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.

CONTACT INFORMATION

If you need help dealing with your questions without withdrawing from the Holy One of God, then we are here to help.

Family Life Style Ministries, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) ministry of the Lane family based in Griffin, Georgia.

Email: flsministries@bellsouth.net

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John 3:1-21 A Private Nightime Conversation

According to John
(ΚΑΤΑ ΙΩΑΝΝΗΝ)
Chapter One:
In Beginning...
Follow Jesus
Chapter Two:
Obey Jesus
Expel Twisted and Diluted Worship

John 3:1-21 (two paragraphs)
Verses 1-15 and Verses 16-22

1. Now there was a man of the Pharisees , named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2. this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3. Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4. Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 5. Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9. Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10. Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? 11 “Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. 12 “If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 “No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. 14 “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

Verse 1-15
Now there was a man of the Pharisees, Pharisee (Φαρισαίων)- means "separatists," from parash, "to separate"-those who carefully kept themselves from any legal contamination, distinguishing themselves by their care in such matters from the common people, the `am ha'arets, who had fewer scruples. Like the Puritans in England during the 17th century, and the Presbyterians in Scotland during the same period, the Pharisees, although primarily a religious party, became ere long energetically political. They were a closely organized society, all the members of which called each other chabherim, "neighbors"; this added to the power they had through their influence with the people. named Nicodemus, The Pharisee of our story has a name. His name is Nicodemus. Nicodemus will play a vital role in John's account. He will prove to be the basis for John's access to the temple courts later. John and Nicodemus' acquaintance, perhaps friendship is probably the basis for John communicating this night time conversation while the other three gospel writers omit it. a ruler of the Jews; ruler - ἄρχων Present participle of archo; a first (in rank or power) -- chief (ruler), magistrate, prince, ruler. this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Nicodemus was a ranking Pharisee official. He had political and religious position and clout. But his position and clout presently afforded him no advantage in the dark of night, when he is one on one with I AM. The inclusion of Nicodemus with all of the other Pharisees (first person plural, “we”) gives us insight into the insecurity first hinted by him coming to Jesus at night. He did not have the confidence to stand alone. Nicodemus correctly identifies Jesus as a teacher from God, but he fails to grasp that Jesus is so much more than a teacher. He is the Teacher and yet so much more. Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Carefully note the priority of being born again as the necessity of even seeing the kingdom of God. What is the kingdom of God? We will answer this question as we roll through John. Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” Note Nicodemus' confusion with the literal being born from your mother's womb. In this section there is somewhat a confused debate on the meaning of the aspect of being born again as it includes the water. Some say this literally refers to the amniotic fluid of the mother’s womb. Other, based on the later account of John the Baptist and Jesus in Acts believe Jesus is referring to the water baptism of John the Baptist. Acts 1:4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 11:16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ Be it known that the Father is the main proactive agent in the necessary second birth. Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” As Jesus further offer an explanation to Nicodemus, we see the benefits progressing from 'seeing' the kingdom of God to 'entering' the kingdom of God. HUGE DISTINCTION! The words for Spirit and spirit are from the same root of the Greek word πνεῦμα . Our concordances give room for misinterpretation here with their insertion of "Ghost" and "ghost" for possible translations. The first century Greeks and the recipients of John's gospel knew this word to mean either 'blast, wind; breathed air, breath; divine inspiration; spiritual or immaterial being, angel." The Spirit of God is not a Ghost of God. The Holy Spirit is not a holy ghost. He is a part of the trinity and His Name is paramount. Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be? Nicodemus, a ruler, a teacher of the law, a political man of clout and position does not begin to grasp the meaning of this. Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? “Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. “If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? “No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. Jesus first clarifies that Nicodemus, a religious and political ruler of Israel should be able to understand the teachings. For Nicodemus declared Jesus to be a teacher from God. Jesus then prioritizes His personal agenda on earth. He will speak, but He will not be understood. He tells us of the relation between His incarnation (John 1:14) and His ascension (John 21) all for the purpose of us having eternal life in Him through belief. The word 'believes' is from πιστεύω meaning "to trust" or "to entrust." The essence of 'belief' exists but in a subservient mode relating to 'trust." This Greek word is also commonly translated as 'faith.' I like to translate the last portion of verse 15 as "so that whoever trusting in Him will have eternal life."

Verses 16-21
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. This is probably the most well known verse of the Bible. Yet, it is often the most least believed in verse of the Bible. Notice Jesus' emphasis is on salvation rather than judgment. A good friend of mine reminded me recently that you will become that which you worship. If you believe that God is mad then you will likely become a mad person. If you believe that God is angry then you will tend to be an angry person. Here we have Jesus focusing on salvation, not judgment. If you believe that God is primarily concerned with judging you then you will primarily be judgmental. He is concerned with you and your eternal destiny. “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. Men love the darkness. Or, at least they love to see how much they can get away with in the darkness. Truth is, the Light is painful and hurts the eyes when they are use to the dark. When you are use to the darkness you learn to fear the light. Likewise, when you are use to the light, you will tend to try to stay away from the darkness. The Light will expose all the deeds done in the darkness. “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” Notice here that the truth is related to the Light; implying that the lie is related to the darkness. Live a life of truth or live a life of lies. Your choice. The term "wrought" is the Greek word ἐργάζομαι meaning: 'work, do, perform.' This a foundational verse pointing to who is the primary parting in salvation: God.

Conclusion
Are you, like Nicodemus, only to come to Jesus under the cover of darkness? When speaking of spiritual terms, do you hide yourself in the shadows of your peers? Do you fraternize yourself with the deeds that are contrary to the Light of Jesus? He is extremely focused on your salvation but your deeds will judge you. Trust HIM and you will know life that is true with no more lies or deception. He is TRUTH and LIGHT and LIFE. Trust HIM.

Let us know how we can help you with your desire to walk in the Light. We can be reached at FLSMinistries@bellsouth.net.