Message Notes

SUNDAY SCHOOL SPECIAL 15 August 2021

Text: John 6:41-48

Subject: Evangelism

Focus: The Bread of Life

INTRODUCTION

1. Mental block

a) Inability to remember

b) Inability to think

c) Trapped in the mental process

2. Spiritual block

a) Inability to comprehend 

b) Inability to process spiritual thoughts

c) Trapped in a fixed spiritual rut

3. True Spiritual Teaching

a) God Himself teaches

b) He draws people to the Lord Jesus invariably

THE JEWS

1. This term was John’s way of referring to the people in the Sanhedrin Council

a) All are technically called “Jews”

b) John used this phrase to distinguish them from “the multitudes”

2. They were not identified initially

a) They were simply called “the people” (John 6:22, 24)

b) The same word (Ochlos) was translated “Multitudes” (John 6:2)

c) They were distinguished from the Disciples (John 6:22)

d) The Jews were part of the multitudes

3. Why were they a part of the Multitudes?

a) They may have acted in their own interests

b) They could have been sent by the Sanhedrin Council to keep tabs

c) They could have been there to make sure the crowds don’t get too caught up with the teachings of the Lord Jesus

d) They could sow doubts in the hearts and minds of the people

COMPLAINTS OF THE JEWS

1. The nature of Complaining (John 6:41)

a) It may express

i) Discontent

ii) Doubts

iii) Derision

b) In a crowd

i) The voicing of a complain can have devastating effect

ii) It can cause others to be affected adversely

2. The statement of the complain 

a) They complained about the Lord Jesus Himself (John 6:41a)

b) They complained about what He said

“I am the bread which came down from heaven” John 6:41

c) The word “complain” has a number of nuances

i) Grumbling

ii) Whispering

iii) Muttering/ murmuring 

iv) Speaking secretly

v) A whispering campaign

d) Their knowledge of the Lord Jesus

i) “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?” John 6:42a

ii) “How is it then that He says, I have come down from heaven?” John 6:42b

3. The Response of the Lord Jesus I

a) Murmuring 

“Do not murmur among yourselves” John 6:43

i) Murmuring goes no where

ii) People will be talking in circles

b) Drawn by God the Father

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me, draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:44

i) God is the One who draws people to the Lord Jesus

ii) The Lord Jesus will raise him up at the last day (Resurrection)

4. The Response of the Lord Jesus II

a) Written in the prophets

“And they shall all be taught by God” John 6:45a  

i) This was a prophecy of Isaiah

“All your children shall be taught by the LORD” Isaiah 54:13a

ii) The LORD Himself was teaching

(Through the Lord Jesus)

iii) But the people had not understood this great truth

b) “Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me” John 6:45b

i) The Lord Jesus was teaching/preaching the Gospel

ii) The Father was Himself actively involved 

iii) All who have “heard and learned”

iv) They would come to the Lord Jesus

v) If they had been taught by the LORD 

vi) The Jews had not been able to discern the Father’s involvement

5. The Response of the Lord Jesus III

a) No one has seen God the Father

“Not that anyone has seen the Father” John 6:46a

i) This is a fact

ii) Certainly none of “the Jews” had seen the Father

b) One Exception

“Except He who is from God; He has seen the Father” John 6:46b

i) The Lord had come from God 

ii) He has seen God the Father

4. The Response of the Lord Jesus IV

a) Encouragement to believe

“Most assuredly, I say to you, He who believes in Me has everlasting life” John 6:47

i) Assurance given

ii) Assurance from the Lord Jesus

iii) Assurance of everlasting life when we believe in Him

b) “I am the bread of life” John 6:48

i) The Father Himself is teaching

ii) He affirms

CONCLUSION

1. God the Father

a) He is involved

b) He teaches us (invisibly)

c) He draws all to the Lord Jesus Christ

2. The Lord Jesus

a) Earthly form

He is the son of Joseph and Mary

b) His Spiritual Being

i) He came from Heaven

ii) He beholds the face of God personally

iii) He is the Bread of life