Bread Of Heaven Series

What was so hard to take? He was saying, I’m God come in the flesh, I’ll provide your salvation at My expense but at the same time you need to know that not everyone is going to be saved.

E And so it says in verse 61 that they murmured. Those who study English call the word murmur an omnipedomiac word. And that means it says what it does. We have a few words like that. Like giggle or snort. The words say what you hear when it’s happening. And so all you would hear there was murmur, murmur, murmur. Nobodies saying anything out loud they’re just mumbling in a discontented way in a low voice. Murmuring is an expression of semi-quiet discontent. It’s what people do when things don’t go the way they want but they really have nothing to say against it. It’s not out-spoken disagreement but it’s the kind of mumbling that makes everyone they’re ticked off.

There are a couple of instances in the O.T. during the wilderness wanderings where God killed many of the jews for murmuring and as we come to the N.T. Paul says in Philippians 2:14, "Do all things without murmuring and disputing." God doesn’t like murmuring. We can honestly disagree with one another but if we murmur we’re just being disagreeable. The murmurer doesn’t care what’s right he’s just angry that he didn’t get his way.So this crowd murmured about His sayings.

F But look at verse 61 again. It says, “When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples murmured at it, He said unto them, doth this offend you? What if ye shall see the Son of Man ascend up where He was before?” I want you to get what He says here. When He says, what if you see me go back to where I came from He’s not referring to His ascension after His resurrection. This is more than that. I mean, why would they not want to see His ascension? So, what does He mean?

When I was in grade two or three we had a film one Friday afternoon about peanut farming. They went through the tilling and then the planting, the weeding and the watering. We watched the plants grow through time lapse photography and then they dug them up and picked the peanuts off the roots. Peanuts are like potatoes. They grow underground. The film was over and just for a laugh or to waste time because it was Friday the teacher turned off the sound and played the whole thing backwards. It showed the farmer taking the peanuts out of a bag and sticking them to the plants. Putting the plants in the ground and then watching the plants reduce all the way to seeds.

Now, keep that in mind and think about what Jesus said. He told them, you’re offended at my demands on your life but you haven’t considered the cost of your salvation from my perspective. I’m going to the cross for your benefit and not mine. So, what if I reversed time and took back my food, miracles, teaching, and virgin birth and then ascended back to where I was before? Would you be offended then? If there was no Savior and no plan of salvation at all?

G And then verse 66 says something very strange. It says, “From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.” Here are some of the saddest words of the N.T. "From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him." Where did they go? It just says they went back. Back to their homes and back to their empty religion. Did you notice who went back? Not the twelve but many of His disciples. And we wonder why they left? I think it was because they didn’t get what they came for. They wanted a leader who would give them everything and expect nothing in return. And I’m afraid we are seeing history repeat itself right before our very eyes. There are several books out now describing the baby boomer generation. Those are the people who were born between 1948 and 1965. This is the generation who has experienced nothing but prosperity in North America. Rather than having a sense of owing something for all they enjoy there’s a consumer mentality of wanting to help themselves to all that’s available.