DOES THIS OFFEND YOU?
JOHN 6:53-71
Introduction:
The Lord had declared Himself to be the Bread of Life. His “disciples” had declared that Moses had given them bread from heaven, but the Lord challenged that statement. It was God the Father who had given them the “true bread” from heaven.
Then Jesus had declared “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. (v. 53). This seemed to offend them.
Jesus, the Son of God, had become a partaker of flesh and blood as we are. Hebrews 2:14 tells us, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;” These Jews had a hard time with what he was saying to them.
I. THIS IS A HARD SAYING
A. These “disciples” began to murmur among themselves.
1. These were the “frequent hearer,” and those that followed him in public for the material blessings, John 6:26, “Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.”
2. Their murmuring seems to be the history of Israel.
a. Israel began murmuring soon after they left bondage in Egypt, Exodus 15:24, “And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?”
b. They murmured later because they missed the flesh pots of Egypt, Exodus 16:2, “And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:”
c. They murmured accusing the Lord of trying to destroy them, Numbers 14:2, “And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! 3 And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?”
B. Jesus’ declaration was a conflict for them.
1. Moses taught them not to drink blood, Leviticus 3:17, “It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.”
2. It was the practice of the heathen down through the ages.
II. THE JEWS WERE MISSING THE POINT
A. Does this offend you? John 6:61, “When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?”
1. The Lord knew their thoughts, John 2:24-25, “But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.”
2. Paul wrote that the crucified Messiah was a “stumbling block” to the Jews, 1 Corinthians 1:23, “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;”
B. These Jews DID NOT KNOW Jesus as the SAVIOR, John 6:64, “But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.”
C. Jesus knew them as UNBELIEVERS.
1. These, it seems, were not drawn by the Father, John 6:44, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
2. From that time these professed disciples walk no longer with Jesus, John 6:66, “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.”
III. WILL YOU GO AWAY ALSO?
John 6:67, “Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?”
A. Jesus framed this question to encourage their weak faith and Peter responses, John 6:68, “Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”
B. Peter spoke for the twelve of whom the Lord knew that one would betray Him, John 6:70-71, “Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.”
C. The Lord knew those who loved Him, for He had chosen them, Mark3:13-19.
D. He also knew who it was that was a devil, John 13:2, “And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him; 27And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.”
CONCLUSION:
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is an offense to some people. In our day it seems to be an offense to the majority, however, every man needs that Good News. Jesus know those that are His and make no mistake about it. However, He has given us the commission, saying, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15. The greatest blessing that a Christian can know is seeing someone come to know Jesus Christ as his or her Savior.