A Tour Through John, Lesson 14

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.6:37 Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; 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 This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.”41 Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43 Jesus answered them, “Do not complain among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.The Jews could not conceive how Jesus could be both man and God (v.42). This classic question in theology was the focus of debate for two centuries in the early church!This concept was hard for fleshly man to accept.For most people, on "channel 2," spiritual bread (a "channel 1" concept) was hard to comprehend.The notion of eating flesh and (especially) drinking blood would have been shocking to an orthodox Jew.The grumbling is like that of the Jews in the desert (e.g. Exodus 16-17; Numbers 14; 16).Jesus tells them to stop grumbling (v.43), and adds several vital truths.We must be drawn to God (v.44). This does not necessarily support Calvinism.  12:32 shows that this takes place through the power of the Cross.God will force no one, though the force of the Holy Spirit will transform anyone open to the truth. (See also 7:17.) I compare it to waterskiing. The boat "draws" you, although never without your permission.2 Thessalonians 2:13-15 is helpful in explaining the biblical doctrine of election, as is Luke 5:31-32.31 Jesus answered, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; 32 I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.”13 But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.For a critique of Calvinistic predestination, click here.We will be taught by God (v.45), as Isaiah 54:13 had prophesied. (The implication is that Jesus is God.)Faith is essential for everlasting life (v.47).46 Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; 55 for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. 56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” 59 He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.This message was taught by Jesus in the synagogue of Capernaum.The capacity of the structure would have limited the crowd to the hundreds -- not the thousands, as in Luke 12:1.Note: The early church ruled that Christians must not ingest blood (Council of Jerusalem, Acts 15).60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” 61 But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But among you there are some who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. 65 And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.”"This is a hard teaching" (v.60) refers to everything from verse 35 onward. This is the very response of men and women even today who find undiluted Christianity too inconvenient for their lifestyles.Jesus knew this message was offensive to some (v.61), yet never waters it down. Rather, he asks us whether we are willing to keep following him.Jesus' ascension (40 days after Pentecost) would prove that he spoke the truth, and that these words must not be compromised.People tend to serve their own interests, attempting to work their way to God on their own terms. This is the flesh. Yet without openness to the Spirit, we gain nothing. Humanistic religion is ultimately worthless.Jesus' words bring life (v.63).Those who did not believe were known to Jesus from the beginning (v.64).They were not enabled by the Father (v.65) because they did not accept Jesus and his message.God's sovereignty does not override free will, and yet he knows all our thoughts and actions -- past, present, and future..66 Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. 67 So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” 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." 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? Yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He was speaking of Judas son of Simon Iscariot, for he, though one of the twelve, was going to betray him.Then comes the mass defection.When the majority of the crowd finally reject the demands of discipleship and depart (v.66) -- unless this is describing a different occasion -- hundreds were walking away from Jesus.The crowds who wanted to make Jesus king by force (6:15) vanish when he shows that his kingdom is not of this world.And he did nothing to try to bring them back! (No P.R. expert was brought in to make the gospel message more appealing.)Those who have heard Jesus' voice know that there is nowhere else to go!And yet Judas left (vv.70-71). Every generation of the church is called to keep the faith of the apostles, and not join the error of Judas.Peter's response (v.68) are words many of us have felt when following the Lord has been difficult: "To whom shall we go?..."Judas is described as "a devil" (vv.70-71). While there was still (theoretically) hope for him at this point, in time he would cross the point of no return; Satan would "enter" him (Luke 22:3)Have I ever been tempted to walk away from the Lord? If yes, what prevented me? Am I regularly feeding my faith so that when the going gets tough, I am able to resist unproductive and irrational thoughts.