Bread of Life Discourse Part 2

Intro: Last week we dove into one of Jesus sermon’s , The Bread of Life discourse. This weeks study will be part two of this sermon. Last week we saw how Jesus claimed to be the Bread sent from heaven, The Bread of Life. Jesus assured us that anyone that would come to him would never be cast out.

Well all this talk about being sent from heaven by the Father began to cause quite a stir, even among Jesus disciples.

John 6:41–42 CSB

41 Therefore the Jews started grumbling about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They were saying, “Isn’t this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”

Jesus responds to their question not by directly answering yet but rather with a sharp rebuke.

John 6:43–45 CSB

43 Jesus answered them, “Stop grumbling among yourselves. 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. 45 It is written in the Prophets: And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to me—

I. There are many who listen, but never learn.

The Phrase “And the will all be taught by God.” is a direct quote from Isaiah 54:13

Isaiah 54:13 CSB

13 Then all your children will be taught by the Lord, their prosperity will be great,

This passage of scripture describes the New Jerusalem in the same manner as in revelation. Why is that important? Jesus is point out them the instruction they have already recieved through the prophets . The prophets were all pointing toward Jesus, restoration of all creation.

You see it wasn’t because of a shortage teaching that they didn’t believe but rather they refused to hear and learn because of their disbelief.

Jesus than proceeds to tell them had they not hardened their hearts to the fathers call they would believe because

“everyone who has listened to and learned from the father comes to me”

How did he teach them? He taught them through the prophets.

III. There are many who are looking for an acceptable Messiah.

The Jewish people even today believe the messiah will be like a second Moses.

They believe he will be a special man, not God. God will allow this man to perform many signs and wonders. He will rebuild the temple. He will have great leadership ability and will unite the all the Jews under The Torah. He will return the nation of Israel to a prominent position and rebuild and reinstate temple worship.

He will lead the world into a utopian society.

They want a messiah of their own making. In fact the acceptable Messiah description seems to fit the same description of the false messiah, the anti-christ.

Jesus never sought to be acceptable to those with unrepentant hearts.

However, because we know that people want a Jesus custom made to their own liking, we often feel like we have to make him more acceptable. So often our approach to witnessing seems more like a marketing tactic then it does a us simply being witnesses of who he is and simply reporting what we have experienced ourselves.

We often have fallen into the trap of relying on clever tactics instead of just telling people who Jesus is, what he has done, and the promises he has made.

Jesus is not someone we market or sell.

How often do we try to create a socially acceptable Jesus?

We have the “Cool or trendy Jesus”.

In order for Jesus to be acceptable people need to see we are not like those bible thumping dweebs.

This has created disastrous results where we see to many large men standing behind the pulpit in skinny-jeans.

or

We have the “angerless Jesus” or “My Jesus doesn’t judge”

Jesus is the bread of life that must be consumed in order for us to receive eternal life. In other words, we must recognize him as the only source of life.

A. He is the only food that produces eternal life.

B. Twice Jesus told the listeners. Your ancestors ate of the manna and yet they still died.

But Even some of his own disciples seem to be embarrassed by his teaching and by him.

IV. Many of His So-called followers are embarrassed by him.

John 6:60–66 CSB

60 Therefore, when many of his disciples heard this, they said, “This teaching is hard. Who can accept it?” 61 Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, asked them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you were to observe the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 The Spirit is the one who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 64 But there are some among you who don’t believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning those who did not believe and the one who would betray him.) 65 He said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted to him by the Father.” 66 From that moment many of his disciples turned back and no longer accompanied him.

V. Jesus true disciples were not offended by Him.

John 6:67–71 CSB

67 So Jesus said to the Twelve, “You don’t want to go away too, do you?” 68 Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” 70 Jesus replied to them, “Didn’t I choose you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He was referring to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, one of the Twelve, because he was going to betray him.

So today I ask you to honestly search your heat and ask this question.

“Is the reason I do not witness because I am embarrassed of Jesus?”