John 6:56-69 Just read it
• People way back had an excuse for not reading the bible. Bibles were very rare.
• They were handwritten by scribes so there were very few Bibles, until Herr Gutenberg invented the Printing Press. Then, mass productions began.
• People before the printing press learned Bible stories by preachers, or images on stain glasses.
1. If we read the Bible we learn about God the Great creator, Genesis Chapter 1: “When God began to create the heavens and the earth …”
• We will read about Adam and Eve in the garden, the Tower of Babel, Noah and the ark.
• We read about the lives of the patriarchs: Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Leah and Rachel.
• Some scholars call the story of Joseph the Joseph cycle: Joseph and his coat of many colors, sold into slavery, given up for dead, rising to the highest level of authority short of the Pharaoh — but deciding to use his powers for grace and forgiveness, rather than revenge.
• Deuteronomic Cycle Children of God are faithful, the people forget the covenant turn to other Gods and get in trouble, They cry out to God for help, God delvers by a judge, king, or prophet , the people return to following the covenant and god. This happens over and over !
• If we read we will discover laws to live by, accounts of wars and conquests, The Hebrew Scriptures give us super extraordinary acts of God forgiveness, retributions, acts of mercy, stories of Prophets.
1. Just read it, so we will believe
• Just read John 6:29 ”Believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:29)
• Just read John 6:35 “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty”
• If we read it We will believe He died so that we might live.
• If we read it we will believe He became sin so that we might be freed from sin.
2. The words of Jesus are sometimes shocking when we read it.
• Jesus says, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me”. (John 6:56)
• Jesus is really talking about spiritual nourishment.
• He is the bread of life, the one who satisfies our spiritual hunger.
• When Jesus told the fishermen drop your nets and follow me. What? Leave it all behind.
• Jesus said, “Deny thyself, take up your cross, and follow me”. Self, cross,
3. What we read about Jesus is sometimes hard to understand
• We just read, the folks in the text they start grumbling and complaining this is hard teaching, who can accept it?” (John 6:60)
• They didn’t know but we know Jesus the idea of “drinking blood”, The law of Moses forbade consuming blood,
• They’d spent their whole lives thinking one way about religion following laws of Moses
• So they walk away Change is difficult
4. Just read it Gods word gives life
• “It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63).
• Jesus describes his own words as alive, inspired by the Holy Spirit.
• In God’s word we find life. Life springs from God. God is life. There is no death in Him.
• Every action of God produces life. Every word of God produces life. Even trees plants in creation received life
• What is life? Life is every good thing. Life is blessings, life is abundance. Life is everything you could find in God’s presence. Life is healing and wholeness for your spirit, soul and body.
• Deuteronomy 30:19"I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
5. Just read it
• So we can believe in the one and only son of God
• Just read it some of the things in it may shock you, but some things in it will save you
• Just read it even though it’s hard to understand
• Just read it, it offers eternal life. God gave life to trees, plants, fowl, sea creatures, and God gives life to us
• Just read we will find hope in the Holy one of God
• 66 Some disciples have read it and many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him.
• 67 So Jesus asks us, like he did the disciples “Do you also wish to go away?”
• Since we have read it lets be like Peter 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can 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.
