“Say What?!?!”

The Difference

Sunday, September 16, 2007

 

John 6:1-15 (NIV)
1 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 miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Feast was near. 5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!" 8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, 9 "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?" 10 Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. 12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. 14 After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world." 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

Eating the Flesh, Drinking the Blood?

Read all of John 6:1-71 but here are some verses I want us to look at hard today.

        

 [27] Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval." [28] Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" [29] Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." [30] So they asked him, "What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? [31] Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"  [32] Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. [33] For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." [34] "Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread." [35] Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.  

 

 [51] I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he 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?"

 

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

 

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

   

Jeremiah 17:9

"The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?

HOW WILL YOU RESPOND?

In response to Jesus' message, some people left; others stayed and truly believed; and some, like Judas, stayed but tried to use Jesus for personal gain. Many people today turn away from Christ when they discern his real message. Others pretend to follow, going to church for status, approval of family and friends, or business contacts. We have only two choices for responding to Jesus—we either accept him or reject him. Have you accepted or rejected Christ?

 Six QUESTIONS:

1)  Am I committed only when things go my way or when I get my way?

2)  Am I committed to doing what I want to do or being transformed by the power of God?

3)  Why am I doing the things I do or avoid doing some things that I know are right?

4)  Why do I feel the way I do?

5)  As a Christian, am I committed to the growth of this body called the church, the leadership, one another and the furtherance of God’s work?

6)  In view of scripture is it Gods will?