John, Part 27
Series: Discipleship Will Cost You, Part 1
Passage: John 6:60-70
FOCUS: New series begins today on Discipleship and its personal cost
Discipleship means: process of becoming like Jesus; changing our focus
Being willing to give all of your preferences for Him is our common goal
Final passage from Capernaum; teaching at a synagogue; key truths unpacked:
• Only thing asked is to believe v29
• His body & blood bring true life v33
• If we have Him we shall never be hungry v35
• No one can come unless Spirit draws them v44
Read John 6:60-70 & Pray
v60 Why does the message of Jesus cause so many problems? It’s offensive!
We are offended by what Jesus is claiming: it hits at a deep, personal level
From rebellious sinners to false preachers: Jesus’s words are: aggressive to our desires
I feel like I need to add this: I’m not picking a fight with you!!
Your problem with this is not with me, but with the Author who spoke it!! PIC
This is what is drawing people in across the world today: The Truth of God
Why? We each have a hunger for Spiritual food … THIS is what we crave!
Where it is being presented faithfully, the Spirit WILL lead others to it!
RE: Jesus claimed to be God in flesh – NOT like invasion of the body snatchers
No - He removed His Divinity (Phil 2), took on our appearance, to come TO us
God spoke it, Mary became pregnant with a baby, and He walked with us
We were made IN His image; He was born BY the Word of God (not the same)
What does He speak? The Word of God and the truth it implies: HOSTILE to our apathy!
Consider: The actions & the sacrifice OF the cross should offend you!
Something inside us should be stirred: “… someone else had to pay for your sin!”
We could not do it; we needed someone else to pay our debt; we’re not righteous!!
Therefore … we are called to follow and worship the One who did! 1 Pet 3:18
APP: This is Jesus – the One who is teaching here; the One that challenges your plans!
Breathe … When Jesus said take and eat, He offered you to join Him John 1:12
No unusual moments here: John writes what he saw, so we could know also!
Look at the questions vv61-62 “Oh, you’re mad now? What about when …”
• Jesus refers to Himself as the Son of Man – gives Himself this name
• His actions will lead Him to being exalted by God to the highest places
• v62: “to Heaven again” … Greek: proteron; first or former (geography)
• Confessing: I am eternal; always will be, and I will return to Heaven!!
DEEPER: It means we will either submit to Him - or be held in contempt by Him
This is why teaching on discipleship is so brutal for us to effectively listen to
We either want to live this life the way He says - OR - we are not His at all!
It is why we constantly struggle to do what we should do (or to do what is right)
We are filled with sin, loaded with it, struggle against it, but in Him we can live!
WARN #1: Jesus knew not all the people who followed, believed! v64
What He had taught them (last four messages) presented them with a dilemma
“If I am truly God’s child, I will want to listen and follow this Man’s words …”
But No! Instead, what does mankind want? We want control! We crave our:
Worldly ego Recognition Fame of self Pleasures
Fleshly image People praises To be honored Earthly wealth
What does Jesus say about this? v65: We need a change from within (Spirit)
This is why v44 we had to be given to Him; we could not do it on our own!
APP: Only the Spirit can change us (them) – it’s the engine that helps us LIVE
RESULT: v66 Many departed and left; refused His words; didn’t want change
WHY: They were refusing what God offered and instead wanted their ways
They had their little life, their little hobbies, their success, their … EXP
So they doubted, they chose to decline, they politely put it off for another day, etc.
Now, see what Jesus does: Asks a powerful question: v67 “Are you also …”
It never once says that He went chasing after those to beg them to stay
He cut them loose, let them fall away, and focused on those who wanted God
ME: You don’t want the truth of God’s word, fine, you’ve heard it – now go
FREE: 1 Cor 9:16 (KJV), “… woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!”
Jesus did not chase after their devotion or even their gifts for ministry work
Why? Because He understood that without repentance - they’d leave eventually
When it comes to discipleship and living this life – this is where it STARTS!
Must choose who you will follow: Jesus or yourself – then act accordingly
Want to know why the more serious you get about God that people fall away?
Because not everyone can handle the change the Spirit is doing in your life
Not everyone needs to be at your dinner table who is not in “fellowship” with you
IMP: We don’t cast people out – but we aren’t devoted to them either!
We owe people love – we do not owe them personal, private, reserved access
TRANSP: This has happened right here in this room; still happens today; to me!
BTW, it’s perfectly fine … but at least you’ve heard the truth – I cannot chase you
This is what makes this teaching so hard; it is a reality check of who is in your life!
Many left Jesus because they could not separate His/The Truth from their SIN
Peter says in v68-69, “Lord, to whom would we go?” Honest man right there!
Peter believed Jesus was who He said He is -- He needed no other convincing
“Why would I go anywhere else but to One I believe in and follow?”
WARN #2: v70 “I chose 12, but one of you is a devil.”
• Judas was a chosen man, chosen to be saved and be a carrier of The message
• Yet, he is called an adversary, an enemy of Jesus, a betrayer – a hypocrite
• Before the Last Supper Jesus already knew the intentions of one of His own
BIG IDEA / Invitation Song
CH: If Jesus knew this about one of His own what does He know about you?
• Are you truly His and doing what He has called you to do?
• Do you hear His words and desire to follow Him? Are you?
• Or are you trying to make a deal with Him?
Discipleship is an act of surrender … this is what we will unpack
Truly, verily, amen … it is the heart of Jesus’s teachings we’ll walk through
- Pray
