We continue now where Jesus had just told the multitude that he will give his flesh which is the bread of life as a sacrifice so that the world may live. This is where we will continue today.
John 6:52-71 (ESVST)
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.
Here Jesus gives the benefits of believing in him and the danger of not believing in him. First the danger of not believing is simply this, whoever does not believe, has no life in him. His spirit is dead. Now for the benefits. Whoever believes in him:
1) has eternal life and Jesus will raise him up on the last day
2) abides in Jesus and Jesus abides in him
3) he will live because of Jesus
4) he will live forever
As you can see, the benefits outweigh the consequences. Also note here that Jesus does not say if you believe in me you will be healed physically, you will have a breakthrough, you will be delivered, you will have money, you will find a job,etc, nothing of the sort. Jesus promises nothing else except the four things I listed above. Don’t listen to false greedy teachers and pastors.
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?
Jesus after realizing that they were grumbling said, this is nothing, you are grumbling about this? He said, what if you saw the Son of Man ascending to heaven? What then? He is saying you should not even be grumbling about this, big and better is still coming, then what will you say then? Will you then believe? Is it what it will take for you to believe?
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.”
Then Jesus told them the words I have spoken to you which you don’t believe, are spirit and life. He says it is the spirit that gives life, not the flesh. The flesh is useless. Yet you still don’t believe. Jesus continues to bring the issue if predestination again and he says, you don’t believe and that is why I said that no one can come to me unless God has granted him to do so. He says, I am not surprised that you don’t believe, it has not been granted to you to believe.
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.
Jesus is asking a question ” Do you want to go away as well? ” what is your answer? Is your answer the same as what Peter said above? Do you believe that Jesus has words of eternal life? Or Are you one of the disciples that turned back and not walk with Jesus anymore? Which one are you?