TRUE BELIEVERS John 6:60-71
DAY 1-2 - TRUE Believers vs. FALSE Believers Last week we have seen that there was a big crowd that were following Jesus. These were the crowd that Jesus fed with five loaves of bread and two fish. (John 6:1-15). Then, Jesus knowing that the crowd intended to come and made him king, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. Later, Jesus joined his disciples on the boat by walking on the water (John 6:16-23). Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus. The crowd found him on the other side of the lake (John 6:24-25). So we have seen that there was a big crowd that was following Jesus, but were they TRUE followers? Let us continue our study. In John 6:60-71, we will see that many disciples deserted Jesus. When Jesus started teaching the HARD truths, the disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" (John 6:60). Then, in verse 66, we see that "From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him." What a change! This was the crowd that went the extra miles to find Jesus, then when they were faced with the HARD truths taught by Jesus, they left Him and no longer followed him. In those few text, we saw the TRUE believers from the FALSE believers, the TRUE disciples from the DROP-OUTS. Starting tomorrow we will learn what were the HARD truths that Jesus taught that distinguishes the TRUE disciples from the DROP-OUTs. We can see if we can use these truths to examine if we fall under the TRUE disciples or the DROP-OUTS.
DAY 3 - TRUTH CONCERNING HIS DEITY Yesterday we saw that the crowd left Jesus for they can not accept the HARD truths that Jesus taught. The crowd only wanted to follow Jesus as long as Jesus taught nice, easy, light and enlightening messages. In the next few days we will learn the hard truths that divides and distinguishes the TRUE disciples from the DROP-OUTs. Dividing Truth #1 - TRUTH concerning Jesus' Deity As long as Christians are talking about God, the crowd are OK. Most people accepted the fact that there is God, there is someone out there that is more powerful than human. The concept of God is widely accepted. But the minute, the Christians, start talking about Jesus, then we start seeing some division among the people. Who is Jesus? Many people is OK with Jesus as a good moral teacher, but once the Christians say that Jesus is God and that he is the only way to SALVATION, then the crowd started to leave. This is exactly what Jesus taught the crowd in John 6:25-65 that causes them to leave Him. Jesus taught a HARD TRUTH that Jesus is God, not just a mere man: "For the bread of God (Jesus) is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." (Verse 33) "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life." (Verse 40) "I (Jesus) am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever." (Verse 42) "I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) Who is Jesus in your heart? Is he just a good moral teacher, or is He the Son of God and only through him we can receive our salvation (eternal life)?
DAY 4 - TRUTH CONCERNING HIS DEATH Dividing Truth #1 - truth CONCERNING Jesus' DEITY Dividing Truth #2 - truth CONCERNING Jesus' DEATH Dividing Truth #3 - truth CONCERNING Our Destiny TRUTH #2 - Jesus' DEATH Today, we will study the truth concerning Jesus' DEATH. The concept of doing good works is widely accepted in the society. As long as the Christian faith stops at all Christians should do good works, then it is OK. But the minute the truth about doing good works is not good enough, the crowd started to leave. Every one of us has committed sin, and the wages of sin is DEATH, therefore to pay for our sin, then we have to die. The crowd can not accept the truth regarding death as a penalty of sin and that to pay for sin BLOOD has to be shed. Jesus taught the crowd that He died in our place to pay the wages of our sin. Jesus also taught that His BLOOD has been shed for us. Now, once the Christians start talking about this TRUTH, then the FALSE followers started to become uncomfortable and started to leave. How about you? Do you believe that the blood of Christ is required for us to receive salvation? If you do believe that, then do you dare to confess that with the world? Only a few Christians have the courage to share these HARD truths with the crowd, knowing that they will be rejected and deserted. But should Christian be afraid? By all means, No! Jesus himself taught these HARD truths knowing that the crowd will reject and desert him. Jesus has set an example for us. TRUTH #3 - OUR DESTINY Many people, the crowd, want to believe that they control their own lives. Therefore, once the Christians started to say that God controls their lives, then the crowd started to become uncomfortable and leave. Now, let us look at what Jesus taught the crowd: "All that the Father gives me will come to me." (Verse 37) "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him." (Verse 43) "No one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." (Verse 65) Jesus told the crowd that God controls our lives, including our destiny. Yes, man is not an independent creature, and man does not control their own lives. Man is dependent on God and God does have control over our lives. How about you? Do you believe that God is in control? Or do you believe that man (you are) in control?
DAY 5 - Answers of TRUE believers Now, let us review for a minute the three hard truths that Jesus taught the crowd: a. Jesus' Deity: Jesus is not a mere man, but He is God. Only through Him we can have salvation and eternal life. b. Jesus' Death: Every man has fall into sin. The penalty of sin is DEATH. Jesus paid the penalty by shedding his BLOOD and die. c. Our destiny: Man does not control their own lives. God does. Then, Jesus asked the Twelve disciples if they were going to leave him after hearing those truths. The following were the answers that the Twelve disciples, the TRUE disciples gave him: a. "Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal live." (Verse 68) Simon Peter (speaking for the Twelve) answered, "To whom shall we go? Shall we go back to the old life style that is full of foolishness and emptiness." Then, he continued to point out that Jesus has the words of the eternal life. Friends, do you realize that one of the teaching that distinguishes Christianity with other religion is the fact that Christianity is the only religion that has words about eternal life? No other religion gives any words nor assurance about eternal life. The Twelve understood this point very well. b. "We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." (Verse 68) The TRUE disciples know that Jesus is the Son of God. So now we see that we have the COPE-OUTs, the DROP-OUTs and the ALL-OUTS. Which one of these are you? The COPE-OUTs are the people that keep coming with excuses to not ever follow Christ. The DROP-OUTs are the people that follows Him as long as the teaching is light and easy and not dividing. The minute the teaching made them uncomfortable, then they leave. The ALL-OUTS are the disciples that follows Him ALL the way. They learn to understand the HARD truths, and they are giving their ALL to Him.
Disclaimer This material is a summary of the message that was preached by Pastor Jack Graham at Prestonwood Baptist Church. The writer of this EBS (Electronic Bible Study) made some changes and added some personal notes that is necessary to customize this material into an electronic media, a daily reading material and to better fit the audience. The Prestonwood Baptist Church is not affiliated in anyway with the Indonesian Christian Fellowship of Fort Worth.