John 6:1-3, 35-71 ~ Who can accept it?

John 6:1-3, 35-71

Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples.

35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

41 At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”

43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. 44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. 46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. 47 Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

52 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

53 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 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” 59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.


60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”

61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” 

For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”

66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.

68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh were you there when they crucified my Lord?
(Ohh, sometimes it causes me to tremble)
Tremble
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they nailed Him to the cross?
Were you there when they nailed Him to the cross?
(Ohh, sometimes it causes me to tremble)
Tremble
Were you there when they nailed Him to the cross?

Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
(Ohh, sometimes it causes me to tremble)
Tremble
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?

Well, were you there when the stone was rolled away?
Were you there when the stone was rolled away?
(Ohh, sometimes it causes me to tremble)
Tremble
Were you there when the stone was rolled away?

For those who Love Jesus, we picture people interacting with Him in Scriptures. We wonder where we would have been, if we had been a face in the multitudes - like Zacchaeus.

John 6 is a Fabulous Chapter 
                           and Jesus faces these things so we fully - completely - understand - Life does test us.

Intentionally.

God picks challenges for us like He did for His Son. Pastors face challenges with their disciples. Jesus did have challenges for the faithful - aren't we the good guys? Jesus faced grumbling from - the Faithful. 

If you grumble at God, This is Your Chapter.

When we face a problem the first question was ask ourselves - like a bear hunt - can we avoid this? Is it large?

God answers this quietly; remember with me, God spoke quietly to Elijah. 
Or like John's Gospel in the 6th Chapter -

7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

John 6 also includes a wonderful, wonderful "Thank You, Jesus!" part - 

20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

(Father, please let all our problems be solved quickly! Oonce we take You with us in prayer!!! In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen! Amen being in the so be it done in Your Will category. Amen.)


 

And God will let us hang like a loose sail until we -
24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.

Then God takes the blessings and asks if they are truly Searching for Him or comfort.
Surely those with loving hearts are looking for Jesus.
And Jesus proclaims HE is God and will follow His Path.
To which, the disciples vote with their feet - this sounds Icky not GLORIOUS.

29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

Jesus deals with
Following His own plan - with Wisdom
The faithful having doubt - with Diligence and Determination
The blessing-seekers coast in and out - Give them Time and Space with God believing the Best of His Children.
And Jesus still gets where He is going - Immediately and with Grace

Jesus the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.




Peter stays because - Peter loves Jesus. Nope. Peter philos - pal - loves Jesus. Peter told Jesus and the Words were recorded. Peter hangs in because of Wisdom. Peter sees the road goes much farther than just the road............

Peter has seen the Words of God are Life.

Romans 8:32
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Ephesians 2:4
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.

2 Thessalonians 2:16
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope

 Who can accept it?
... as we answer the challenges He would have us solve. And grow up to go Home to our Father God. In His Grace, we ask His Favor and Mercy to diligently guide and bless us each day. In Jesus. Amen.

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