Message Notes

SUNDAY SCHOOL SPECIAL 29 August 2021
Text: John 6:60-66
Subject: Evangelism
Focus: The Bread of Life

INTRODUCTION

1. Departures from following the Lord

a) It seems so sad

b) How should we understand people departing from following the Lord?

2. The Lord Jesus was totally unfazed by this problem

a) He knew this could happen

b) He remained true and steadfast

AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE GROUPS MENTIONED IN JOHN 6

1. Four Groups were discernible

a) Group 1

i) The multitude (John 6:2)

ii) Another term employed
“The people” John 6:22, 24

b) Group 2
(Among the multitude)
“The Jews” John 6:41

i) These were associated with the ruling hierarchy

ii) These were among the people as observers

iii) They were “influencers”

c) Group 3

i) Called “Disciples” John 6:60, 66

ii) They were followers

iii) They have yet to be tested

d) Group 4

i) The Twelve (John 6:67)

ii) These had been chosen (Mark 3:13-14)

AN ANALYSIS OF THE MULTITUDE

1. They followed the Lord for different reasons

a) They needed the Lord to help them

b) To heal the sick

c) To cast out demons

2. They were never fully committed

a) To learn

b) To find faith

c) To be disciples

3. If they were to depart

a) This would not be surprising

b) They were like “passers by”

AN ANALYSIS OF THE JEWS (SECOND GROUP)

1. They were complaining (John 6:41)

2. They were quarreling (John 6:52)

3. They were never true believers

a) They were there to listen

b) They were there to question

c) They were there for the wrong reasons

4. It would not be surprising if they were to depart

a) They did not believe

b) They stuck to their traditions

AN ANALYSIS OF THE THIRD GROUP
(The Disciples)

1. Many of His disciples (John 6:60)

a) The word “disciple”

i) It simply means “a learner”

ii) It may involve “following after the Lord”

b) But the word itself:

i) It does not tell you if the person has genuine faith

ii) To learn does not mean “to understand”

c) The idea of “following”

i) It does not reveal the reasons for following

ii) The “disciple” may decide to stop following

2. The comments of the “Disciples”

a) “This is a hard saying: who can understand it?” John 6:60

i) The word “saying”

ii) It is “the word” of the Lord

b) The word “hard”

i) It was difficult to accept

ii) They were not prepared to accept “hard truths”

c) Who can “understand it?”

i) Literally, “Who can hear it?”

ii) Implication: “Who can accept it?

d) These were subtle hints that they were not prepared to go further

KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD JESUS

1. “The Lord knew in Himself” John 6:61a

a) The Lord had the fullness of the Spirit (Isaiah 11:2)

i) He understood

ii) He knew

b) He could discern

i) From their comments

ii) From their attitude

2. These disciples

a) They were complaining about this teaching (The Bread of Life)

b) They were “offended”

i) They did not like what they were hearing

ii) They had their own ideas as to what they want to believe in

c) The Lord Jesus addressed this problem directly (John 6:61b)

3. More “hard things”

a) “What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?” John 6:62

b) There were other spiritual truths

i) Some even more complex than others

ii) All deeply spiritual

iii) What if the focus is on things eternal and not temporal?

4. Things of the Spirit

a) “It is the Spirit that gives life” John 6:63a

b) “The flesh profits nothing” John 6:63b

c) “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” John 6:63c

5. An important statement made

a) “But there are some of you who do not believe” John 6:64a

b) “For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe” John 6:64b

c) “And who would betray Him” John 6:64c

6. Departing from the Lord Jesus

“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more” John 6:66

a) Externally, they may be called “disciples”

b) Internally, they did not really believe

c) They went back (went away)

d) They no longer walked with the Lord Jesus

CONCLUSION

1. Repeating an important truth

a) “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father” John 6:65

b) This had already been taught

i) “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me” John 6:37a

ii) “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” John 6:44a

2. The Lord Jesus was not fazed

a) He trusted His Father’s work

b) If the Father draws someone, that person would be a true disciple

c) If people left because the Father did not draw them,
why would He be upset?