Will Ye Also Go Away? A Question of Commitment

John 6:48-72

Jesus asks several questions in our text (vs. 61, 62, 67, 70). In this message we will focus on the questions in verses 61, 67.

• Compare 6:2 with 6:66. This is the same crowd. Only one day separates verse 2 from verse 66. What happened between these two verses? Most preachers would appreciate having the large crowds that came to hear Jesus. What attracted these big following? Jesus healed them (v. 2) and fed them (vs. 11-12). These were people who were looking at Christ
  as a free meal ticket and free health care provider (cf. v. 15, 26-27).
• The word “disciples” (vs. 60, 66) simply means “followers.” Two kinds of disciples:
  (1) The outer circle—Those on the “fringe.” They followed Jesus for
  what they could get out of it (v. 26).
  (2) The inner circle—The Twelve who were totally “sold out” to following Christ (vs. 67-69).

Jesus did something most preachers would never do—He thinned out the crowd. He sifted the “saints from the ain’ts”—From those who wanted the blessings of following Jesus without being fully committed to Him.

Christ’s called to follow Him is not a call to a picnic, but a call to deny yourself daily, take up your cross, and follow Him.

I. The aggrieved DISSENSION (vs. 52-65).

• In verse 14 the people profess Christ is “that prophet,” but back off in verse 42.
• Three times we find “murmuring” and striving among the crowd over something Jesus said (vs. 41, 52, 61).

A. The CLAIMS of Christ.
1. He professed to be better than Moses and greater than Solomon.
2. He proclaimed He was of divine origin—“The Bread” come down from heaven (vs. 38, 51). Implied His pre-existence in heaven. The people rejected Christ’s origin (vs. 41-42).
3. He predicted His body would be broken and His blood shed, that men might eat and live forever (vs. 48-58).

•The crowd was thinking only in terms of physical (v. 52). Jesus was speaking spiritually (v. 63). Nicodemus had the same problem when Jesus spoke of being “born again.”

•The figure of “eating” refers to assimilation. When literal bread is eaten it becomes a part of one’s person. When we totally trust Christ, He is assimilated into our life (v. 56).

4. He prophesied He would ascend back to heaven where He was before (v. 62).

B. The CONFUSION of the crowd (vs. 60-62).

1. The casual follower is easily offended (v. 61).

NOTE: They murmured among themselves (v. 61). They did not come and ask Jesus to explain what He meant. Why? Because they really did not want to know. Instead they sulk in the background and cause dissension… like many do today.

•Sometimes the truth is offensive, but when you love God’s Word, you cannot be offended (Ps. 119:165).

2. To the casual follower, Christ’s claims was “a hard saying” (v. 60). The word “hard” does not mean hard to understand, but hard to accept… hard to take. It was too much to “swallow.” They could not “stomach” it! They couldn’t handle it. His
words were too demanding.

•The truth is: Following Jesus can be “hard” at times.

C. The CHALLENGE to the crowd (v. 62).

•If talk of eating Christ’s flesh and drinking His blood was a problem for the crowd, how could they accept Him ascending back to heaven?

II. The abrupt DEFECTION (vs. 66-67).

• Even Jesus suffered a huge “church split” (v. 66).

PARTIAL SERMON:  FULL PDF HERE