John 7:37-52 Still Thirsty at the End of the Party?

Paragraphs
Verses 37-44 Jesus' Words Split the Crowd
Verses 45-52 Religious Fallout

COMMENTARY

Verses 37-44
v. 37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. The Festival of Booths was primarily a festival of celebration with Yom Kippur being a festival of fasting and resting. The last day of the Festival of Booths or Tabernacles was the greatest day, the climax, the most important day, and/or the great day of festivity. Thirsty (διψᾷ)? Then come (ἐρχέσθω) and drink (πινέτω). If you are not thirsty, then do not come. If you are thirsty, then come. If you come, then drink. How rare it is to encounter someone at a party or festival that does not have something to drink in their hand or near by. I know, at a party, alcohol or strong caffeinated drinks are usually available at the bar. But Jesus, and what He brings, supersedes any kind of argument related to the substance of thirst quenching beverages. v. 38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living waters.'" The Greek word, τῆς κοιλίας, translated 'innermost being' means: belly, womb, inner man, heart, stomach, abdomen. Which of these meanings will be clarified as we read further. v. 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. At the end of this Festival of Booths in which there was much opportunity to quench thirst, Jesus declares Himself to be the source of renewable, not stagnant like a well, beverage. The Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, is soon to be given and will always be fresh while convicting, renewing, prompting, guiding, and declaring. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians (5:18), was applying this Gospel passage in stating: "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." The Greek word, ἐδοξάσθη, translated 'glorified' means: to properly ascribe weight by recognizing real substance, to magnify, extol, held in honor, to distinguish. The following responses to Jesus' words fulfill Paul's writing in Letter to the Romans (1:18-23). 'Glory', which is closely related to 'worship,' is a huge issue when making conscious decisions. Below we have a myriad of responses. v. 40 Some of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, were saying, "This certainly is the Prophet." v. 40. Others were saying, "This is the Christ." Still others were saying, "Surely the Christ is not going to come from Galilee, is He? v. 42 "Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?" v. 43 So there arose a division in the multitude because of Him. v. 44. And some of them wanted to seize Him, but no one laid hands on Him. 1. Some of the multitude: Identified the Prophet. 2. Others: Identified the Christ. 3. Still others: Express their Biblical and Prophetical knowledge. We three clearly defined groups with three differing expressions. What's up with the distinction and how does that led to 'some of them' wanting to 'seize Him?' There is a difference between being the Prophet (ὁ προφήτης), the Christ (ὁ χριστός) and fulfilling origin prophecies. Luke addresses their paternal lineage question in Luke 2:1-7 (The Nativity Story).

Verses 45-52
v. 45 The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, "Why did you not bring Him?" Remember the officers? They were sent by the chief priests and Pharisees to seize Jesus (v. 32). The officers returned to the senders empty handed. They did not carry out the arrest warrant. They failed and they are asked 'why.' v. 46 The officers answered, "Never did a man speak the way this man speaks." They answered commenting on Jesus' authority expressed in the way He spoke. What did they hear? First, since being sent by the chief priests and Pharisees, they heard Jesus comment on His coming and going which no one will know about. Second, they heard Jesus address His ability to quench thirst that no party or festival beverage can quench. He will provide living water. That was their answer to the chief priests and Pharisees. v. 47 The Pharisees therefore answered the, "You have not also been led astray, have you? v. 48 "None of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he? v. 49 "But this multitude which does not know the Law is accursed." The Pharisees are who are experts at being led astray, not believing and not knowing the Law, reveal their character. The Pharisees: "were the most respected and influential group in Judaism. Having originated about 135 B.C., they were committed fellowship of men, determined to follow in exact detail everything required in the Mosaic Law. ... But the Pharisees made a tragic mistake. It began with their scribes (the experts in Bible interpretation) constantly interpreting and reinterpreting the Mosaic Law to show how it might apply to every aspect of contemporary life. To the Pharisee, these interpretations and additions were the oral Torah (law), which they place beside the written Torah as having equal authority." - Expository Dictionary of Bible Words, Lawrence O. Richards, Zondervan, p. 484-485, 1985. They, themselves, were lead astray from the Law. v. 50 Nicodemus said to them (he who came to Him before being one of them), v. 51 "Our Law does not judge a man, unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?" Remember Nic from John Chapter Three? There he was identified by John as a 'ruler of the Jews.' He was part of the religious ruling party. They claimed to have all religious authority as they ruled the behaviors of the people. Nicodemus, a changed man, argues for Jesus to be able to defend Himself. With this then the Pharisees, who have not heard these words for themselves, as the officers had, might ascribe authority to Jesus' teachings. v. 52 They answered and said to him, "You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee." They are intimidated and threatened. Therefore they shift the focus. They address Nic's origins. They resort to their previous defense of Galilee being the undesired origin of anything godly (cf. John 6:42; 7:41). They are convinced that their knowledge of the Law (both Torahs) is supreme to anything that Jesus may say.

SUMMARY
Relationships! It amazes me how often societies find themselves gathering at places of beverage consumption. Star Bucks is a high powered the coffee house by developing a following (a tribe) of young people in selling them overpriced coffee. Bars and clubs never survive where alcohol is not permitted to be sold. Beverage and the 'art' of drinking attracts people with a relational need. Therefore, Jesus said, if you are thirsty, come to me. You will never thirst again. Does having your basic and all defining need met in Jesus make you nervous about having your thirst forever quenched: no more drunkenness? Honestly, do I trust Him to begin my day? Do you trust Him to relax you, unwind you, take the edge off, or remove you from the stress of life? Are your relationships defined by what you drink? or, who you trust?

Bible Study
Without the Spirit of God, my Bible study is nothing but an exercise in knowing history. With the Spirit of God (living waters), my Bible study produces revelation of the person and purpose of Almighty God (YHWH, אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶֽהְיֶ֑ה, I AM, ἐγὼ εἰμι), resulting in a changed me towards the image of His Son, doing the will of the Father.

Romans 1:18-23
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though, they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. (Verse 24 Begins with 'Therefore ....")

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John 7:14-36 Jesus: The Life of the Party

PARAGRAPHS
Verses 14-18 Jesus Amazes the Jews ... No Unrighteousness in Him
Verses 19-24 Crowd Misinterprets and Applies the Law
Verses 25-31 Ignorance Fosters Confusion
Verses 32-36 Pharisees: Where is He going?

COMMENTARY
14. But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach. Verses 1-9 of this chapter have Jesus and His brothers planning the festival trip. Verses 10-13 tell of Jesus and His brothers arriving in Jerusalem but by differing avenues. Verse 14 picks up the story in the middle of the feast, the Feast of Booths or Feast of Dwellings. This feast was based on instruction given to Israel in Leviticus 23 to be observed 15 days after Yom Kippur. The Festival was established to commemorate the 40 year Exodus journey of the children of Israel through the wilderness living in temporary shelters. Gill's Exposition states that this was the fourth day of the Festival falling on the Sabbath. Therefore, Jesus is in the temple and teaching on the Sabbath. "In the Jewish sense of the term, a priest (kohein) is a descendant of Aaron, charged with performing various rites in the Temple, in connection with religious rituals and sacrifices. ... A rabbi is simply a teacher, a person sufficiently educated in halakhah (Jewish Law) and tradition to instruct the community and to answer questions and resolve disputes regarding (Jewish Law)" - http://www.jewfaq.org (Judaism 101). 15. The Jews then were astonished, saying, "How has this man become learned, having never been educated?" The Jews in the Temple listening to a uninvited yet wanted visiting teacher are struck by His content. The Greek word 'educated' is μεμαθηκώς () from μανθάνω meaning: learn or understand. The Liddell-Scott-Jones Lexicon (LSJ) adds the connotation of being 'under persuasion.' Jesus will address this issue of persuasion head-on. 16. So Jesus answered them and said, "My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17. "If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. 18. "He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. Jesus answers the persuasion (education) issue brought up by the Jews by deferring to His Father: 1. My teaching is from my Father; 2. I seek His glory, not my own. Those two methods allow Jesus to self-define a righteous teacher. A teacher is forthcoming with his sources and seeks no prestige of his own. Further, Jesus is willing to share His teaching. The Jewish religion was, and is, a closed circuit of privileges, but Jesus said that obeying God will give you access to His source, the Father.

19. "Did not Moses give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law? Why do you seek to kill Me?" By quoting Moses, on the Sabbath (?), Jesus clearly states that His 'persuasion is not inconsistent with the Law. Jesus presents the Sixth Commandment, through Moses, as authoritative before the Jews. The Jews misunderstood the Sixth Commandment during Jesus time and we have also propagated their confusion. They present their misunderstanding by their answer in the next verse, but what is Jesus allowing to surface here? He is opposing His adversaries by calling them hypocrites regarding the Law. They 'know' it, but they do not 'carry it out.' The Greek word, ποιεῖ from ποιέω, commonly means: to do, make, to keep. Other Greek usages reflect nuances of: create, produce, imply, effect a solution, compose, write, represent, describe, invent, bring about, cause, procure, make, render, deem, do, prepare, or act. 20. The crowd answered, "You have a demon! Who seeks to kill You?" Jesus is addressing 'the Jews' but the crowd answers. The response of the crowd sides with most common misconceptions of Jesus: He is a lunatic. The crowd, somewhat ignorant of the ruler's plan, is asserting His voiced paranoia as resulting from demonic activity manifested in a disordered mind. Keep in mind that Jesus finds Himself in a first person object of the rulers hypocritical profession and the common crowd would never level the charge of 'hypocrisy' against their religious rulers. 21. Jesus answered them, "I did one deed, and you all marvel. 22 "For this reason Moses has given you circumcision (not because it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a man. 23. "If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath? 24 "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." Oh, the confidence of knowing that judges judge with righteousness. Jesus is capable of doing such. Why? Our text states that He is One who perfectly represents His Father.

25 So some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, "Is this not the man whom they are seeking to kill? 25 "Look, He is speaking publicly, and they are saying nothing to Him. The rulers do not really know that this is the Christ, do they? 27 "However, we know where this man is from/ but whenever the Christ may come, no one knows where He is from." Confusion verbalized. The people, gathered near the Temple in Jerusalem during the Feast of Booths, are questioning their religious authorities regarding Him. The people are noted to wrestle with two issues. They seek to kill Him yet He speaks publicly and they do nothing for they do not know Him. We know where He is from and they, the religious rulers, say no one will no the origins of the Christ. They must not be serious about killing Him and He must not be the Christ. The people's confusion rose from one issue: they did not know the scriptures for themselves. This ignorance led them to subjugation by the religious rulers and to misinterpretation of the scriptures. If they had know the scriptures, they would not be confused. For they would identify the error or presuppositions of the religious rulers and know that the Messiah would not appear out of obscurity. 28. Then Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, "You both know Me and know where I am from and I have not come of Myself but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. 29. "I know Him, because I am from Him, and He sent" The way Jesus addresses the confused crowd, lets us know His priority. From the two issues He asserts in a positive manner, the paramount relation that the crowd must make between Him and the Father. The crowd might have known His genealogy (Line of David, Bethlehem, Mary, Joseph, Christmas, etc.) but He provides opportunity to make the connection of Him to His Father (YHWH, אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶֽהְיֶ֑ה, ὁ Λόγος, ἐγὼ εἰμι). Their inability to make this relational connection will continue their confusion. 30. So they were seeking to seize Him; and no man laid his hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. 31. But many of the crowd believed in Him; and they were saying, "When the Christ comes, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He?" Their confusion led to them wanting to 'seize Him' by 'lay(-ing) hands on Him.' The will of God easy trumps the will of man or the sheer madness of a crowd. Many make the relational connection of Jesus to His Father, but crowd remains confused. It is easy to extrapolate the crowd's confusion to validate their role in the future sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Greek word πιάσαι (Aorist Active Infinitive of πιάζω) translated 'seize' means: to lay hold of, seize, apprehend, take, catch. Liddell-Scott-Jones (LSJ) gives etymological nuances of: press, weigh down (heavy weight), press hard (victorious army), bare hardly upon, determine precisely, repress, stifle, outweigh, etc. The crowd, in their confusion, was pursuing to stifle Jesus which aligned their will with that of the rulers seeking to kill Him.

32. The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about Him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to seize Him. The rulers follow the lead of the people by seeking to 'seize' Him. The difference is that the crowd wanted to handle the 'seizing' themselves while the Pharisees and chief priests send the officers to do their stifling. Some commentators believe that the Pharisaical action was in response the crowd's belief while some promote the view of the crowd leading the way of 'seizing' for the Pharisees and chief priests. The Greek word translated 'seize' is the same as in verse 30 above. The Greek word γογγύζοντος (Masculine Singular Genitive Present Active Participle from γογγύζω) translated 'muttering' means: murmur, mutter, grumble. LSJ traces this word also being used in the following Biblical texts: Numbers 14:29; Numbers 17:5; Matthew 20:11; John 6:41; and Numbers 11:1. Each of these Biblical citings place this verb in a negative context. Each cited text is illustrating a time of unbelief, mistrust and disobedience of man towards God. John 6:41 describes the crowd in Capernaum who 'grumbled' at Jesus proclaiming that He Is the Bread of Life. The Pharisees heard this believing to ride on the wave of the general populous tide, reported it to the chief priests, then summoned the officers to apprehend Jesus. 33. Therefore Jesus said, "For a little while longer I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me. 34. "You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come." His time is not yet and where He is going only He can go. Many will not chose to follow Him. Some will chose to follow Him. All will end up abandoning Him. 35. The Jews then said to one another, "Where does this man intend to go that we will not find Him? He is not intending to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks, is He? 36. "What is this statement that He said, 'You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come'? The Jews thought Jesus was looking for a way of escape. No, He will continue to be with them, teaching them and in the midst of them, but His agenda is from and of the Father which man cannot thwart.

SUMMARY

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John 7:1-13 Road Trip: Twisted & Mixed Agendas

Paragraphs
Verses 1-9 Hidden Agendas Revealed
Verses 10-13 Mixed Public Opinion

COMMENTARY
1. After these things Jesus was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him. 2. Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near. John turns a sharp chronological corner in this section that extends half way through the 10th chapter (John 7:1-10:18). John knew of Jesus' later Galilean ministry but felt that it was not detrimental to the Gospel according to him. John, therefore, has Jesus leaving Capernaum with those events occurring prior to Passover (6:4) to the time of the Feast of Tabernacles or Feast of Booths. Note that the Jews were progressing in their disdain for Jesus. They were now seeking to kill Him. Their acts are now premeditated, planned and will ultimately be, from a human perspective, murder in the first degree. The Feast of Booths or Tabernacles which lasted seven days (vv. 33-43) was one of the appointed feasts given in Leviticus 23 occurring in the last half of September or the first half of October. The feast was one of three annual feasts at which attendance was required of all Jewish men (Expositor's Bible Commentary, Frank E. Gaebelein, Gen. Ed., Zondervan Corporation, Vol. 9, p. 82). Every seventh year during this feast debts were canceled (Deuteronomy 31:10). Our ultimate depth was soon to be canceled. "Mary, did you know that the boy that you delivered, would soon deliver you?" -Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene. 3. Therefore His brothers said to Him, "Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. 4. "For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world." Jesus, do You need a PR man? Here, let me give you some direction about how to market yourself. If you would just get out in front of the crowd in Jerusalem a little, then you would in a position to call the shots. Family? Brothers? If anyone had an opportune position of knowing Jesus intimately, it would be His brothers. Yet they seem to be driven by their desires for position, power and publicity. I don't think that experientially knew their Brother. They were bent on riding on the Golden Child's coat tails. So much of religion, man reaching his hand out and performing for god is done publicly and before men. While Christianity is about the condition of the heart and the private integrity of it. I have heard it said that what a man does alone and in the dark is a measure of who he truly is. 5. For not even His brothers were believing in Him. They were not believing. But, they were manipulating and persuading Him. Believing is trust. Trust is not manipulation and persuasion. The number of followers, 'believers,' 'disciples' is dwindling. 6. So Jesus said to them, "My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune. 7. "The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil. 8. "Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come." Jesus is aware of the timing. This point always amazes me. "Eternity steps into time so that we would understand" - Michael Card . Listen at that chastisement: ὁ δὲ καιρὸς ὁ ὑμέτερος πάντοτε ἐστιν ἕτοιμος. The world cannot hate that which is a synonymous expression. The world only hates that which is different or in opposition to it. Jesus fits that description. They are seeking to kill Him. 9. Having said these things to them, He stayed in Galilee. They say 'Go.' He says, 'NO" and stays put for now.

10. But when His brothers had gone up to the feast, then He Himself also went up, not publicly, but as if, in secret. Remember that if you ever go to Jerusalem, regardless of your southward, northward, eastward or westward approach, you will always refer to 'up' supporting the altitude and prominence of the city of Jerusalem. It is up. Jesus' 'secret' arrival into Jerusalem was either due to arriving via a unpopular route, i.e. through Samaria. Or, Jesus came into the city an unorthodox time. Irregardless, His arrival was not an act of deception. The Greek word, κρυπτός, means: secret, hidden, inward, private, covered or concealed. This word, κρυπτός, also translated "'secret service' was used by the Athenians in the subjectstates" (Liddell Scott Jones). For a man with opposed need of a PR man, Jesus had to work at secrecy. I don't know about you, but if walked down main of my hometown, it would be considered secret because I don't have the notoriety. Jesus had the notoriety and He did not need to go public. 11. So the Jews were seeking Him at the feast and were saying, "Where is He?" Look for Him. But, do not ever be caught looking for Him in order to kill Him. Look for Him. For He is the Bread of Life. 12. There was much grumbling among the crowds concerning Him; some were saying, "He is a good man;" others were saying, "No, on the contrary, He leads the people astray." A divided public opinion. "Those who spoke evil of him spoke out, because they had the rulers on their side; but those who spoke good of him were obliged to do it in private, because they feared these rulers. Calumny and slander are among the privileged orders; they stalk abroad with their thousand brazen mouths, and blast the reputation of the followers of God" - Clarke's Commentary on the Bible at http://biblecommenter.com/john/7-12.htm. 13. Yet no one was speaking openly of Him for fear of the Jews. This comment is as contemporary as today's local paper and weather forecast. The only exception is that the Church of the 21st Century is concerned with being popular, politically correct, offensive, and relevant. What about the TRUTH regardless of its popularity, political correctness, offensiveness or relevance? As we will soon see, experiencing the TRUTH will set you FREE.

SUMMARY
Are you trusting in God's timing or are you focused on the latest media technique, marketing ploy, popular relevance or being offensive? Do you trust God or do you just say you trust God?

The Feast of Booths was a time directed by God for His people to rest, reflect and give thanks. What in your life tells that story?

"The brethren or kinsmen of Jesus were disgusted, when they found there was no prospect of worldly advantages from him. Ungodly men sometimes undertake to counsel those employed in the work of God; but they only advise what appears likely to promote present advantages. The people differed about his doctrine and miracles, while those who favoured him, dared not openly to avow their sentiments. Those who count the preachers of the gospel to be deceivers, speak out, while many who favour them, fear to get reproach by avowing regard for them."
-Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary at http://biblecommenter.com/john/7-1.htm

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John 6:59-71 Grumbling, Stumbling and a Profession

Paragraphs:
Verse 59 Setting of the Scene
Verses 60-65 Followers Grumble and Stumble
Verses 66-71 Peter Gets It Right

COMMENTARY
59 These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum. The synagogue was the Jewish center of local religious life. Capernaum, as you might remember, is Peter's home. The things said refer to the previous text in which Jesus proclaims His deity and reveals their grumbling. He was not hiding or trying to be incognito. He said these things while at the center of Jewish religiosity. Therefore the Old Testament applications were completely understood by his audience.

60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, "This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?" The plight of "total group of adherents" reflects the mentality of the general human population. What they thought was immediately said. They heard, they concluded, then, they spoke. If we do not understand, we might simply do not want to understand. Therein, validating one of mankind's ultimate faults in that we think we know it all. Be careful of how you verbalize your doubts. 61 But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, The word translated 'conscious' is simply an awareness or familiarity. It is not a deep insightful perception of their inward being. They voiced there disdain and Jesus had thoughts about it. "Does this cause you to stumble? 62 "What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? 63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 64 "But there are some of you who do not believe." Do you understand what Jesus previously said that resulted in their grumbling? Do you understand the meaning of 'eating His flesh' and 'drinking His blood' (6:53)? How then will you be able to grasp the significance of His burial, resurrection and ascension? They did not know. They grumbled which resulted in stumbling. The Spirit is the transmitter of life. Life is not attained by eating. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. "Jesus had given ample opportunity for faith to all those who followed him; yet from the beginning his spiritual discernment made him aware of those whose faith was genuine and those whose attachment was only superficial (The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Frank E. Gaebelein, Ed., Vol. 9, 1981, p. 79)." 65 And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father." This statement should not surprise us. For, He is simply referring all of His attention to His Father. This made it well know to His followers in Capernaum, that He is about His Father's business and it is all about His Father (6:37 and 44). Simply, the Father grants access to the Son (The Word, 1:1) and the Spirit gives life.
66 As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. All this talk about the Father and the Spirit caused many of His followers to leave. The crowd is dwindling. They could not force themselves to understand what they could not understand. They could not all this talk of the supremacy of the Father and the Spirit in faith and life. They did not want to give up their man centered religion.
67 So Jesus said to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?" The crowd is gone and now Jesus asks the pointed question. What about you? He asked it of them and He asks it of you. How will you answer? 68 Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. 69 "We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God." Peter got this right. Peter is often viewed as the leader of the twelve. The mouth of the disciples. Well, he got this one right. His answer is full of eternal profundity. 1. Jesus is IT. There is no other. 2. The article is obviously missing in 'words of eternal life." Thereby striking down any notion of a saving recantation. Jesus is the Word. 3. Believed (πεπιστεύκαμεν). 4. Became confident (ἐγνώκαμεν) in trusting that Jesus was the ὁ ἅγιος τοῦ θεοῦ. If you don't know any Greek, that phrase, ὁ ἅγιος τοῦ θεοῦ, is one worth knowing. Peter got it right. 70 Jesus answered them, "Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?" 71 Now He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray Him. It is amazing. That on the heels of such a right declaration of the Truth, that betrayal lurks. Jesus chose the twelve, but one, Judas Iscariot also chose to betray.

SUMMARY

As we wrap up Jesus' time in Capernaum, we are exposed with truth covering Jesus being the Bread of Life. As the crowd and the twelve were presented with a choice of response, we are also given an opportunity to choose. Many will abandon Him, but you don't want to go away also, do you?' Choose you this day.

The Father grants. The Son 'speaks.' The Spirit gives eternal life. There is no human effort that surpasses the call of God, the Word of God and the Life of God. Jesus will soon present Himself with another by stating that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Does this dependence on God for your life make you withdraw or draw near to God?

Several years ago now, I was spontaneously asked by a dear mentor, to provide a group with the difference between 'religion' and 'Christianity.' I came up with this on the spur of the moment. Religion is man reaching up to God. Christianity is God reaching down to man. Are you busy in your religion? So busy going nowhere? Trust, believe, know the Holy One of God (ὁ ἅγιος τοῦ θεοῦ). Life will then have purpose and direction.

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Grumbling and Arguing? John 6:41-58

ACCORDING TO JOHN
CHAPTER 6 VERSES 41-58
Therefore the Jews were grumbling about Him, because He said, “I am the bread that came down out of heaven.” They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say, ‘I have come down out of heaven’?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. “It is written in the prophets, ‘AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. “Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. “I am the bread of life. “Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. “This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. “I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”
Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. “For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. “As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. “This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever.”

COMMENTARY
41. Therefore the Jews were grumbling about Him, because He said, “I am the bread that came down out of heaven.” Does it surprise you that the Jews were 'grumbling.' What is grumbling? Well, according to Dictionary.com the antonym of grumble is 'compliment' or 'praise.' Whenever there is grumbling, muttering or murmuring, then there is surely no thinking highly of or saying anything good about anyone else. In our family the following phrase is often verbalized. 'If you can't say anything good, then don't say anything at all.' Grumbling, muttering or murmuring is very self focused. And there is no doubt that the Jews, as they were grumbling about Jesus, were very self focused with their thoughts honed in on their religion, lineage, knowledge and prominence. 42. They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say, ‘I have come down out of heaven’?” Ever been so right about what you know, confident in all matters of physics, accounting, history, botany, trivia, science, relationships, religion, etc. that you missed the transcendent premise? Smart folks can miss the essential to Life facts. The Jews knew Jesus' natural birth facts but they did not know His eternal birth facts. These facts are covered in the first chapter of John's gospel account. John 1:1-4 "In (the) beginning was the Word, the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was light, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." The Jews did not comprehend it. They knew His mother and father, but they did not know His Father. 43. Jesus answered and said to them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. Cease the grumbling, complaining, barking, grunting, whining, snuffling, snarling, mumbling and muttering among yourselves. Jesus hears you. 44. "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. It is refreshing to contemplate the role of the Father in one coming to Jesus. It is also refreshing to hear the Son refer to His Father is such a capacity. In His defense to the grumbling Jews, Jesus compliments His Father. 45. "It is written in the prophets, ‘AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. This is not a knew thought. The Jews, through the writings of the prophets, knew this. The Father promotes the Son as the Son compliments the Father. The Father draws. 46. "Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father. Be careful, only the Begotten One has seen the Father. The Father will draw but He is still not visible. That is why Jesus is here. Behold the One from the Father. 47. "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. 48. "I am the bread of life. Ἐγὼ εἰμι ὅ ἄρτος τῆς ζωῆς I might add at this point for all the scripture sceptics, that there are no variations between the six main Greek texts: Wescott/Hort, Greek Orthodox, Tischendorf 8th Ed. with Diacritics, Stephanus Textus Receptus (1550 with Accents), Byzantine/Majority Text (2000), and Textus Receptus (1894). Peshitta: ܐܢܐ ܐܢܐ ܠܚܡܐ ܕܚܝ܀. "If your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50. "This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51. "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” Jesus is asking the Jews to remember the state of their past fathers while God provided manna for them in the desert after delivering them out of Egypt (Exodus 16). This also refers to the bodily crucifixion of Jesus. Notice that he 'will give' not that they 'will take' or they 'will kill.' Jesus was not planning to be a victim. He, even at this point in His journey, was planning to be a sacrifice. Therefore, the crucifixion of Jesus will not fit in the defense of 'capital punishment.' For His crucifixion was not a punishment even if we think so. It was an offering and a sacrifice. He paid for our sin. He had no sin of His own for which to be punished. Therefore, He cannot be punished and we cannot offer a sacrifice for the life of the world for we deserve punishment based on our sin and guilt.
52. Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” They grumble then they argue. Such is the plight of the 'know-it-alls' when they do not understand. Been there (or so I think), done that (most definitely). 53. So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54. “ who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55. “For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. 56. “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. Chew on this for a while. This is a direct foreseeing of His crucifixion which will be observed by Christians with the Lord's Supper. The Lord's Supper, or the Last Supper, will modeled by Christ in the upper room and then prescribed by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthians. Some say that this text lends to the literal 'eating' and 'drinking' of Christ's flesh and blood in the observance of the Lord's Supper with the bread and the wine. Some say that the bread and the wine are symbolic. Regardless, the crucifixion of Jesus, as foretold here, is to be embraced and is essential to eternal life which will culminate in our resurrection. 57. “As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. 58. “This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever.” AMEN!!!

SUMMARY
In a day in which knowledge is vehemently pursued at all costs, there is only knowledge of Jesus that will attain eternal life. His death, burial and resurrection are essential elements in one's arsenal of that attainment. Do you believe that His death was a gift and not a punishment? Do you believe that He was in the grave for three days and not just passed out from the exertion? Do you believe that He was raised from the death by the power of His Father as an exclamation of His approval of His Son's sacrifice and that Jesus' body was not stolen? For Jesus walked around for over 40 days, appearing and speaking to thousands after being raised from the dead. Do you believe it? If so, then you just ate of the Bread of Life! You will be raised on the Last Day.

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John 6:26-40 I AM the Bread of Life

Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. "Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” So they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform? "Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘HE GAVE THEM BREAD OUT OF HEAVEN TO EAT.’” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. "For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. "But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. "This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”


VERSES 26-34
This paragraph, verses 26-34, is the first of our text for this post. It serves to transition us from the great provision of the previous day to allow for the crowd from the 5,000 to be more thoroughly instructed in the impact of their miraculous lunch. 26. Jesus answered them The question Jesus is answering is from our previous text, verse 25, "Rabbi, when did You get here?"and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. A question of motive for the crowd that was with Him the previous day and benefited from the 5 loaves and 2 fish. Motive reflects why we do what we do. Have you ever considered why you do what you do? Jesus had a way of getting below our superficial behaviors to uncover our deep motivational intents. For, why you do what you do overwhelms the importance of what you do, especially in your endeavors to follow Jesus. That was the reason for His answer. Are they seeking Him or are they seeking miracles of having their bellies filled again. 27. "Do not work for the food which perishes, Yes, on the heels of providing food, Jesus articulates the total futility of food itself. Food perishes. Why is so much of our lives in pursuit of such a thing that perishes? Try not working for food. Try doing without a meal. Then see the result of your motives. Those who voice the atrocities of doing certain things are melted away by seeing their children hunger if not by their own growling guts. but for the food which endures to eternal life, How much move valuable is life eternal than food. Feed the world, be a hero. Present eternal life options, be persecuted. which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” The Greek word translated as 'seal' is ἐσφράγισεν. It occurs here in the Third Person Singular Aorist Active Indicative. The author of this Gospel, John, along with the Apostle Paul are the two major users of this term. Outside of their usage, Matthew uses it one time in Matthew 27:66 "So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone." This Greek term, ἐσφράγισεν, speaks of a stamp with a signet or mark of security or preservation. What approval! Are you approved of by someone of true significance? Whose signet mark or ring do you bestow? Do you, dads, approve of your son(s) in this manner? The aorist tense of this verb denotes a 'simple, undefined, past action.' Approval does not have to be a show. But it needs to happen in a significant manner. 28. Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” People will gravitate towards and question those who have someone's approval. In this case, Jesus had His Father's approval. 29. Jesus answered and said to them, Note Jesus' patience with these folks in this dialogue. “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” Trying to work your way to heaven? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. 30. So they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform? Amazing! How quickly they, and we, forget the previous days feeding of the 5,000 and us. An empty belly has no memory. Hold on to that thought. For it will be developed as we progress. 31. "Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘HE GAVE THEM BREAD OUT OF HEAVEN TO EAT.’” Here 'them' turns to proof-texting their food based inquisition. By quoting from the Exodus event in Exodus 16, in which God provided manna and quail for the sojourners, they have a heritage memory. God did this for our fathers. They quickly abandoned yesterday's events when Jesus gave them fish and chips on the mountain side. 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. 33. "For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” Jesus takes there awareness of their heritage and drives home the point that His Father, not Moses, is their provider. As long as their hope was on Moses, and not The Father, then they will be hungry. But, if their hope is in the Father God, then they will have life from heaven. 34. Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.” Good choice! As naive and misdirected as this request may be, it was a simple request based on them not knowing all that it entailed.

VERSES 35-40
Having gotten to the core issue, this paragraph, verses 35-40, contain Jesus' revelation monologue. 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ἄρτος τῆς ζωῆς This is the climax of these two paragraphs stretching from verse 26 to verse 40. The crowd made a request and Jesus answers with resounding revelation. His sole use, for He is solely worthy, of this phrase, Ἐγώ εἰμι, serves to identify resulting in people either welcoming Him or rejecting Him. 'Come' and 'believe.' Regarding the Greek word, ἐρχόμενος, translated 'come,' Strong's Concordance gives us 'accompany, appear, bring, come, enter, fall out, go, and grow' as synonyms. Seeing is NOT believing. 36 "But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe.37 "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. Coming and believing will result in eternal acceptance and belonging. 38. "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. Be sure this is the will of the Father, the One who fed their fathers in the wilderness. This same Father sent this one before them and He is about His Father's desire. 39 "This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. This is the will of the Father. This is the will of God. 'I lose nothing' is literally 'I destroy nothing.' 'Lose' is a figurative interpretation of the Greek word ἀπόλλυμι. Littel, Scott, Jones offers other renderings based on other Greek texts: demolish, lay waste, ruin, kill. The 'all' refers to the authority and sanction that was bestowed on Jesus as a result of His identity and mission. Of all His rights and authorities that may seem to be vanquished, will never be completely demolished. For the resurrection will gather and restore. Death, where is your victory? 40. "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” What is true for Him, is true for those who 'behold' and 'believe.' Eternal life and resurrection is the desire, will, purpose, mandate, sanction, pleasure, decree, determination of the Father.

SUMMARY
Do find yourself seeking after Jesus, pursuing Him, inquiring of Him or being fed by Him? Some experience the blessings of Christ while never doing those things. However, blessed are those who 'come,' 'behold,' and 'believe' in Him. He is the I AM.

Regarding the impact of food on our faith, the statement was made that empty bellies have short or no memories. That may be true but empty bellies can have hope based on a belief or faith in Christ. Consider your faith the next time you are hungry. Consider how quickly you abandon His promised provision the next time you have nothing to eat. He was faithful to your fathers. He was faithful yesterday. He is faithful now. And He will be faithful tomorrow. Do not abandon your faith on an empty stomach. That is the time when faith is most prevalent and most beneficial. Please read Matthew 6:25-33 for another perspective on faith and food. Without faith it is impossible to please God.