DEPARTURE OF THE SAINTS: WILL YE ALSO GO AWAY?
JOHN 6:60-71 (Lent)
Reading: Psa 19:7-11; Mat 11:1-6
Songs: no turning back, I’ll follow him
Theme: remaining faithful to the truth
INTRODUCTION
A. Every relationship faces difficult times. There will be times when they is up and times when they is down. There will be times when they are not growing and times when they are flourishing.
B. The same is true in the relationship between Jesus Christ and those who follow him. Let’s consider a few reasons some Christians turn away from Christ.
Discussion
I. DESERTION (6:60-65).
A. ... This is an hard saying ... (6:60-61).
KJV
60 ¶ Many <4183> therefore <3767> of <1537> his <846> disciples <3101>, when they had heard <191> (5660) this, said <2036> (5627), This <3778> is <2076> (5748) an hard <4642> saying <3056>; who <5101> can <1410> (5736) hear <191> (5721) it <846>?
Textus Receptus
60 polloi <4183> {A-NPM} oun <3767> {CONJ} akousantev <191> (5660) {V-AAP-NPM} ek <1537> {PREP} twn <3588> {T-GPM} mayhtwn <3101> {N-GPM} autou <846> {P-GSM} eipon <2036> (5627) {V-2AAI-3P} sklhrov <4642> {A-NSM} estin <1510> (5748) {V-PXI-3S} outov <3778> {D-NSM} o <3588> {T-NSM} logov <3056> {N-NSM} tiv <5101> {I-NSM} dunatai <1410> (5736) {V-PNI-3S} autou <846> {P-GSM} akouein <191> (5721) {V-PAN}
1. Many who had been following Jesus abandoned him because of his “hard saying” and no longer followed with him.
a. Many of those people were among those who had followed Jesus across the Sea of Galilee (Joh 6:2).
(1) They were eye witnesses to his miraculous abilities and were recipients of his feeding the over five thousand (Joh 6:1-13).
(2) They were so impressed with his physical ability they wanted to make him their king (Joh 6:14).
(3) Jesus being aware of their intent departed into the mountains (Joh 6:15).
(4) Later, finding him in Capernaum and questioning him, many concluded of Jesus was not the one for whom they had been waiting (Joh 6:22-25).
b. hard, Strong’s - 4642. sklhrov SKLEROS sklay-ros’; from the base of 4628; dry, i.e. hard or tough (figuratively, harsh, severe):— fierce, hard.
TDNT-5:1028,816; adj AV-hard 5, fierce 1-6 1) hard, harsh, rough, stiff 1a) of men: metaph. harsh, stern, hard 1b) of things: violent, rough, offensive, intolerable
For Synonyms see entry 5925
(1) The idea of the word is not that it was difficult for the people to understand the implications of what Jesus taught.
(2) The people were murmuring because they did understand the implications of what Jesus was taught but didn’t want to accept it (cf. Mat 11:6; 1Co 1:23; 1Pe 2:8).
(3) They couldn’t accept that the kingdom of God was not the physical - eating and drinking, but rather the spiritual - dying to self as he giving his life in sacrifice (Rom 14:17).
(4) Like the rich young ruler (Mar 10:21-22) they were not willing to accept what Jesus taught.
(5) They wanted a physical kingdom in which freedom from Roman domination was given as well as anything else needed.
(6) Like many today, the people to whom Jesus was teaching wanted a welfare state set up for them.
61 When <1161> Jesus <2424> knew <1492> (5761) in <1722> himself <1438> that <3754> his <846> disciples <3101> murmured <1111> (5719) at <4012> it <5127>, he said <2036> (5627) unto them <846>, Doth this <5124> offend <4624> (5719) you <5209>? {offend: or, scandalize, or, cause you to stumble}
61 eidwv <1492> (5761) {V-RAP-NSM} de <1161> {CONJ} o <3588> {T-NSM} ihsouv <2424> {N-NSM} en <1722> {PREP} eautw <1438> {F-3DSM} oti <3754> {CONJ} gogguzousin <1111> (5719) {V-PAI-3P} peri <4012> {PREP} toutou <5127> {D-GSM} oi <3588> {T-NPM} mayhtai <3101> {N-NPM} autou <846> {P-GSM} eipen <2036> (5627) {V-2AAI-3S} autoiv <846> {P-DPM} touto <5124> {D-NSN} umav <5209> {P-2AP} skandalizei <4624> (5719) {V-PAI-3S}
2. Jesus in helping his disciples consider where they stood in relation to him and those who had abandoned him, asked them if they were offended by what he taught.
a. It wasn’t that he didn’t know their minds for verse sixty-four makes it clear he knew who had believed and who would betray him.
b. offend, Strong’s - 4624. skandalizw SKANDALIZO skan-dal-id’-zo ("scandalize"); from 4625; to entrap, i.e. trip up (figuratively, stumble [transitively] or entice to sin, apostasy or displeasure):— (make to) offend.
4624 skandalizw skandalizo skan-dal-id’-zo ("scandalize") from 4625; TDNT-7:339,1036; v AV-offend 28, make to offend 2; 30 1) to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another may trip and fall, metaph. to offend 1a) to entice to sin 1b) to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey 1b1) to cause to fall away 1b2) to be offended in one, i.e. to see in another what I disapprove of and what hinders me from acknowledging his authority 1b3) to cause one to judge unfavourably or unjustly of another 1c) since one who stumbles or whose foot gets entangled feels annoyed 1c1) to cause one displeasure at a thing 1c2) to make indignant 1c3) to be displeased, indignant
5719 Tense-PresentSee 5774
Voice-Active See 5784
Mood - IndicativeSee 5791
Count-3014
c. His question to them was an exercise for awareness as when God asked Adam and Eve, “Where art thou?” (Gen 3:9), because they were spiritually stumbling over what he taught.
B. ... the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life ... (6:62-65; cp. Heb 4:12).
62 What and <3767> if <1437> ye shall see <2334> (5725) the Son <5207> of man <444> ascend up <305> (5723) where <3699> he was <2258> (5713) before <4386>?
63 It is <2076> (5748) the spirit <4151> that quickeneth <2227> (5723); the flesh <4561> <3756> profiteth <5623> (5719) nothing <3762>: the words <4487> that <3739> I <1473> speak <2980> (5719) unto you <5213>, they are <2076> (5748) spirit <4151>, and <2532> they are <2076> (5748) life <2222>.
62 ean <1437> {COND} oun <3767> {CONJ} yewrhte <2334> (5725) {V-PAS-2P} ton <3588> {T-ASM} uion <5207> {N-ASM} tou <3588> {T-GSM} anyrwpou <444> {N-GSM} anabainonta <305> (5723) {V-PAP-ASM} opou <3699> {ADV} hn <1510> (5713) {V-IXI-3S} to <3588> {T-NSN} proteron <4386> {A-NSN}
63 to <3588> {T-NSN} pneuma <4151> {N-NSN} estin <1510> (5748) {V-PXI-3S} to <3588> {T-NSN} zwopoioun <2227> (5723) {V-PAP-NSN} h <3588> {T-NSF} sarx <4561> {N-NSF} ouk <3756> {PRT-N} wfelei <5623> (5719) {V-PAI-3S} ouden <3762> {A-ASN} ta <3588> {T-NPN} rhmata <4487> {N-NPN} a <3739> {R-APN} egw <1473> {P-1NS} lalw <2980> (5719) {V-PAI-1S} umin <5213> {P-2DP} pneuma <4151> {N-NSN} estin <1510> (5748) {V-PXI-3S} kai <2532> {CONJ} zwh <2222> {N-NSF} estin <1510> (5748) {V-PXI-3S}
1. Questioning his disciple’s reaction (murmuring) to Jesus asked them if hey found what he taught hard or offensive, how they thought they might react if they were to see him “ascend up where he was before” that is heaven (v 62; cp. Act 7:55-58).
2. In reference to his words, Jesus mentioned that the spirit, in contrast to the flesh, (v 63).
a. He told his disciples that what is of the flesh was only temporarily profitable but Jesus words did give what was permanently profitable (cp. Rom 8:13-14).
b. Moses fed Israel with physical food in the wilderness and all above the age of nineteen, died there.
c. Jesus offered spiritual food which addressed the spiritual part of man or his permanent need.
d. When the spirit of man responds with obedience to the word of God, the result is the promise of eternal life.
(1) This is important to realize.
(2) It is Jesus’ words which shall judge us (Joh 12:48).
(3) It is his words which can build us up and give us an eternal inheritance (Act 20:32).
(4) It is his word which can save our souls (Jam 1:21).
(5) Those disciples rejected what Jesus offered.
64 But <235> there are <1526> (5748) some <5100> of <1537> you <5216> that <3739> believe <4100> (5719) not <3756>. For <1063> Jesus <2424> knew <1492> (5715) from <1537> the beginning <746> who <5101> they were <1526> (5748) that believed <4100> (5723) not <3361>, and <2532> who <5101> should <2076> (5748) betray <3860> (5694) him <846>.
65 And <2532> he said <3004> (5707), Therefore <1223> <5124> said I <2046> (5758) unto you <5213>, that <3754> no man <3762> can <1410> (5736) come <2064> (5629) unto <4314> me <3165>, except <3362> it were <5600> (5753) given <1325> (5772) unto him <846> of <1537> my <3450> Father <3962>.
64 all <235> {CONJ} eisin <1510> (5748) {V-PXI-3P} ex <1537> {PREP} umwn <5216> {P-2GP} tinev <5100> {X-NPM} oi <3739> {R-NPM} ou <3756> {PRT-N} pisteuousin <4100> (5719) {V-PAI-3P} hdei <1492> (5715) {V-LAI-3S} gar <1063> {CONJ} ex <1537> {PREP} archv <746> {N-GSF} o <3588> {T-NSM} ihsouv <2424> {N-NSM} tinev <5101> {I-NPM} eisin <1510> (5748) {V-PXI-3P} oi <3588> {T-NPM} mh <3361> {PRT-N} pisteuontev <4100> (5723) {V-PAP-NPM} kai <2532> {CONJ} tiv <5101> {I-NSM} estin <1510> (5748) {V-PXI-3S} o <3588> {T-NSM} paradwswn <3860> (5694) {V-FAP-NSM} auton <846> {P-ASM}
65 kai <2532> {CONJ} elegen <3004> (5707) {V-IAI-3S} dia <1223> {PREP} touto <5124> {D-ASN} eirhka <2046> (5758) {V-RAI-1S-ATT} umin <5213> {P-2DP} oti <3754> {CONJ} oudeiv <3762> {A-NSM} dunatai <1410> (5736) {V-PNI-3S} elyein <2064> (5629) {V-2AAN} prov <4314> {PREP} me <3165> {P-1AS} ean <1437> {COND} mh <3361> {PRT-N} h <1510> (5753) {V-PXS-3S