Author: drthomasclothier

“But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, “Where is he?” And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.” Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.” (John 7:10-13).

Following Jesus’ discussion with His brothers, John’s narrative shares that Jesus secretly went to the Feast of the Tabernacles after His brothers also went up to Jerusalem for the feast. We must presume that it was the Father’s will for Him to do so, but to do so discretely. This would be the last time Jesus would leave Galilee before His crucifixion.

As the feast proceeded, there was much discussion among and by the various people groups. First, there were the Jewish leaders who kept saying, “Where is He?” Remember that it was their intent to kill Jesus at the earliest possibility (John 5:18).

The second people group were the Jewish populace or simply “the people.” These would include Judeans, Galileans and Jews from outside Palestine. While the Jewish leaders were unified in their hatred of Jesus, the people were divided. Some superficially believed Jesus to be a “good man.” Others cynically rejected Him and believed He was leading the people astray. Yet, all kept these opinions private for fear of retaliation by the Jewish authorities.

Josh McDowell once wrote that there are only three perspectives one can have of Jesus. What you think about Jesus will make all the difference in the world as to whether you should follow Him.

The first perspective is that Jesus was a liar who knew that He was not God and deceived the people into thinking He was. If this is true, then you should not follow Jesus because He was not telling the truth.

The second perspective is that Jesus was a lunatic who thought He was God, but really wasn’t. If this is true, then you should not follow Jesus because He was insane.

The third perspective is that Jesus is Lord, who truly is God and who alone provides a salvation for sinners from the penalty, power and eventual presence of sin. If, or rather since, this is true, Jesus should be worshiped and followed.

Jesus is not just simply a good man and neither was He leading the people astray. He is God. Thus far in the Gospel of John, we have not only seen John’s statements regarding Jesus’ identity as God (John 1;1-14), but also Jesus’ own words concerning His deity (John 4:26; 5:18; 6:36-59).The truth is that you cannot simply accept Jesus as a good man. He said He was more than that. He said that He was, and is, God.

Dr. R. C. Sproul explains, “Six months or so before the brothers of Jesus implored Him to go up to the Feast of Booths and do signs, He escaped a crowd that attempted to force Him into leading a revolution against Rome (John 6:15). That is likely one of the reasons why our Lord did not initially follow His brothers’ wishes but told them that His time to go up for the feast had not yet arrived (7:8). Due to the speculation about His ministry (vv. 10–13), it seems He did not want to cause a stir among those who had false expectations about the Messiah. He would enter the public eye on His terms, not theirs.” 

This remains the case to this day. The hatred of Jesus, in part was because He did not meet people’s expectations of who they thought the Messiah should be.  In sharing the Gospel, we must not depart from the biblical truth of Jesus’ identity as God.

John Calvin writes that “the Gospel cannot be faithfully preached without summoning the whole world, as guilty, to the judgment-seat of God, that flesh and blood may thus be crushed and reduced to nothing.”

Dr. Sproul concludes, “People hated Jesus because His words exposed their evil hearts. When we preach the gospel, people may hate us as well. Let us make sure that they hate us because of the gospel message, not because of our offensive personalities.”

Soli deo Gloria!

 

 

“Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” After saying this, he remained in Galilee.” (John 7:6-9)

Jesus’ statement to His brothers is similar to the His statement to His mother Mary in John 2:4. It also is His initial reason for not going to the Feast of the Tabernacles. It was not the Father’s perfect timing for Jesus to go, to be arrested and then to be executed by His enemies.

This reveals a biblical doctrine we must understand. Jesus was completely dependent and committed to the Father’s sovereign timetable for His birth, life, death and resurrection. John 8:20 validates this when John writes, “These words he (Jesus) spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.”

Since Jesus was completely dependent and committed to the Father’s timetable for everything which occurred in His life. So too must we, as Jesus’ followers, be completely dependent and committed to the Father’s timetable for everything which occurs in our own lives.

When Jesus told His brothers that their time is always here or always ready, He meant that since they were of the world, the purposes of God held no importance to them. Because of their unbelief (John 7:5), they did not listen or understand Jesus’ words, did not understand God’s timetable, and could not understand that God stood before them.

Perhaps this is a lot like looking for a new job or when you make a career change, or when one is made for you. You keep sending resumes, filling out applications and reading countless email notifications from Indeed, Jobcase or ZipRecruiter. More than once you receive a rejection notice regarding your application. It is easy to become frustrated and despondent.

It is then that you must remember God’s sovereign timetable. God’s timing has not yet arrived. In the meantime, serve the Lord where you are and when you can.

Jesus additionally tells His brothers that the world system and culture of sinful rebellion does not hate them as it hates Him. Why? It is because at this point in their lives, Jesus’ brothers are unbelievers and therefore belong to the world. The world loves them (John 15:18-19).

True disciples of Jesus Christ should experience the world’s hatred (John 15:18-25; 16:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:12). The world does not hate Christian bakers simply because they may choose to not make a cake for a wedding. The world hates Christian bakers because they are Christians: whether or not they make a wedding cake.

Jesus was not only completely dependent upon the Father’s timetable for His life, He also recognized that God the Father was not yet ready for the crucifixion of God the Son (Galatians 4:4). The fullness of time had not yet arrived.

We have covered a lot today concerning God’s timing and the world’s hatred: not only of God, but also of us. Therefore, we rest in God’s timing while we are presently serving Him in a world which not only hates Him, but us as well.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

 

“Now the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand. So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” For not even his brothers believed in him.” (John 7:1-5).

Do you realize that one of Jesus’ goals in coming to earth was to divide families and create conflict within the home? Yes, it’s true! Before we explore this startling truth, let us first examine the background of today’s text.

The Feast of Booths was also known and referred to as the Feast of the Tabernacles. Along with the Feasts of Passover and Pentecost, it was the third of the three principle and mandatory annual Jewish feasts (Exodus 23:14-16). It was also the most popular. It occurred during the month of October.

So as to get a sense of the context of John 7, we need to remember the historical context of John 6. While John 6 occurred during the time of the Passover (March/April), John 7 occurred during the time of the Feast of Tabernacles (October). Therefore, some six to seven months have passed between these two chapters.

Unlike current biographies, or even autobiographies, which seek to chronicle every event in the subject’s life, the Apostle John does not record what happened during those seven months which divide these two chapters of his gospel account of Jesus’ life. The only thing John says is in John 7:1 where he writes, “After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him.” Jesus went about, or walked, in Galilee. Consequently, where Jesus walked, His disciples followed. This is what Jesus did for seven months until the Feast of the Tabernacles. During His walking, Jesus would be teaching and making disciples of the twelve.

The Feast of the Tabernacles observed the annual harvest of grapes and olives (Exodus 23:16; Leviticus 23:33-43; Deuteronomy 16:13-15). Many people would come to Jerusalem for the festivities which lasted seven days.

One commentator writes, “People living in rural areas built makeshift structures of light branches and leaves to live in for the week (hence, “booths” or “tabernacles”; cf. Lev. 23:42) while town dwellers put up similar structures on their flat roofs or in their courtyards. The feast was known for water-drawing and lamp-lighting rites, to which Jesus makes reference (“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink”—7:37–38 and “I am the light of the world”—8:12).”

It was also at this time that Jesus’ half-brothers told Him that He should go to Judea, or more specifically Jerusalem, so that His disciples could see the works He was doing. Matthew 13:55 (see Mark 6:1-3) identify Jesus’ brothers as James, Joses, Simon and Judas. Matthew and Mark also indicate Jesus had at least two sisters.

John comments that Jesus’ brothers did not believe in Him at this time. However, James and Jude would eventually become leaders in the church along with being writers of the biblical New Testament books which bear their names.

Jesus’ brothers wanted Him to put on a public display of miracles. Sort of a program of entertainment. Perhaps this was so (1) they might believe themselves as to Jesus’ identity or (2) it would position them to accept a political position or office under Jesus’ earthly kingship. Either way, Jesus’ brothers did not become disciples until after His resurrection (Acts 1:14; I Corinthians 15:7).

It should not surprise us that even Jesus’ immediate family was divided as to His real identity. Matthew 10:34-39 explains it this way: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Sometimes, the holidays, like the Feast of the Tabernacles, brings out the real emotions from members of our family regarding our commitment to Christ to be one of His disciples. Our family members may question, critique and/or perhaps even condemn our faith. Realize that even Jesus’ family did this. This in part is what it means to take up our cross and follow Jesus.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

 

 

 

“After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him.” (John 7:1)

As we begin John 7, we see that the smoldering hatred the Jewish religious and political leaders had for Jesus begins to blaze into a full-fledged inferno. As a Christian lyricist put it several years ago about God’s love, “It only takes a spark to get a fire going.” What is true concerning God’s love for sinners is also true concerning sinners hatred for God.

The culmination of this hatred for Jesus will be in the immediate aftermath of His raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:45-57). The Jewish leaders and ruling authorities will begin to plot on how to kill Jesus. This will eventually result in His crucifixion. How ironic that this would be the Father’s eternal and sovereign plan.

It is probably best to note at this point that the world’s hatred for Jesus continues to this day and extends to His followers. Jesus said in John 15:18-25, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.”

I find it so troubling in my spirit when I witness pastors and churches, even whole denominations, develop a ministry vision attempting to get the fallen world to like them and to like Jesus. The result is a soft-soap peddling of a watered down gospel which does not save, but rather makes people feel good. This results in a perspective, popular in the 1970’s, which says, “I’m okay, you’re okay.”  Or as another church has as their motto: “Come join us. Where it’s okay to not be okay.” No! As fallen sinners facing the wrath of a holy, almighty God (Romans 1:18), we’re not okay, and it is not okay to not be okay. Okay?

What sinners need is the biblical Jesus who came to die a substitutionary death on the cross for sinners like you and me. Sinners who were in need of salvation because they were destined for the judicial punishment from a righteous God. Why were we destined for God’s righteous wrath. It is because our sins were crimes against God, which alienated us against God and resulted in a debt before God which we could not pay.

The Gospel says that the eternal God who exists, and who will punish sin, has provided the only way available to be delivered from His wrath. The only way to be saved from sin’s penalty, power and eventual presence is through faith alone in the substitutionary atonement, resurrection and imputed righteousness provided by Jesus Christ alone. This is the gospel of which the Apostle John has labored to explain through his account of the life of Jesus Christ. It is a gospel of grace alone which cannot and must not be watered down in order to placate the masses, resulting in them not hearing the truth about themselves and about Jesus Christ.

Resolve today to not compromise the gospel that (1) God exists; (2) Sin exists; (3) Salvation from sin exists; (4) One Savior exists and Jesus Christ is He and He alone.

Repent of your sins and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior today.

Soli deo Gloria!   

Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.” (John 6:70-71).

The Lord’s sovereignty is a predominant theme within the beginning and middle of John 6. The subject also frames the conclusion of the chapter. Jesus teaches the twelve, including Judas, that He and the Father are in complete control of all the circumstances not only surrounding the sinner’s salvation but also of the means of which that salvation is secured.

Jesus poses His own rhetorical question to the twelve in response to what was spoken to Him by Peter, the leader of the twelve. “Did I not choose you?” Obviously, He did! We have seen the selection to follow Him occur in John 1. But Jesus did more than just select them to be His human followers. He chose them to be divinely saved souls unto eternity (John 6:37, 44. 65). Not even a whimper of human pretension or the sinner’s self-exaltation is acceptable in light of God’s sovereign election.

Then Jesus clearly indicates He knows who the traitor among them is. While He does not come out and say it, although John inserts his divinely inspired editorial comment after the fact, Jesus clearly knows the circumstances of betrayal which He will face and who will be responsible for it. This is another example of His omniscience (cf. 1:47; 2:24–25; 6:15, 61). Judas Iscariot will betray Him.

Iscariot means “man of Kerioth.” This is a name of a village in Judah. Judas will soon be designated by another name or title: traitor.

The word “devil” (διάβολος; diabolos), from which we derive our English word diabolical, means a slanderer or a wicked person. One commentator explains that, “Satan’s working in Judas was tantamount to Judas being the devil. In 6:70 the Greek does not have the indefinite article “a,” so it could be translated “one of you is Satan (devil).” See Mark 8:33; Luke 22:1-3; John 13:2, 27; 17:12.

Dr. John MacArthur explains that, “The word “devil” means “slanderer” or “false accuser.” The idea perhaps is better rendered “one of you is the devil.” This meaning is clear from 13:2, 27; Mark 8:33; Luke 22:3. The supreme adversary of God so operates behind failing human beings that his malice becomes theirs (cf. Matt. 16:23). Jesus supernaturally knew the source and identified it precisely. This clearly fixes the character of Judas, not as a well intentioned but misguided man trying to force Jesus to exert his power and set up his kingdom (as some suggest), but as a tool of Satan doing unmitigated wickedness (see notes on John 13:21–30).”

Another commentator states, “Later in the Upper Room, Jesus again said one of the Twelve would betray Him (13:21). John called Judas “the traitor” (18:5). The disciples later could reflect on this prophecy of His and be strengthened in their faith. Judas was a tragic figure, influenced by Satan; yet he was responsible for his own evil choices.”

As we will see in John 10, Jesus was in full control of His circumstances. He would not be surprised by anything which occurred in the events leading up to, during, and following His crucifixion.

I would encourage you re-read John and meditate upon the doctrine of the Father’s sovereign choice for you to be His gift to the Son. What a wonderful present by the Father in giving us to His Son and giving up His Son for us.

Soli deo Gloria!

“So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:67-69).

I find it most interesting in our day of pragmatic church growth philosophy which places such a great important on making the lost sinner comfortable, that Jesus did not tone down His rhetoric when He delivered His Bread of Life Discourse. He spoke the truth, even though if offended His hearers (John 6:66) resulting in them turning away.

Not only did Jesus not tone down His preaching, He also did not run after those who left and attempt to persuade them to continue following Him. Many pastors today would have conducted a survey with the crowed and polled them to see what they wanted to hear. Not Jesus!

Instead, He turned His attention to the twelve and asked, ““Do you want to go away as well?” He did this as a way of encouraging their fragile faith. They could have been affected by the apostasy of the many, or even the apostasy of the one (John 6:70-71).

As usual, Peter spoke up first for the group and openly confessed, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” What a confessional statement. Let’s look at its specific parts in order to grasp the sum and scope of its significance.

“Lord, to whom shall we go?” Peter was convinced that to follow another teacher was ludicrous. His question was rhetorical. The answer was obvious. There was no other Messiah for them to follow. Others may leave, but they would not. A rather ominous declaration in light of what we know of Peter in the narratives to follow.

“You have the words of eternal life.” Peter continues by confessing that Jesus alone presently and actively possesses the words and statements of eternal life. No one else has this gift.

“And we have believed.” Additionally, Peter confesses that the twelve have believed in Jesus. This is not entirely true because Jesus will immediately indicate that there is one among them who is a devil, referring to Judas Iscariot (John 6:71). Perhaps, as one commentator explains, “Peter’s words were somewhat pretentious in that he implied that the true disciples somehow had superior insight and as a result came to belief through that insight.”

“And have come to know.” This is a parallel statement to what Peter just said. Peter says that the twelve understand who He is. Do they truly understand? Future statements by John the Apostle will indicate otherwise.

However, Peter does conclude with this excellent statement: “you are the Holy One of God.” Peter says that Jesus exists as the set apart from sin Messiah who originates solely from God the Father.

Dr. John Walvoord writes, “Peter was confident of the apostles’ commitment to Jesus as the Holy One of God. This title is unusual (a demon addressed Jesus that way; Mark 1:24). It suggests Jesus’ transcendence (“the Holy One”) and His representation of the Father (“of God”); thus it is another way of confessing Him as Messiah. Peter knew this by a special work of the Father (cf. Matt. 16:17).”

Dr. R. C. Sproul explains, “Although the Gospel narratives make it plain that Peter and the others did not fully understand Jesus until after His resurrection, before then they nevertheless understood important truths about Jesus that others failed to grasp. Peter said they would stay because Jesus alone had the words of eternal life and was “the Holy One of God,” the Messiah (vv. 68–69). They had some sense that Christ was the source of life and that they could find fellowship with God in no one else.”

Do you confess Jesus as the Holy One of God? There is life in no one else (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). Repent of your sins and receive Him today as your Savior and Lord (John 1:12-13).

Soli deo Gloria!

 

“After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.” (John 6:66)

“After this” means because of this or the reason for this. Jesus’ teachings in general, and His Bread of Life Discourse in particular, offended people. They did not like what He had to share. However, Jesus did not equivocate the truth. He did not become shallow in His teaching in order that people would not be offended. He spoke the truth.

The phrase “Many of His disciples” does not refer to the twelve as we will see when we study John 6:67. It refers to the many who followed the right person, Jesus, for the wrong reasons. The phrase refers in the immediate context to the crowd who followed Jesus for what He would do for them physically. They wanted a free meal, a new political structure with Jesus serving as king, and a problem free life with no sickness, pain or death.

When Jesus did not offer this, but rather told the crowd that the only way to truly be part of His kingdom was for the Father to give them as a gift to the Son, they rebelled and rejected the truth. They “turned back.” To turn back is a decisive departure to no longer be a disciple of Jesus. The language indicates that this abandonment was final.

I Peter 2:6-8 says, “For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.”

Dr. John MacArthur explains, “The messianic credentials of Jesus were examined by the false religious leaders of Israel and contemptuously rejected (vv. 6–8; cf. Matt. 12:22–24; John 1:10–11). But Jesus Christ was God’s precious and elect Son, ultimately authenticated through his resurrection from the dead (cf. Ps. 2:10–11; Matt. 3:17; Acts 2:23–24, 32; 4:11–12; 5:30–31; 10:39–41).”

I John 2:19 says, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.”

Dr. MacArthur continues by explaining, “The first characteristic mentioned of antichrists, i.e., false teachers and deceivers (I John 2:22–26), is that they depart from the faithful (see vv. 22–23 for the second characteristic and v. 26 for the third). They arise from within the church and depart from true fellowship and lead people out with them. The verse also places emphasis on the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. Those genuinely born again endure in faith and fellowship and the truth (1 Cor. 11:19; 2 Tim. 2:12).”

The many from the crowd who turned back from following Jesus evidenced that they were not truly born again (John 3:1-8), neither had they partook of the living water (John 4) nor the bread of life which Jesus alone provides because He is the living water and the bread of life.

I’m sure you can think of someone you know, or used to know, who once followed Christ and then turned their backs on Him, so to speak. It is a painful thing to watch, but a testimony that once again Scripture is true and that commitment to Christ comes on God’s terms and not our own.

Renew your commitment to follow Christ today and to never compromise the truth of Scripture.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

“But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” (John 6:64-65)

Jesus often used repetition in order to emphasize a particular point. Within this discourse alone, He has used statement “Truly, truly, I say to you” four times (6:26, 32, 47, 53). Jesus not only wanted the people to pay attention to what He was saying, but also that He possessed the authority to say what He was saying.

When He announces to the crowd that some of them do not believe, it is not just because Jesus is a good observer, but rather because He omnisciently knows not only who has rejected Him but also who would betray Him. His omniscience is applied to the present and the future.

It is on this basis that Jesus repeats what He said earlier in 6:44. “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father. We witness a cause and effect statement in vs. 65. The causal statement is “no one can come to me.” The effect portion, or the necessary condition, is “unless it is granted him by the Father.”

The word “unless” introduces an exception clause to the preceding statement that “no one can come to Me.” If a necessary condition can be met, than an exception can be made. The only exception to man’s spiritual plight is the Father’s gracious granting. The word “grant” (δίδωμι; didomi) means to give and to allow. It also means to pay. It is an action by the Father upon the passive recipient who is the sinner.

Dr. John MacArthur states, “Although men and women are commanded to believe and will be held accountable for unbelief, genuine faith is never exclusively a matter of human decision. Once again, in the face of unbelief, Jesus reiterated God’s sovereignty involved in selection for salvation.”

Ultimately, our eternal destiny is not up to us, but rather up to God. It is He who makes the final decision as to whom He will give as a gift to the Son (John 6:35).

This is the reason why God and God alone receives the glory for our salvation. Romans 11:36 says, “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

 

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” (John 6:63)

In John 6:63, one of the most definitive texts in Scripture concerning the doctrine of monergistic regeneration, is given by none other than our Savior; Jesus Christ. Mirroring what Jesus said to Nicodemas in John 3:1-8, and what John records Jesus teaching in 6:35 & 44, Jesus tells the crowd that their inability to accept what He is teaching is not because of their un-intelligence, but rather because of their spiritual impotence.

“It is the Spirit who gives life.” The initiator of spiritual life, or the new birth, is not the sinner, whether they be Jew or Gentile. Rather, it is a work solely by the Holy Spirit. It is He who gives spiritual and eternal life to those the Father gives to the Son (John 6:35). Without this regeneration, no one can come to Christ (John 6:44).

Dr. Steven J. Lawson explains, “Jesus taught that it is absolutely impossible for spiritually dead sinners to exercise saving faith. They are marked by a volitional inability, having no free will with which to exercise faith in Christ.”

Consequently, it is ultimately the responsibility of the Holy Spirit to bring a spiritually dead sinner to faith in Christ. This is what the Apostle Paul wrote about in Ephesians 2:1-5 where it says: “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.”

Lest there be any misunderstanding, Jesus adds that “the flesh is no help at all” The word flesh (σάρξ; sarx) is not referring to the physical human body, but rather to man’s nature. The sinner’s fallen condition renders him unable to come to Christ in and of himself. Man’s sinful nature is no help at all. It provides no benefit, profit or aid to alleviate the sinner’s lost condition.

Dr. Leon Morris explains that, “People like to feel independent. They think that they come or that they “can” come to Christ entirely of their own volition. Jesus assures us that this is an utter impossibility.”

Jesus then says that “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” What Jesus said is spiritual truth. It is biblical revelation. It is the Word of God, inerrant and inspired. You may reject Augustinism, Calvinism and/or Reformed Theology. But in doing so, you are rejecting the words and truth spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ regarding fallen man’s spiritual inability.

Dr. Lawson continues: “If you have experienced the new birth, it is not because you initiated it. Rather, it was an event that God brought about in you. More specifically, you were not born again because you exercised faith. In truth, the new birth preceded your faith and produced it. Saving faith is the fruit of regeneration, not the root of it. The biblically correct order of salvation—known in theological language as the ordo salutis—is not “Believe and be born again,” but the very opposite: “Be born again and believe.” The living God must act upon the spiritually dead soul and cause it to be born again. The new birth is by divine choice and sovereign initiative. God’s will affects the human will, not vice versa. Scripture intentionally uses the imagery of birth to underscore this essential truth of the sovereignty of God in regeneration.”

Theologian John Murray writes, “For entrance into the kingdom of God we are wholly dependent upon the action of the Holy Spirit, an action … which is compared to that on the part of our parents by which we were born into the world. We are as dependent upon the Holy Spirit as we are upon the action of our parents in connection with our natural birth. We were not begotten by our father because we decided to be. And we were not born of our mother because we decided to be. We were simply begotten and we were born. We did not decide to be born…. If this privilege is ours it is because the Holy Spirit willed it and here all rests upon the Holy Spirit’s decision and action. He begets or bears when and where He pleases.”

James 1:18 says, “Of his own will he brought us forth…”

John 1:12–13 reads, “All who did receive him, who believed in his name … were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

John 3:8 says, “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

First Peter 1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Does the believer have any responsibility at all in the salvation of a sinner? Jesus said yes, we do. We are commanded to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). The Apostle Paul instructed the Church at Rome that God uses ordinary people to communicate the gospel by which the Holy Spirit effects regeneration in the deadened sinner (Romans 10:14-17).

What a truth! What a joy to know that one’s salvation is a free gift from God. What gratitude we should express to God for enacting this new life when He was under no obligation to do so. Thank you Lord for saving my soul.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

“When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?” (John 6:60-62)

As the Bread of Life Discourse comes to a conclusion, the people react to what Jesus has taught them in Capernaum. Those who earnestly sought Him for physical nourishment now begin rejecting Him because of what He taught regarding spiritual nourishment. They did not like what they heard.

The phrase “when many of His disciples” refers not to the twelve but to the many followers who comprised the crowd.  They followed Jesus for their own self-interests and physical gratification. Their response to Jesus’ teaching was “this is a hard saying, who can listen to it?”

The phrase “hard saying” means that what Jesus taught was demanding, strong and harsh message. It was not that they did not understand or comprehend it. They didn’t like it. What Jesus taught was not what the crowed wanted to hear. It was a similar reaction as those in Jerusalem (John 5).

As before (John 6:52), the Jews showed their discontentment to Jesus’ words by grumbling about what they heard. Jesus said to them, ““Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?”

The word “offense” is from the Greek word σκανδαλίζω; (skandalizei) from which we derive our English word scandal. What Jesus taught was scandalous or offensive to the Jews. Jesus responded that what would be even more scandalous to them would be His ascension following His death, burial and resurrection.

One commentator writes, “Reminiscent of Jesus’ words in 2:23–25, Jesus knew the hearts of men, including those disciples who followed him. He supernaturally knew that many did not believe in him as Messiah and Son of God so he did not entrust himself to them. These false disciples were simply attracted to the physical phenomena (e.g., miracles and food), and failed to understand the true significance of Jesus’ teaching (6:61).”

Dr. R. C. Sproul explains, “If there is anything that we learn from Jesus’ Bread of Life Discourse recorded in John 6:22–59, it is that there can be no half-hearted commitment to Christ. Because He is the bread of life, we must rely totally on Him and on nothing else for eternal life just as we rely fully on physical food to sustain our bodies. We must believe that only those who look on Jesus in faith will live forever. We must realize and confess that we have no power to believe in ourselves but rely on the electing grace of God for redemption. We must embrace Jesus alone as the way of salvation.”

What Jesus taught in John 6 was scandalous or offensive to the Jews who listened to Him. What Jesus taught in John remains scandalous and offensive to many today, even to those who profess to be believers in Christ.

Dr. Sproul concludes, “Many people want to be saved through a half-hearted commitment to Jesus as Savior but not as Lord, so they find repugnant the idea that there is only one way of salvation, and they think they are inherently good and able to make the right decisions for redemption. Today’s passage shows us that Jesus’ words on these matters were not any more popular with people two thousand years ago. Many of Jesus’ disciples, John 6:60 indicates, grumbled that His words were “hard.” This does not mean that they found Christ hard to understand. They understood what He was claiming. What they meant was that Jesus’ words were hard to receive.”

Do you find Jesus’ words hard to receive? If so, then repent of your self-exaltation and misunderstanding regarding who Jesus is and what He came to earth to accomplish. Reject today any notion that salvation can be found in any other work or person than Jesus Christ alone.

Soli deo Gloria!