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Sermon Introduction

The Lord Jesus made it clear that those who believe have eternal life, and those who genuinely believe come from the Father (John 6:36-37). In response to the people’s reference to the manna in their history, Jesus clarified that the ancestors ate the manna but still died, yet whoever eats the bread from heaven will live forever. He was referring to those who would believe in Him. Jesus pursued the metaphor of flesh and blood further, but the people found it difficult to understand. The people grumbled about His metaphor and explanation, but He continued to explain that unless the Father draws them, they cannot believe.

Ed Pilapil Jr.
Senior Pastor

John 6:52-65

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”.

Notes

The Lord Jesus made it clear that those who believe have eternal life, and those who genuinely believe come from the Father (John 6:36-37). In response to the people’s reference to the manna in their history, Jesus clarified that the ancestors ate the manna but still died, yet whoever eats the bread from heaven will live forever. He was referring to those who would believe in Him. Jesus pursued the metaphor of flesh and blood further, but the people found it difficult to understand. The people grumbled about His metaphor and explanation, but He continued to explain that unless the Father draws them, they cannot 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.” 59 Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum (John 6:52-59).

1. Hard Saying

   The disciples reacted to His words. They thought it was difficult to understand and listen to such words. The author referred to many disciples. Some might be from the Lord’s core group or the pseudo-disciples from the crowd.

   
   60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” (John 6:60).
   
   

2. Spirit Gives Life

   Jesus addressed their grumbling by asking if they were offended by His teaching. He then gives a what-if question related to His ascension. It was like saying, if this teaching offends you, wait until I explain the ascension, which was probably harder to understand. Then Jesus introduced the Spirit, whom He connected to His words, which are life.
   
   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 (John 6:61- 63).
   
   

3. Unless the Father

   Jesus knew who did not genuinely believe: the fake disciples and fake believers. He also knew who would betray Him, Judas Iscariot. The Lord repeated a truth that He already explained that no one can believe in Him unless the Father grants it.

   
   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” (John 6:64-65).

Application

1. Surrender to Scripture

   There are hard sayings in Scripture. Some are difficult to understand and sometimes difficult to accept. What should we do? We must surrender to the Holy Scriptures. Otherwise, we will grumble and complain about the difficult teachings of the Bible.

2. Know the Spirit’s Role

   The text reveals the unity of the Father and the Spirit. As the Father gives genuine believers to Christ, the Spirit gives life. John revealed the unity of the Father and the Son; now we see the unity of the Father and Spirit and the unity of the Son and the Spirit. The Spirit gives life, which is also the eternal life that the Son spoke about.

3. Understand Why

   Why did Jesus state that no one can come to Him unless the Father grants it? Based on the text, He said such because some did not believe and because He knew about the one who would betray Him, Judas Iscariot.

Reflection & Discussion

1. What was the hard saying? Elaborate.

2. Explain the context when Jesus introduced the Spirit who gives life.

3. Why did Jesus repeat the previous statement about the Father’s role?