In Whom do you Believe?

Today we finish up the bread of life discourse a discussion of several weeks now. This story began with crowds of people coming to Jesus, willing to listen to him for many hours. They listened so long that it became too late for them to go home and there was no food so Jesus did a miracle and provided food for all to eat and 12 baskets of leftovers. Afterwards the crowds followed Jesus across the sea of Galilee. Judging by their willingness to follow him one would think they were true believers yet as the story draws to an end they are confronted with a hard teaching. We discussed last week that Jesus spoke in spiritual terms of his sacrificial death but the Jews could not see this and because of this we see this week that many of them left and deserted him never to walk with again. I propose they left because they did not believe in Jesus as the Son of God, the Redeemer of man but rather in Jesus the miracle worker and good teacher. So when the teacher began speaking things that were offensive they left. The issue was in whom they believed. Only trusting faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God is capable of salvation and only the Spirit of God living inside us can grant us the strength to weather lives storms. Turn with me to John 6:60-71 as we seek to answer the question In whom do you believe?

John 6:60–71 ESV

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in 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 have 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 twelve, “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 have 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 twelve, was going to betray him.

Crisis of Faith

John 6:60–63 ESV

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in 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 have spoken to you are spirit and life.

Jesus has just confronted them with the idea of eating his flesh and drinking his blood for salvation and as we discussed last week this was speaking of placing our trust in his spiritual sacrifice on the cross for our sins. Yet the Jews did not understand and thus they came to a crisis of faith. I think everyone has a crisis of faith at somepoint in our walk with God, and contrary to what many think I don’t believe these are of the devil. I think many crisis of faith are from God challenging us to grow in our faith.

Jesus knew the people’s faith was misplaced they did not believe that he came from God they did not believe that he was the Messiah and they surely did not believe that he came to pay the price for our sins. Rather what they believed was that he could do miracles and he would heal them, feed them, and who knows maybe he would overthrow Rome. Yet Jesus wanted them to understand and trust in him as the loving God that came to die for them so that they might have a right relationship with Him.

Thus he begins challenging and stretching their faith. I Think God does this with us and eventually God draws a line in the sand and says either trust me and follow me or walk away. I think Jesus knew people were going to leave when he said these things I think Jesus wanted them to stay but he knew that some of them would not because they did not really trust him. Their faith was in something else not Jesus.

Jesus says I am the bread of life I am the bread from heaven I am the giver of life I am the source of life I am from the Father, Believe in me and you will have eternal life. Feed on me make me part of who you are take me into yourself again he is speaking metaphorically of spiritual truths using physical language. He says these things to challenge the crowds and his own disciples to examine their faith. I think Jesus is doing two things here He is strengthening the faith of the true believers and causing the nonbelievers to come to terms with their lack of faith.

Joshua 24:15 ESV

And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Why would Jesus want the nonbelievers to turn away. I think it was in the hope that one day they might come to true faith rather than play the game. Jesus knows some will even convince themselves that they are believers saying in the day of judgment Matthew 7:22

Matthew 7:22–23 ESV

On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Their faith was not in Christ.

Notice the crowds response.

Many Renounce God

John 6:64–66 ESV

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.

Many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.

Not only do the crowds leave but many of the disciples who had been with him left him over this moment.

In the crisis of faith those who do not truly trust Jesus will walk away because the cost is simply too high. It goes against their upbringing their way of life, its too hard, too much, it doesn’t make sense, on and on the list of excuses goes. Yet the real issue is always that they did not trust God, instead they trusted their experiences, their senses, the teachings of the world and science whatever it may be, they trusted something else more than they trusted the word of God. So they leave him. They become almost believers. People who almost believed unto salvation but never quite commited to him never quite could completely trust him. Always doubting and questioning. These almost believers often become the staunchest of opponents to God and Christianity, and few return to the faith.

Yet I am afraid the reason that few return may well be on the fault of Christians who react poorly to their friends and family desertion. Thus we alienate those whom we should be loving on and gently seeking to bring back the lost sheep.

Notice that it says Jesus knew those who did not believe and who would betray him yet he challenged their faith anyway that they might see the truth. Jesus focus was on bringing people to true salvation and he realized that even though some might leave because the truth was too much for them at that moment to not speak the truth now was to risk them never coming to true salvation. So he spoke knowing many would leave him and then he turns to the twelve and challenges them

The Response of Faith

John 6:67–71 ESV

So Jesus said to the twelve, “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 have 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 twelve, was going to betray him.

What about you my closest disciples will you leave me as well?

Listen to the response of faith from Peter

To whom shall we Go?

who else can offer what you offer who else can do what you can do and who else offers salvation?

You have the words of eternal life

You speak the word of God, your teachings are the ways of God and tell us how to gain eternal life, I have no salvation outside of you

We have believed

I trust you and your word I don't have to understand it I don't have to have all the answers even when it doesn't make sense you said it that settles it and i’m gonna trust you.

Not only that but I have come to know that you are the Holy One of God

I have observed it with my own eyes I have experienced it and there is no doubt you are of God. God must be working in your life for no one else could do these things that you do no one else speaks the way you speak, and no one else has the hand of God on them as you do.

Now a response like that we would expect Jesus to pat Peter on the back and tell him Good job but notice Jesus response is a humbling one. Did I not choose you

You did not choose me I chose you, your faith Peter is possible because I chose you.

It is important to remember that God chose us that he desired us. Thus as we walk through the crisis of faith or though trials of life we can take heart that God is with us and he wants us and desires the best for us therefore whatever mess we may be going through if we will trust him He will turn it for our good. Romans 8:28

Romans 8:28 ESV

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Invitation

Ultimately the issue is in whom or what will we put our faith? Will we trust God or will we trust someone or something else? It may be this morning that God is challenging you this morning you are walking through a crisis of faith at this very moment. I encourage you brothers and sisters to trust God, the same God that rescued daniel from the lions den, gave david the strength to face Goliath, and enabled 12 common everyday men to change the world is watching over you and strengthening you for the challenges ahead. Will you trust him today?

Yet maybe you have never trusted God before and you wonder if he could love and forgive you, listen to these words Romans 5:8

Romans 5:8 ESV

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God loves you and wants you to have a relationship with Him so he sent Jesus to pay the price for your sins so you could be forgiven and live forever with him in Heaven. Will you choose today to place your trust in Jesus sacrifice on the cross and accept his death on your behalf that you might be forgiven of your sins. Accept him now as your Lord and master trusting him and his teachings to be the light in your life and you too can experience the joy of salvation.