A Difficult and Hard Saying

Basket for Fairview Middle School teachers

Introduction

There are certain rites of passages we have to take, or that are afforded to us as we get older and are afforded opportunities to experience new things. They range from the formal:

Quinceanera (Latin culture) or Sweet 16 (U.S. culture)

Bar Mitzvah (Jewish)

Confirmation (Protestant)

Baptism (Protestant and Evangelical)

Military Culture in Marines getting pinned or getting stripes on the pants; Navy enlisted who make the rank of Chief… there is a process they go through.

To informal:

Driving

Getting that first job

Going off to university/college (pledge to sorority or fraternity)

Jr. High students moving into High School youth group

Short term missions trip where the national people would introduce us to the most disgusting cultural food/drink they could think of. Loving to watch us squirm.

All of these things are to usher an individual from moment, to another where they are more equipped, supported, and/or ready to move into a different phase of life.

In our passage today, Jesus speaks to what must happen for those who would follow Him to abide in Him. In the abiding there is salvation for the soul. It’s not an easy moment that we find in our text, Jesus is rocking the boat, ruffling feathers, sifting the hearers that day.

He is speaking to the people of Capernaum, in his town that many think was his base of operations. In the synagoge, a place much like here where people gather to worship to hear from God.

What might Jesus speak to us today? What might Jesus challenge us with this morning?

If you are able, would you stand with me as I read our text this morning. John 6:41-58.

This is the word of the Lord. Let us pray. Please be seated.

Missing God’s Work In The Familiar

You’ve heard me speak on it before… some develop a hunger for the supernatural and miss God in the natural. Those who have an over realized eschatology; where they expect what will be in the Kingdom of Heaven to be all the time in the here and now. I’ve been with those that have seen the supernatural in third world countries and because we don’t see it on a regular basis here, there must be something wrong with our faith. Missing out or disregarding that the medicine, technology, transportation (medical flights) and such are a gift from God… a miracle if you will… want other cultures, countries, and communities long and pray for.

We can look at the book of Acts, and I can hear conversations I’ve had with people, asking, “Why don’t we see the book of acts today?” The book of acts is 28 chapters that are filled with miracles, sermons, and the happenings of the early church. It covers 28 years, from 33CE to about 61CE. Does God still heal, yes. Does God still bring transformation, absolutely! Does God still transform lives, bringing them from darkness into light? Yes, every day. The exhortation today is also found in

Matthew 5:14-16 ““You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Paul lists in this next verse what it looks like for the Christian, the follower of Jesus in the world:

Romans 12:9-21 “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on their head”. Do not repay evil for evil, but overcome evil with good.”

It’s in the day to day that life transformation takes place. Does God interrupt with miracles, yes, but the call is to live and look for the beauty and grace in the mundane.

We think that we have to serve God “out there” in foreign lands, in foreign places, when we miss the mission field right next door, in our work space, or in our play place.

Worse and probably the most common is, how can God use an ordinary person like me? I have nothing to offer, I’m not a pastor, I’m not an evangelist, I’m not like Beth, Jackie, Tim, or those who are really gifted. Yet the same Holy Spirit has sealed you, redeemed you, sanctified you, and desires to lead you.

Let me remind us that the Spirit of God that was in Jesus is in those who follow Him as Lord. To which God the Father says, “This is my beloved son/daughter in whom I am well pleased!”

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

Jesus’ contemporaries were arguing with themselves over what He has been preaching (vs. 41)- The Jews grumbled against him, (vs. 42)- We know who his parents are, (vs.52)- disputed among themselves.

It’s so easy to dismiss the work of God because we think we understand what is happening. I’m still in awe of our collective hubris as to who God will use and what He will do. As if we can predict what God will do… but you say, “we have His word”. Yes, so did the Jews… did they understand, did they get it? I don’t think so. Not the majority.

Often times we judge others based on our perception. We allow that perception then to fill in everything about person and we can then stop seeing the person as a person and threat or even a problem to be fixed.

The people of Capernaum are completely missing what who Jesus is and what God is doing. Will we miss it? Will it look like what we think it will? History tells me that it takes that humble person to be open to the move of the Spirit… that it doesn’t look like what everyone would expect.

When Crystal and I were first married we took our honeymoon to Mexico. This was before the days of smart devices and smart phones. We were in the airport waiting for our flight, and we had our Bibles out reading them. We had a layover in Las Vegas. While were waiting there were two German men across from us. They were speaking to each other in German. It had been a year or two since I had left Austria, I lived there for four years. Their attention at one point turned to us and saw that we were reading our Bibles. They laughed and ridiculed us in German… what they didn’t know is that I understood what they were saying. I prayed and asked the Lord what I should do… one got up and left for the ticket counter at the gate. I thought, well if they engage again in making fun of us, I’ll say something. Sure enough, when the one who got up came back they continued again. I spoke to them in my imperfect German, something to the effect of… “Excuse me… my German is not that great, so please forgive me. Have you ever read the Bible? It is an amazing book that speaks of God’s love for you and me. You should really take time to read it.” I’d like to think God used that to grab their attention.

Let us not assume we know what God is doing based on our presumptions, but to ask Him, seek Him, and allow Him to lead us in ways that will honor Him and love others. I think we are safe in uncovering His will if it loves Him and loves others.

That is what the Jews did with Jesus. We must take care that we never neglect a message from God because we despise or do not care for the messenger

Barclay, W. (2001). The Gospel of John (Rev. and updated., Vol. 1, p. 255). Saint Andrew Press.

The Temporal is a Shadow of the Eternal

It is God’s work (Starts, Sustains, Seals): Jesus rebuked their grumbling rather than answered their objection (43), although when he pointed out the necessity for the Father to take the initiative, he was virtually telling them that they were out of step with the Father (44). They needed a spiritual revelation to understand Jesus’ words. This was further underlined by an appeal to the prophets (45). The passage quoted is Is. 54:13, which describes the triumph of the Servant in his kingdom. It endorses the view that the initiative is with God. Yet God’s revelation comes only through Jesus, since he alone has seen God (46). The need for faith is again stressed. V 47 echoes the language of 3:15.

Guthrie, D. (1994). John. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 1039). Inter-Varsity Press.

Eat and are still hungry: He points again to the Exodus. We see that Jesus is bringing them back to a time and circumstance that they are very familiar with. But God was leading them in the last Exodus from sin and death. Asking them to put their trust in Him.

“Just like the people who witnessed the temple clearing, these people saw Jesus’ sign yet promptly asked for another, making it clear that they failed to perceive the true significance of the original sign (6:31; cf. 2:18). Rather than perform another sign, Jesus proceeds to elaborate on the significance of the sign he has just performed. When he did this previously, he identified his body as the true temple that he would raise in three days. Here, he identifies his body as the flesh and blood that would be given for the life of the world, the nourishment that people must eat and drink in order to receive eternal life.

Rather than clamor for additional signs, demanding ever more evidence for the truthfulness of Jesus’ claims, people should come to terms with the evidence he has already provided. An unbelieving attitude that keeps demanding “Give me a sign!” will never be satisfied. In contrast, those who pause to thoughtfully consider the evidence before them will likely find that the evidence they have is more than enough to render a confident verdict. And let’s remember—none of us has absolute certainty in a given matter when making a decision. When you buy a car, rent an apartment, or commit to marry the person you love, do you have perfect information? No, you don’t. But you don’t let that keep you from buying that car, renting that apartment, or marrying that young man or woman. When he calls us to follow him, Jesus presents us with a similar decision. And he doesn’t expect us to take a blind leap of faith; he graciously supplies us with abundant evidence that his claims are true. So what are you waiting for? This is an abiding lesson that pertains to us today just as it did to people in Jesus’ and John’s day.”

Köstenberger, A. J. (2021). Signs of the Messiah: An Introduction to John’s Gospel (pp. 94–95). Lexham Press.

Their forefathers ate in the dessert and they died… but if they would but yoke themselves to Jesus they would find the life they had been longing for.

Eat from the Bread of Heaven/Life, death is not the end: Death is not the end any longer. 2 Corinthians 5:8 “Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”

John shows that the feeding is the mere outer shell; the heart of the feeding is the person doing the feeding—Jesus himself. The physical bread the multitudes are given to eat is nothing but a pointer to the spiritual bread, the Lord Jesus Christ, who came down from heaven to give his life for people as the Lamb of God (cf. 1:29, 36) so that, by believing, they may become God’s children and receive eternal life (cf. 1:12).

Köstenberger, A. J. (2021). Signs of the Messiah: An Introduction to John’s Gospel (p. 96). Lexham Press.

Abiding In Life

This whole discourse is to call us to action. What will be believe? What will we do? The eating of Jesus’ flesh and drinking His blood was not a call to cannibalism but what He was going to do on the cross. What He was going to invite His followers to instituting communion, the eucharist, where they would proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. Many would abandon Him, as their forefathers did in the dessert.

God led them to the promise land and the did not believe that God was going to give it to them, but that there were giants in the land that were going to overwhelm them… they didn’t believe God and wandered the dessert for 40 years. Will that be you? Will you believe God at His word? Will you enter into that covenant love that you believe what He says and commit your life to Him? Whoever partakes from Him, abides in Him and in Him is life.

What does it mean to abide in Him? Later we will be given that picture of a vine and a branch… a limb and a trunk… to remain in Him, allowing Him to be our source of life, strength, wisdom, and understanding.

We will see next week (and I hope you read ahead) that often times Jesus’ ministry is marked by those who leave, those who find it too difficult. This time is no different. We often see crowds that look for Jesus because of what He can do for them rather than seeking Him for who He is.

When we think about abiding in Him, it means to do the things that He did. He loved people well. He sought out the unlovable (Woman at the well in Samaria: John 4). He went to the rejected and forgotten (Lame man: John 5). He covered the shame of those in whom were almost exposed (wedding at Cana: John 2). He sought to sit with people in Grace and Truth. I want to be known as someone who was filled with Grace and Truth. I want to be part of a church that loves people well, that values and plants itself on truth. That we would continue to do that.

We will make mistakes… it will be messy… though as we will see next week that the twelve stayed though many others left… they still didn’t get it completely. It takes time. It takes abiding and allowing time to mature and bring about the beautiful tasty fruit of the Spirit that allow people to taste and see that the Lord is good. It requires us to abide.

It requires us to yield our lives to Him, to abide in Him, and seek to be about what He would have us to do… loving Him and loving others.

Please stand. I want to invite the elders, deacons, and staff down that are here this morning and they are here to pray with you. If you want to yield your life to the Lord this morning, if you are continually empty and want the Bread of Life this morning, come down and pray with those who are here. If you need prayer over another instance or circumstance, please know they are here to pray with you.