DO YOU WANT TO GO AWAY AS WELL?
John 6:51-69
INTRODUCTION:
A. Let me begin this morning by congratulating our graduating High School seniors
B. Have you ever found yourself absorbed in a story?
1. Maybe you are a science fiction nut and find yourself on another planet.
2. Or maybe a historical romantic and see yourself in Rome or Venice in the 1800’s
3. These may not be for you, rather it is mystery or spy novels – battling foes and standing up for what is right or for a cause you believe in
4. Or perhaps you’re a western fanatic, taming the wild west and riding off into the sunset
5. I don’t know what you are interested in, but we find good stories interesting because they allow us to put ourselves into them and imagine what it would be like.
C. This morning we are here to put ourselves into the greatest story ever written – it is a true story epic proportions – the story of life – YOUR story
1. Now we do not have time to go back to the beginning, so we will pick it up by looking at a time in the life of the major character – Jesus Christ.
2. It is found in the Gospel of John, chapter 6
a. Jesus has come on the scene like a bull in a china shop.
b. His name is starting to become a household word – people are taking note of Him, but all are not happy with what they are seeing and hearing.
c. He has turned water in to wine, healed the sick, the blind and the lame, as well as feeding 5-8 thousand people with just five loaves of bread and two fish.
d. It is this last miracle that sparks a conversation concerning the bread of life.
3. Listen: John 6:51-69 from the ESV I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not as the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever."
Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum. 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 of no avail. 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."
4. It is an incredible story, don’t you think? We will look at it in just a minute - first,
PRAY: Let’s pray and ask God to put us right in the midst of it.
Let us begin this morning by taking a look at
I. JESUS’ LIFE STORY – Because it effects your life story
A. Jesus speaks first of a bread that cannot bring life.
1. Try to imagine you are a Jew – you have heard the story of the Exodus from Egypt.
2. It was a grand story of emancipation – freedom gained by the exercise of God’s great power.
a. There were the ten plagues, experienced by the Egyptians, but not the Israelites and
b. The destruction of Pharaoh and his great army in the Red Sea
3. This was followed by a celebration: we read about it in Exodus 15:1-6, Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.
4. And then they headed into the wilderness without fear!
5. Not long after the Lord provided them with manna – the bread that came down from heaven and it provided sustenance until they entered the promised land 40 plus years later!
6. It is this bread that Jesus makes reference to in John 6:58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not as the fathers ate and died.
B. Jesus Then Speaks Of The Bread That Brings Eternal Life
1. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. John 6:51
2. As Jesus speaks to the people he begins to get into deep things, for he continues the metaphor by saying: Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. John 6:56-57
3. Whoa! Are we reading a story about the occult?
a. What is this eating his body and drinking his blood stuff?
b. It is a metaphor – just like bread is necessary to the life of the physical – so Jesus is necessary to the life of the spiritual.
C. But many could not make the connection, they could not understand, so they decide to leave Jesus behind.
1. As they were walking away, Jesus turned to the twelve disciples and asked a question – still a valid question today, do you want to go away as well?
2. Will you leave me also? Will you leave me now? You don’t understand some things, so does that mean that you are going to forsake me, too?
Now let’s leave this story, which is history for just a minute and fast forward to today, and
II. YOUR LIFE STORY - Though I’m directing these words to our graduates, it applies to all
A. Each of us is still in the process of writing our life’s story
1. And the question is still Do you want to go away as well?
2. It is a possibility: estimates are that between 61-88% of graduating high school seniors will forsake the church and Jesus Christ by the time they are a junior in college – will this be in your life story?
B. Graduates, you are about to enter into another phrase of your life
1. This phase will afford you a lot more freedom – some of you will have more than others.
a. Those staying at home and commuting to school may have some home ground rules to follow
b. Those going off to school will have a little more freedom, with only some general school rules to follow.
c. And still others will be getting out on your own totally – you will think you are totally free but will soon learn that none of us are.
2. So it is now that I want you to think about your life’s story – how are you going to help write it?
C. Graduates, You have heard about Jesus your entire life.
1. You may be thinking there are some hard things to comprehend or figure out – maybe all that you have learned does not fit with what you see?
2. Let me assure you, you are not the first, as you have seen in our scripture passage.
3. But let me ask you: If you are going to turn from Jesus, to what or who will you turn?
4. Consider just a few possibilities – life story directions:
a. Atheism – there is no God – we are just a product of evolution, what is the end product? (Hitler and mother Teresa are equally good and right)
b. Materialism – my life is going to be about getting as much as I can for me – again, think of the logical progression – don’t care who gets in my way, if I want it I will get it, using people for personal gain
c. Hedonism – I’m going to seek pleasure in any form I can – again what is the natural outcome? Sex addicts, druggies, drunkards, gamblers
d. Socialism – everyone should have the same, but it never works like that – the human soul is evil: there will always be the haves and have nots.
e. Spiritualism – believe in God but no accountability – you might as well as build you a god out of paper mache for all the good it will do you.
D. Now let me show you the rest of the story – possibly your story
1. Jesus had asked the question, Do you want to go away, as well?
2. 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." John 6:68-69
a. You will find eternal life in no other place, other than Jesus Christ - Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
b. You might find an easier life in moderation of one of the other options – but not eternal life
c. You see Jesus has the words of eternal life
3. The story of life is found in the belief - faith – placed in Christ as the Savior and Lord, which in turn changes a life and gives it true dignity and worth, because it is united with the one who created it.
4. What ever your problem is with Christianity, it is not with Christ: it may be human examples, hypocrisy within the church, lack of knowledge or a combination of all three.
5. But I would challenge you to get into God’s word – search it out for yourself.
6. I believe you will find there is no one else like Jesus and you would be proud to be associated with Him: in this life and all eternity.
CONCLUSION:
A. I don’t know about you but I know how I want my life narrative to read 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' Mat 25:21 (NKJV)
B. As you take this next step in your life – think about things from an eternal perspective – in the long run it will be serve you much better.
