"Where Else Can We Go?"
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Snowboarding trip…only hotel left.
People in our lives that we call on for certain things:
If I need pastoral advice…I’ve got someone I call.
If he asked me: why did you call me?
My response would be: who else am I going to call.
Car problem: Call my mechanic.
Sports Trivia: My son Ethan
Something major happens in our house: I’ve got a friend I call.
Financial advice: I talk to my dad.
Cooking advice: well…I never cook.
Decorating: you don’t want me doing that.
Health: call my doctor.
Our minds:
Where else would I go.
Who else could I call:
Grandma—growing up
Jenny now
Transition to Passage
Transition to Passage
In our passage for this morning…the topic of eternal life comes up.
And Peter tells Jesus…when it comes to eternal life…where else would we go…where else could we go…you’re the only one who can help us with eternal life.
Title & Outline
Title & Outline
Title: “Where Else Can We Go”
Outline: 5 Points Pertaining to the Words of Jesus
Point 1: Jesus’ words are difficult (v.60).
Point 2: Jesus’ words offend (v.61).
Point 3: Jesus’ words are spirit and life (v.62-63).
Point 4: Jesus’ words separate (v.64-66, 70-71).
Point 5: Jesus’ words are our only source of hope (v.68-69).
Point 1: Jesus’ words are difficult.
Point 1: Jesus’ words are difficult.
60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?”
Hard Sayings
v.60—hard saying…who can listen to it.
Disciples make this comment.
What is a disciple?
J.P.’s comment:
Discipleship is common place in India.
Follow a guru (hindu spritual teacher): 1) Listen to their teaching. 2) Imitate their way of life.
Christian Discipleship: 1) Listen to the teaching of Jesus (found in the Word.) 2) Imitating His way of life. Obviously not the unique salvific things that he accomplished.
Discipleship defined: Learning from Jesus to live like Jesus.
Many Disciples
Many people who are following Jesus. They’re listening to his teaching and imitating his way of life.
They get this hard teaching.
What is the Hard Teaching?
What does hard…or difficult...mean
skleros: harsh…not hard to understand.
Not hard intellectually…hard to stomach.
Eating his flesh and drinking his blood.
Their response…I’m good. Thanks.
V.61—They were grumbling amongst themselves about this saying.
Grumbling and complaining…not just from those outside but from those within.
Application: Different Jesus
They wanted a different Jesus.
One who gave them good stuff..
Not one who called them to stomach hard truths.
William Cook: We can identify with this crowd in the fact that we find ourselves regularly seeking Jesus for what He can do for us rather than seeking Him for who He is. It is the difference of seeking His hand rather than His face.
Illustration
Truth that’s hard to stomach in our own lives.
Any illustrations from parents telling their children hard things?
Challenging subjects...
Application:
What hard sayings do you find in the Bible.
Have you encountered something recently that’s hard to stomach…Hard to apply in real life?
forgive as Christ forgave
bless those who persecute you...
Transition to Point 2:
Transition to Point 2:
Jesus’ words are difficult (v.60).
Jesus’ words offend (v.61).
Point 2: Jesus’ words offend.
Point 2: Jesus’ words offend.
61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this?
The disciples are offended?
Why were they offended?
Jesus’ words went against their traditions.
Jesus’ words went against their cultural practices.
Illustrations
Application: Are Jesus’ words offensive to you?
Are there ways that they rub against your traditions?
What if Jesus’ words went against a long personal belief of yours…would you be willing to change?
What if Jesus’ words went against a long tradition of the church…would you be OK changing?
Are there ways that his words fly in the face of our cultural norms?
Gender.
male and female.
Our identity and roles.
Absolute truth.
If Jesus is true…then all other religions are false.
Inerrancy
the Scriptures are perfectly true.
Exclusivity of Jesus.
Jesus is the only way to be saved from your sins.
Application: What should we do when Jesus’ words rub us the wrong way?
Own it.
Ask yourself why?
Does your thinking need to change?
Do your actions need to change?
What promises do you need
Application: Jesus’ words will offend people who don’t know him.
Be mindful that you’re not putting unnecessary stumbling blocks out there for people.
Either in your tone, behavior, or words.
Resign yourself to the fact that the gospel is an offensive message.
It’s a message that’s full of love, and grace, and hope.
But it’s also an offensive message
Because when we share it we’re telling people that they are lost and helpless on their own. That they are sinners before a good and holy God.
And there is only one way to be saved…through Jesus Christ.
Don’t lose the gospel
As a church, we need to be more concerned with holding fast to the truth…than we are with being uncomfortable about offending others…or else we will lose the gospel.
Application: Some Will Leave
Was Jesus’ ministry a success at this point?
Most of the people left.
What could he have done to have kept them?
Couldn’t he have done something?
Defining Success
What about our own ministry?
How do we define success.
Not by numerical growth.
If you change your ministry to get the most numbers possible…or because you’re afraid of offending anyone…it’s not going to be successful.
You might retain a lot of people (so through worldly eyes…it might appear successful).
According to God’s determination of success…he’s looking for faithfulness to Him and to His Word.
So in that sense…Jesus was perfectly successful…he always remained faithful to the Father.
That’s how we want to define our own success as a church…are we being faithful to God and His Word.
If so, then we can trust God for whatever results he wants to bring.
Transition to Point 3:
Transition to Point 3:
Some will come
Some will remain offended…even with these disciples…some left Jesus forever and remained offended.
Others…even if they’re offended for a while…and this was true with some of these disciples...
Others will see the splendor and glory of Jesus
They will see the life that’s presented in the Word of Jesus!
That brings us to our next point.
Outline:
Point 1: Jesus’ words are difficult (v.60).
PoInt 2: Jesus’ words offend (v.61).
Point 3: Jesus’ words are spirit and life (v.62-63).
Point 3: Jesus’ words are spirit & life.
Point 3: Jesus’ words are spirit & life.
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.
Jesus’ response to their offense
Leaning into his divinity
The son of man will ascend.
50 And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
This will prove to you that what I said is true!
The Cross Comes First
The road to glory goes directly through the cross.
An even harder, more difficult, truth to stomach.
That the Savior of the World, the Messiah, the Son of God, would endure a shameful sinners death.
Then rise…then ascend.
Spirit & Life
If you want life…it’s got to come from the Spirit…not the flesh
Holy Spirit of God
Agent of regeneration
New birth. He gives us spiritual life.
No hope in the flesh
Why is there no hope in the flesh?
Flesh is dead in sin and bound to sin.
The flesh…our sinful human nature…has no ability to save us.
We Need Gods’ Spirit to work!
And he uses the Word of God
To bring spirit and life
new spiritual life
Promise from Ez about new covenant?
19 And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 21 But as for those whose heart goes after their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their deeds upon their own heads, declares the Lord God.”
We’ve already seen a couple places in John where the Spirit is the one who brings spiritual life to the spiritually dead.
8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Application: The Spirit uses the Word
One of the chief tools that the Spirit uses to bring spiritual life is the Word of God. (v.63)
Hide God’s word in your heart.
11 I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
Take care whose words you are hiding in your heart.
Bring God’s word to others.
we often don’t have the words we need…but we can share God’s word and trust that the Spirit will use it.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Take care whose words you are bringing to others.
Bring God’s word to the lost.
Good reminder to share God’s Word with those who don’t know Him.
Be faithful to share…and trust that the Spirit will use it.
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Take care whose words you are brining to the lost.
Transition to Point 4:
Transition to Point 4:
Jesus’ words are difficult (v.60).
Jesus’ words offend (v.61).
Jesus’ words are spirit and life (v.62-63).
Jesus’ words separate (v.64-66, 70-71).
Point 4: Jesus’ words separate.
Point 4: Jesus’ words separate.
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.
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.
Jesus knows the heart:
Divine omniscience
He knew the hearts of every single person there.
He knew the hearts of his closest 12 disciples
Even when he called his 12 disciples…He knew from the beginning that Judas would betray Him.
Even before Judas had made up his mind as far as what he would do…Jesus knew what he would do.
Judas isn’t the only one who turns away from Jesus
Look at v.66—many of the disciples turned back and no longer walked with Jesus.
They’ve had enough...
Jesus’ teaching…His Words…the things He’s said
Brings about this separation.
who He is
The Messiah, the Son of God, the Savior of the World.
that’s when people get really upset.They Thought Following Jesus Would Be Different.
Why?
Because these words prohibit anyone…who is actually listening...
The words prohibit anyone from remaining on the fence.
They don’t allow you to remain a casual observer.
You’ve got to make an assessment.
Two Options
Word Separates
Not by gender, not by race, not by nation, not by giftings, or personality, or intelligence, or wealth, or class.
Separates according to belief.
Some believe
Some do do not believe…they reject Jesus.
Why Only Two Options?
If what Jesus is saying about himself isn’t true...
Then not one single person should
They thought being Disciples of Jesus would be different.
They thought his teaching would be different.
They thought his application for their lives would be different.
For many, they thought he was going to usher in the earthly kingdom of God.
They thought they would get a special place in this earthly life.
And things didn’t turn out like they thought…so they left.
Prove Not True Disciples
Prove themselves to not be true disciples.
True disciples press on to the end.
Makes the point again: v.65
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.”
If you aren’t drawn by the Father…you’ll end up falling away.
If you are drawn by the Father…you will press on to the end.
36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
Application: Is Following Jesus different for you?
I wonder if you’ve experienced that in your Christian life.
Has discipleship been different than you expected?
Have you been surprised by his teaching?
Have you been disappointed?
Has it been harder than you thought it would be?
Two options are still there: Separation
Leave
People we know who have left
William Cook:
“If one of Jesus’ closest followers will betray Him, we should never be shocked in our day to see those appear to be disciples of Jesus abandon Him. Judas saw Jesus’ signs, heard His sermons, traveled with Him for a couple of years, got to know Him in a way that few others did, and yet in the end betrayed Him.
Or press on.
My exhortation to you is: Stay the course.
Keep pressing on.
12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Transition to Point 5:
Transition to Point 5:
Jesus’ words are difficult (v.60).
Jesus’ words offend (v.61).
Jesus’ words are spirit and life (v.62-63).
Jesus’ words separate (v.64-66, 70-71).
Jesus’ words are our only source of hope (v.68-69).
Point 5: Jesus’ words are our only source of hope.
Point 5: Jesus’ words are our only source of hope.
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.
Jesus Challenges His Disciples
v.67—his words here aren’t from a state of discouragement.
Like Ee-Or from Winney the Pooh...
Well I guess you guys are gonna’ leave me too. Go ahead get on with it.
They are a challenge:
He looks square at his disciples…and essentially says:
Nows the time…if you guys want to go…you know where the door is…head on out.
Peter’s Response to Jesus
v.68: To whom shall we go?
Context of discipleship
No other teacher that has the words of eternal life.
v.69:
We have believed…at least Peter.
And many of the other disciples at this point...
Not Judas
Believed what?
and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.
Remember John’s Purpose
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 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.
Peter believes & so do they other disciples
Holy One of God
The Messiah…the Christ…The Son of God…The Savior of the World.
They believe the words of Jesus…and see them…they see Jesus Himself as their only source of Hope.
Incredible faith in Context:
John passage…what’s happened?
Disciples have seen:
Jesus deny an attempt to make him king.
They’ve seen all kinds of people now rejecting him...
The real Jesus is becoming clear to them...
And they remain with him, in faith.
Application: We are like the disciples.
I hope you can be encouraged on your spiritual journey by the disciples.
As you pass through this life as an elect exile.
A stranger in this life but called and loved by God...
That you take comfort from the disciples here.
Here’s Why:
Peter’s Belief
Peter makes this incredible statement of faith here.
Peter’s Unbelief
Unbelief…fall back into lies…fall back into doubt.
Like Us
Our Belief
Our Unbelief
What’s Required
Isn’t a perfect faith...
Isn’t an unwavering faith.
True faith....true belief.
If you have that…Jesus will hold you fast to the end.
Because he is your only source of hope.
William Cook: “Jesus alone satisfies the human heart. In a society that has experimented to the point of saturation with every form of physical, material, and spiritual painkiller to fill the inner emptiness, Jesus’ invitation comes with a wonderful relevance: ‘He who comes to me will not hunger and he who believes in me will never thirst.’”
Transition to Communion
Transition to Communion
Transition to Communion
That’s what we remember as we come to the table together.