In the latest sermon in this series, we read Exodus 16 and John 6. Our aim was to see the Biblical-theological arc of the passage. John was pointing to Jesus as the fulfillment of the Exodus theme of manna, or bread, and water. The title of the message encompassed its conclusion: that Jesus is central to the Bible, the Gospel, and all things! 

Today, we will dig into the dialogue of that passage, specifically, what Jesus was teaching about salvation. We have read that the Jews were offended. No surprise there. That was a common theme in the book of John and the rest of the gospels. However, we will read today that many of those whom followed him were offended as well. The truth Jesus proclaimed was too large a pill for them to swallow. It was a hard truth that broke their allegiance to Jesus. Wouldn’t it have been better for Jesus to skirt the issue, to soften the blow, to bypass this hard truth because, well —  was it really necessary for salvation? 

Jesus thought it was necessary. He didn’t sell the gospel by half-truths. Nor did he pull his punch, or shy away from offending. Instead He fully revealed the gospel, in it’s totality. The general storyline of the gospel narratives was this: people love what Jesus can do for them, but they reject his word, his teaching. The signs he performed were there to give credence to his word, so that one would hear, believe and be saved. But the word of the cross was a stumbling block to Jews, and folly to gentiles. Thus, Jesus spoke in Matthew 11:6, “blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” 

The offense to man was twofold: what Jesus would say about man, and what he said about himself. The signs weren’t offensive, it was the word spoken that accompanied the signs. The test of faith is not whether you like what Jesus does for you, but whether you believe and submit to his word. True faith demands a Christ-centered epistemology. Your epistemology is the method of how you know what is true. Mankind relies on what they can think, feel, or comprehend; that’s a man-centered epistemology. Jesus’ testimony is something wholly other than what man would think, feel, or understand, for his knowledge is not limited, but complete. He sees the whole scope of humanity and is not limited by the finitude of life, for in Him is life, eternal life. Thus, He demands complete dependance upon him, and his word. Salvation requires a Christ-centered, word-centered epistemology. That means we bend to the Bible, lean not on our own understanding, but believe what God has said in His word as truth. It is the hard truths of the Bible that save you.

So, as we dive into the passage, I want to remind you of the context. It was near the Passover, and the crowds had gathered around Jesus. He fed them with 5 loaves and two fish. This confirmed in their mind that Jesus was the Prophet like Moses, who was fortold. They wanted to leverage him for their own agenda, and make him king. He withdrew, fled to the other side of the sea. They found him a day or so later in the synagogue. A conversation commenced. Jesus rebuked them, because they were seeking him for his miracles, to better their position now. He exhorted him with this—John 6:27-29: Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” [28] Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” [29] Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

The central idea of this passage is faith in the Son of God. Their response was to reject him because of his words. They liked his miracles, but didn’t like his teaching. This is where we pick up today. Let’s stand together, 

John 6:35-71

[35] Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. [36] But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. [37] All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. [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] For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

[41] So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” [42] They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” [43] Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. [44] No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. [45] It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—[46] not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. [47] Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. [48] I am the bread of life. [49] Your fathers 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. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. 

[52] The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” [53] 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. [54] Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. [55] For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. [56] Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. [57] 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. [58] This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” [59] Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.

[60] When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” [61] But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? [62] Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? [63] It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. [64] 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.) [65] And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

[66] After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. [67] So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” [68] Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, [69] and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” [70] Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” [71] He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him. (ESV)

We are going to look at the passage under the following headings: The Offer and the Indictment, A Particular Sovereign Salvation, The Offense of the Gospel, A True and Saving Faith, The Beauty of the Gospel

The Offer and the Indictment

[35] Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. [36] But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe…”

We see here both the offer of salvation and the indictment of disbelief. The offer extends to all. The offer is for salvation, and full satisfaction of the soul. The metaphor of bread and water represents what is necessary for life. As we’ve been meditating on this passage, we’ve come to know that Jesus was declaring himself necessary for eternal life. There is no other way to eternal life except by him, by feasting on him, loving him, and knowing him. His proclamation of the gospel is an invitation to come, as in Isaiah 55:1–3, 

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.” (ESV)

This is consistent in the gospels and epistles: whoever comes. The offer extends to all, but the manner in which one comes is not proud, but dependent. It is coming to him as one who is hungry, thirsty, in need. The one who comes recognizes their condition as one dependent, as one who believes they must and will receive.

But… Jesus also delivered an indictment. He laid bare the heart, for they had seen the signs, and yet did not believe. This also is consistent, and reminiscent of Isaiah 6, when the prophet was commissioned to go to the people of Israel. 

[8] And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” [9] And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’  [10] Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” (ESV)

The indictment from Isaiah was that the people would hear and see, but would not perceive or understand. The book of Isaiah is littered with Messianic prophesy, and the promise of redemption. The people of Israel would hear and see it, and yet not perceive it. They would hear the gospel, and not understand. 

This is what Jesus alluded to when he said, “you have seen me and yet do not believe.” You see me, but do. Not perceive. You hear the gospel, but do not understand. 

How is it that God’s people, who have the law and the prophets, the covenants and promises of God, are deaf and blind to His Messiah? Has God then failed? Is God not able to complete His promise? Has the disbelief of the people of Israel thwarted the plans and will of God?

No. How so? Because what the Father ordained is…

A Particular Sovereign Salvation

[37] All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. [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] For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

All that the Father gives… 

That speaks to a particular people, doesn’t it? Jesus contrasted those Jews whom came to him for bread, and those whom belonged to him! Now, surely the earth in its entirety belong to the Lord, yet there’s a distinction between the peoples of the world and the people of God. And here, Jesus narrows the filter even more. If you don’t come to me, that’s because the Father hasn’t given you to me. To put it another way, the Father has chosen for me a Bride, and he is particular. Not just any bride will do!

This is not the only reference to a particular people. The idea of particular election by the Father a central thread in the storyline of Scripture. It begins as God chose Abram, a pagan moon-worshiper, and called him out to serve him (Jos 24:2-3). His election continued with Isaac, the child of the promise, instead of Ishmael (Gen 21). Jacob, not Esau (Gen 25:23, Gen 26, Mal 1:2-3, Ro 9:13). 

But this theological thread of particular election continues in the New Testament. Both to the exclusion of some, and inclusion of others. As we continue in the book of John, we will see more scripture that speaks to the particular people given to Jesus. One example is in John 10:25-30

John 10:25-30

[25] Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, [26] but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. [27] My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. [28] I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. [29] My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. [30] I and the Father are one.” (ESV)

Lastly, on the night Jesus was betrayed, he prayed these words to the Father in John 17:6: “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word…[9] I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.

There are many more passages that speak to election, predestination, God’s sovereign choosing. It is a particular salvation, and we will discover why this is good as we continue in this passage.

If the people of Israel, by and large, reject their messiah, then who comes to Jesus? All the Father gives to Him… Will come! 

The point Jesus was asserting was this: regardless of wether they believe, this crowd of nay-sayers, His plan of salvation will not be thwarted! Job 42:2  “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

Or Isaiah 14:24, 26-27:The LORD of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand, ...This is the purpose that is purposed concerning the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations. For the LORD of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?

Man cannot thwart the plans of God. Jesus will accomplish his purpose! And what was His stated purpose? To fulfill the will of the Father: 

John 6:38 [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] For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Continued disbelief… Rejection of the Messiah

[41] So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” [42] They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 

How does one come?

[43] Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. [44] No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. [45] It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—[46] not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father.

If no one can come unless they are drawn, have you ever paused to think on how, or why you have come to be a Christian? 

Charles Spurgeon said this on how he came to be a Christian: 

One week-night when I was sitting in the house of God, I was not thinking much about the preacher's sermon, for I did not believe it. The thought struck me, “How did you come to be a Christian?” I sought the Lord. “But how did you come to seek the Lord?” The truth flashed across my mind in a moment—I should not have sought him unless there had been some previous influence in my mind to make me seek him. I prayed, thought I, but then I asked myself, How came I to pray? I was induced to pray by reading the Scriptures. How came I to read the Scriptures? I did read them, but what led me to do so? Then, in a moment, I saw that God was at the bottom of it all, and that he was the Author of my faith, and so the whole doctrine of grace opened up to me, and from that doctrine I have not departed to this day, and I desire to make this my constant confession, “I ascribe my change wholly to God.”

The Father draws you. How did you come to know God? The Father has drawn you. He has revealed Christ to you. He initiated, and drawn you here. Further, the Father teaches and reveals the Son to you! Verse 45: And they shall be taught by God. Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. 

When Jesus asked Peter whom he thought he was, he responded (Matt 16:15–17), “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. (ESV)

Flesh and blood did not reveal the Christ, but the Father in heaven. He was drawn by the Father, taught by Father, and Peter’s eyes were opened to see Jesus as the Christ. Friends, know and understand that the wisdom of God is hidden from the wise of the world. It is the Father’s will that the Son be known, and he makes Him known to whom He pleases:

Luke 10:21–24 [21] In that same hour [Jesus] rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. [22] All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

It is a Sovereign and Particular salvation Jesus offers for those who believe. What then is it to believe?

[52] The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” [53] 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. [54] Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. [55] For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. [56] Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. [57] 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. [58] This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”

Flesh and blood is a Hebrew idiom for the entire person. In the metaphor, Jesus was saying, ‘this is an all or nothing salvation. You accept all of me, all of my word, or nothing at all. 

There is no Bible with perforated edges, where you can tear out the parts that you find distasteful. Your sinful flesh is going to be offended. Your sinful flesh wants to maintain autonomy from God, and not be beholden, dependent, submissive, to anyone! This was the sin of the garden. Adam and Eve wanted autonomy from God, in order to be like him, instead of under him. They wanted complete autonomy of choice, to be able to choose the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, of their own volition, with no restraint or confining power over them.

Friends, the Jews were offended at the words of Jesus. So were many who called themselves disciples!

The Offense of the Gospel

[60] When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” [61] But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? [62] Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 

[63] It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. [64] 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.) [65] And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

[66] After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.

The Jews took offense first to what Jesus said of himself: that salvation came through believing in Him. Recall their question in vs 28–29

[28] Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” [29] Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” (ESV)

They were offended. They could not get past their own pride. They could not bend their will to bow before Him as the author of truth. They wanted to sit on the judgement seat and decide what was true. Nor could they attribute their salvation to another man. They would have insisted the election of God, being a physical fleshly descendant of Israel, and their ability to keep the law, secured their salvation. Jesus’ response blew that theory out of the water. He was stating that their nationality would not save them. Their apparent obedience, adherence to the law, would not save them. They must come to Him and believe. They must come to him and eat of Him, learn of Him, believe Him. 

They were offended. And that offense will land them on the wrong side of the wrath of God. Church, we must accept what God has said about who He is and who we are. If you don’t, you’re committing the same sin of disbelief as the Jews in this passage, the ones whom Jesus says are not His bride. If we persist in leaning on our own understanding, and not submitting ourselves in obedience to Jesus, we will be the ones who raise the fist at God in anger in the Last Day, hiding in the cliffs from His wrath, instead of the ones who raise the hand in praise and glory when Jesus comes on the clouds.

This kind of belief is important, because it is the only one that reflects…

A True and Saving Faith 

[67] So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” [68] Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, [69] and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” 

What is the right response? It’s that of Peter. Though the world reject you, Lord, though many take offense, though what you say of me cuts to the core and offends my flesh, to whom shall we go? 

The faith of the saved recognize that all other paths fail, all other powers fail, that they themselves are fraught with failure. The faith of the people of God recognize there is no salvation outside of Jesus. There is no life outside of Jesus. That He alone has the words of eternal life. The WORDS, friends, we cannot accept the cross of Christ and deny His words! His words are that of eternal life! Deny His words, deny eternal life!

We have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.

This was the stumbling block of the Jews. Jesus was the capstone, the cornerstone, that the people rejected. The whole building is held together by the capstone. If the capstone doesn’t exist, the building will fall in and crush those inside. If the words of Jesus aren’t accepted, if you balk, refuse, reject, the truth of His word, you reject His salvation. You don’t really believe, you haven’t really come to know, that He is the Holy One of God. If this is you, you’re just here for the bread. You’re here for what Jesus can do for you, not for whom He is.

But for those who believe, there’s great promise in His word. This is the promise of verse 37: All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

For those whom have come to know and believe Jesus’ words, he offers great reward. It’s better than bread. It’s better than mortal life. God offers himself, for all eternity. He offers a home, where you are loved and belong, where the voices down the hall are those of beloved and humble friends whom run to Jesus. It’s an identity wrapped in the arms of Christ, hidden in the chest of the Father. It’s a security that is impenetrable, unchanging, glorious, warm, bright, for all eternity. This home is yours— under His reign and rule, eternally secure, forever.

It’s only secure because His word is unchanging.

Friends, I want to implore you to see the sovereign saving power of God as sweet to your soul. Though it offends your flesh, though it confounds your understanding, I want to press upon you the beauty of His mercy.

The beauty of the gospel is not your free will. Man’s pursuit of free will is what the serpent used to draw Adam and Eve into sin. The beauty of the gospel is His mercy. It is this: while you were an enemy of God, Romans 5:10, you were reconciled to God by the death of His son, and are now saved by His life. In our parent’s pursuit of freedom, they became slaves, slaves of sin! While we were slaves to sin, we were only free from righteousness (Ro 6:20). The redemption of mankind is freedom from sin and death, which comes only through Christ, as he brings all things, all people, to willing submission under His authority. That is the offense of the gospel: that you are subject to a King, His will, and saved by His grace, for Him and through Him— alone! 

Be careful to what you take offense. Do not reject the truth that saves you.