesh.

He began to speak of Himself as the living bread that if eaten, would give eternal life.

And it is important to note verse 44 where it speaks about coming to Christ as a work of the Father.

John 6:44 ESV

44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

We also know that believing in Christ is a the work of God.

John 6:29 ESV

29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

This is how someone eats. By believing in Christ. But believing in Christ cannot happen apart from God granting one belief which He works in the hearts of those He chooses.

Jesus continued with speaking of His flesh as bread by using passover language to describe Himself.

And Jesus

Question: What do I mean by passover language?

The passover was a major festival held in the spring to commemorate Israel’s deliverance from Egypt where the people of God sacrificed a lamb.

In , we see instruction given to the people of Israel to put the blood of the lamb on their homes to avoid death.

Exodus 12:11 ESV

11 In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover.

​ ESV11 In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover.

THen

After using the blood of the lamb on their door posts to avoid death, the people of Isreal were instructed to eat of it. Leaving none of it after.

Then the people of Isreal were instructed to eat of it. Leaving none of it afterwards.

Jesus spoke of Himself this way and the Jews disputed among themselves over what Jesus said about Himself.

This is why Jesus spoke of eating of His flesh and drinking of His blood.

He spoke in covenant terms about His flesh and blood.

As He called Himself bread which did not mean that His body was literally a loaf of bread, so He would speak about His body and blood not literally being what they should eat and drink physically.

But it was what they should eat and drink spiritually. It was meant to speak of the new covenant that was promised by the Prophets.

The words He spoke we see in verse 63,

John 6:63 ESV

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.

John 6:62–63 ESV

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.

Here, He was speaking about belief which is how one receives eternal life.

Jesus was saying this in the synagogue in Capernaum and not only did the Jews dispute and grumble over this, many of His own disciples spoke of it as a hard saying.

Outline

1. A Question from man (v.60)

2. Questions from Christ (v.61-67)

3. The Response (v.68-71)

1. A Question from man (v.60)

Read Verse 60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?”

Question: So what was hard about what Jesus had said in this passage?

Verse 58 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.”

A hard saying here is meant to mean difficult. It also meant to say that something was strong. Like something with a strong taste that is hard to consume.

Verse 60 mentions his disciples. Which are those who considered themselves to be under His teachings.

This was not only the twelve but those who followed Him and were taught by Him. Which were many according to what we see later.

But the question was asked by them, “who can listen to it?”

The important part of this question is found in the word listen. Which means not only to hear but to understand and comprehend.

The important

Question: Who can understand what Jesus is saying?

With Jesus using bread to explain who He was, we can also ask, “Who can eat?” or “Who can drink?” Which is what believing means.

Question: Who can hear and understand what Jesus is saying here?

The ones who can hear and understand are those whom the Father draws to Christ. Those who believe, which is a work of God done in their hearts.

Which is what believing means. Those whom the Father draws to Christ are those who believe which is a work of God done in their hearts.

They are those who have been taught by God which Jesus spoke of already in .

John 6:45 ESV

45 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—

They who believe in Jesus Christ as sent by the Father as the bread of life can listen and understand what He has said about Himself!

Question: Why is this important for us?

Answer: It is important because of what was said in .

John 3:36 ESV

36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Many profess to believe but do not obey. Obedience entails coming under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. And the only way one can come to Christ is by the Father drawing them to Him.

Example: My meeting with someone the other day

Question: So, Who can understand what Jesus is saying?

Those who believe. And because of genuine belief in Christ, they will obey the Son and bear fruit of their profession. All because of the work done by the Father.

The work of God will persevere in the life of the believer and it will prove to be true!

That’s why Paul could say what he said to the church in Philippi,

Philippians 1:6 ESV

6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

What is troubling here is that we see people who were following Christ, getting offended by how Jesus spoke of Himself.

Those who were following Christ and being taught showed that even they can get offended by how Jesus spoke of Himself.

They said that what Jesus said was hard and difficult. Meaning that they could not understand what He was saying and it also was offensive.

The law talked about not drinking the blood of animals or of anything. But Jesus spoke of that here.

It was offensive and what followed after the offense was questions by Christ.

Which Jesus addresses in the following verses.

Because of this Jesus would begin to question them.

2. Questions from Christ (v.61-67)

In the following verses we will see three questions.

The first found in verse 61.

The question Jesus asked was in response to the grumbling that happened due to what Jesus had spoken about Himself.

Read Verse 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this?

If they were given time to answer and if they were honest, they would have said yes. “We do take offense at what you said.”

The NASB says it this way which is actually the way it should read,

John 6:61 NASB95

61 But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble?

Verse 59 Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.

Let’s read again what Jesus was referring to.

John 6:53–56 ESV

53 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. 54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.

Does

Jesus in saying these things is exposing who has life and who doesn’t.

The words that He was speaking were words of spirit and life. So without the spirit and life (which would leave one without faith) they would dispute and argue over what He said. They would get offended.

Not believing will prove itself in the rejection of what Jesus said and has said about Himself.

There are many today who will not say things that are offensive that are clearly biblical.

People without saving faith will go to hell

People without saving faith need to repent of their sin and turn to God

People without saving faith will face the wrath of God

People without saving faith are dead in their sins and trespasses

People cannot come to God apart from grace

Adultery, fornication, homosexuality, idolatry etc… are sins worthy of the wrath of God

I have seen many in the visible church preoccupied with not offending that it leaves them with no gospel, no faithfulness to the word of God and nothing in their services that could be distinctively Christian.

Jesus had no concern about how the truth would offend. He said what He said because it was true and so should we.

In Him was life and anyone who believed in Him would have eternal life. Anyone who would eat of His flesh and drink of His blood (which meant anyone who believed) will be given eternal life!

Those who were carnally minded (meaning that they didn’t have the spirit and life), they could only hear and understand carnally.

But those who did have the spirit and life, they could hear, see and believe what Jesus was saying.

And they would share what they have heard.

If you heard that people without saving faith would go to hell, would it prompt you to share the gospel with urgency?

If you heard that people without saving faith would face the wrath of God, would you be compelled to share the gospel?

If you heard that people without saving faith are dead in their sins and trespasses, would you share the gospel and pray for God to be gracious to save?

When you’d hear that people could not come to God apart from grace, you would be able to understanding

Having the spirit and life not only gives understanding but it gives life in His name. Which is us here who are in fellowship together!

John 20:31 ESV

31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Adultery, fornication, homosexuality, idolatry etc… are sins worthy of the wrath of God

There was offense because there was no belief. And without belief there is no life.

You would not be afraid of offending. You would be compelled to share.

You would not be afraid of offending. You would be compelled to share.

They were offended because they did not believe.

They didn’t believe because they could not see Jesus for who He was. Even after saying all that He had said about Himself.

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

In verse 62, we see a second question.

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

John Calvin said this about verse 62,

The lowly and despicable condition of Christ which they saw when he was clothed in the flesh made him look like everyone else, and this prevented them from submitting to his divine power.

John: Crossway Classic Commentaries Verses 59–64

The lowly and despicable condition of Christ which they saw when he was clothed in the flesh made him look like everyone else, and this prevented them from submitting to his divine power.

Question: What would they do if they saw Him ascending to where He was before?

He actually answers this question in the next verse.

Read Verse 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.

The flesh is no help at all. Those in the flesh (meaning those without spirit and life) even if they would have seen the ascension they still would have remained without genuine saving faith.

Signs never saved anyone. We see this constantly throughout the gospel of John.

Even if Jesus Himself was seen ascending it would not be enough because believing comes, not from signs, but from the work of God in someone’s heart.

Believing is a sovereign work of God not an ability found in man. That is why signs cannot save. Even seeing Christ Himself does not save. But believing in Christ is what saves.

There were many people there who were called His disciples who had not believed. Who heard what Jesus was saying but remained in their unbelief.

He says this in verse 64.

Read Verse 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.)

Belief in Christ is not found by free will. It is not something given to everyone.

Belief in Christ is granted. This is why we believe in election.

God, before the foundation of the world, knew who He would choose for salvation.

Question: Does this offend you here today?

The bible makes it absolutely clear that believing is a work of God.

It is clear that “He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ

It is clear that “In love He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ.”

All I did here is read Ephesians chapter 1!

Coming to Jesus Christ is granted to those whom the Father chooses.

Read Verse 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.”

Question: So what does carnal man do with this truth?

They do what many did in verse 66.

3. The

Read Verse 66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.

When Jesus is preached faithfully, it will offend those who call themselves disciples but aren’t.

And the question we should ask ourselves today is the question Jesus asked the twelve.

Read Verse 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”

Jesus did not hold back speaking of Himself in such a way that was offensive to the carnal mind.

It was offensive because they could not see that what He was saying was spirit and life.

Eating and drinking here mean’t believing. Which for those who had faith in Him, it was life giving and they would remain.

They would remain and bear fruit of the love of God shown to them because God had genuinely worked in them to believe.

Many left and few remained. Because He spoke the truth about Himself.

In our context today this would have been seen as Him failing. Because of how many left.

This would have been considered as a loss to most church planting committees.

But in heaven’s eyes, it is considered life giving and encouraging. Because Jesus was feeding His sheep.

Carnal people get bored with the gospel. God’s people get fed by the gospel and nourished by it. Which is the point..

The gospel when believed gives eternal life!

3. The Response (v.68-71)

For those of us with saving faith, our response to Jesus asking the question, “Do you want to go away as well?” Our response should be the same as Peter’s.

3. The Response (v.68-71)

Read Verse 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,

Read Verse 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

Notice Peter’s response.

First, “Lord, to whom shall we go?”

Peter knew, as should we, that there is no life outside of Christ.

English Standard Version Chapter 6

60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?”

When many of his disciples heard what Jesus said about Himself, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” And many of them turned back and no longer walked with him.

Which I have seen happen before.

I have seen many turn back who no longer walk what they professed to walk.

There are very few who hold to genuine faith.

There were times when I was young in the faith where I was challenged by temptation and the world.

But somehow by God’s grace He kept me. And even after trying to run from God I discovered what Peter knew.

Where could I go?

I knew Jesus to have eternal life. I knew that I was saved from the wrath of God. So how could I find what I have found in Christ?

I remembered .

Psalm 139:7–12 ESV

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

You’ll also notice that Peter knew that what Jesus said about Himself were words of eternal life.

Second, “You have the words of eternal life”

You have the words of eternal life

To those who did not believe, the words Jesus spoke were hard sayings. They couldn’t hear and understand them.

But to those who had the spirit and life, they were words of eternal life!

They were words that they believed. And when one had genuine faith in Christ they will always conclude that Jesus is the Holy One of God.

Lastly, They have believed and had come to know that Christ was the Holy One of God.

He

Read Verse 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

They believed and they came to know that Jesus is who He said He was.

‘and have come to knowthat you are the Holy One of God.”

Question: Do you genuinely believe today in the Lord Jesus Christ?

Many left Him but the few that remained, believed.

Verse 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.”

Verse 71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.

What is amazing about Jesus is that He knew from the beginning who believed and who would betray Him and yet He gave Himself.

We commemorate this gift given to us in communion.

Every week we do this in remembrance of His flesh and blood. Given to eat and drink. Reminding us of the New Covenant given to us. Which is why He died.

Who can listen to what Jesus what said about Himself?

Those who have been drawn by the Father. Those who believed that Jesus is the Holy One of God.

Those who have been drawn by the Father. Those who believed that Jesus is the Holy One of God.