ONEFAMILY OutreachONEFamily Outreach exists to "Connect Kids to Community and Communities to Kids." Have you considered having a mission week for your church? This is one of my favorite "in-depth" ways of reaching out with the Great News of Jesus Christ. Activities can include:
ONEFamily Outreach is primarily supported by trainings, workshops, retreats and concerts. Programs and Seminar Topics | Comments on Jerry's Newest Book | References | Contact Jerry “To Whom Shall We Go?”John 6:59-69August 24, 2003 John 6:59-69[Jn 6:59] These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum. [60] Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?” [61] But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, “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.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. [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.” [66] As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. [67] So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” [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.” (NAS) Overview“To Whom Shall We Go?” [John 6:68]Faith is deepened in situations where it is difficult to rely anymore on our reason or abilities. Yet, what is amazing about these five words, “to whom shall we go?” is that the disciples had purposely placed themselves in positions where self-reliance was no longer possible. Most of us might find ourselves in that position, but how many of us try and place ourselves in that position? Christ’s followers ranged from the well-to-do (like Matthew) to common laborers (like Peter, Andrew, James, and John the Beloved). They had careers—in the Middle Eastern sense—they had lives, families and loved ones that were put on hold as they followed Jesus for three years, even before they realized he was the Christ! So many of us do all that we can to not place ourselves in positions of vulnerability, but here we have the twelve who purposely sought out a complete dependency upon Jesus! And, from that dependency, comes the ultimate statement of faith. It is not, “we choose to believe in Jesus.” Neither is it, “it’s popular to believe in Jesus.” But, it was, “to whom shall we go?” “We have no options, Lord. We have given up everything else. We have placed ourselves in a situation where we have no choice but to keep following you.” There is the ultimate statement of faith! Not just the words, “to whom shall we go?” It is the steps that one takes to be totally dependent, reliant, and available to Jesus our loving Lord. It is scary, to think of giving up all of our control. Yet, whose direction is best able to keep us close to God’s love, his or ours? This week, let’s look within each day for one more way that we can make ourselves increasingly reliant upon Jesus. Perhaps, we will someday find ourselves able to make the ultimate statement of faith (along with Peter and the twelve), “Lord, to whom shall we go?” John 6:59-60[Jn 6:59] These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum. [60] Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?” “Who can listen to it?”A series of events was set into place when Jesus fed the 5,000 plus people on the hillside in Galilee. Suddenly, thousands began to follow Jesus, not for his truth, but for his bread. They likened him to Moses and began to chide him constantly saying; “If you are from God then feed us like Moses fed his followers.” In their minds they had found a great handout and now expected that handout to be delivered to them daily. As their chiding intensifies; so does Jesus’ message: John 6:54-56[Jn 6:54] “He 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.” (NAS) The words are a dividing point; they are dramatic, even abhorrent. They speak of death and suffering instead of free food and socializing. Jesus is drawing a line in the sand and defining the parameters of “follower-ship.” We cannot take Jesus on our own terms; we must take Jesus on his terms. They are difficult terms, improbable terms, they would even be impossible terms were it not for the grace of God. “Share in my death, drink from my suffering,” could the words be any more difficult? Yet, Jesus does not back away from the statement, not even with his own disciples who say, “this is a difficult statement, who can listen to it?” What happened on this day was that the Gospel became suddenly, and radically, uncomfortable. Those who had been following Jesus to get bread, get fish, or even get a new political leader were confronted with a Gospel that wasn’t about “getting.” It was about giving... EVERYTHING! Where would I be on that day? Have I yet moved beyond the Gospel of Getting? Am I anywhere near the Gospel that demands that I share in the death and suffering of our Lord? Or, do I find myself fading back into the diminishing crowd while mumbling; “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?” John 6:61-62[61] But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble? [62] “What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before?” (NAS) “Does this cause you to stumble?”The word that John uses for stumble [GSN4624 skandalizo], is a remarkable word from which we get the word; “scandal.” One could interpret Jesus’ statement as; “Are you scandalized by what I say?” It is a word that Jesus uses frequently in his preaching: 1. Jesus uses the word as a caution when the disciples of John the Baptist ask if Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus does not point them to his words, but to his works. He tells them to look at what he has done. Then, he issues a strong caution; “Blessed is He who keeps from stumbling [GSN4624 skandalizo] over Me.” Matthew 11:4-6[Matt 11:4] And Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: [5] {the} blind receive sight and {the} lame walk, {the} lepers are cleansed and {the} deaf hear, and {the} dead are raised up, and {the} poor have the gospel preached to them. [6] “And blessed is he who keeps from stumbling over Me.” (NAS) Following Jesus may scandalize others, but it should never make us stumble! Jesus’ words to John and his disciples are strong: “Look at what I have done, make your decision and then don’t look back!” 2. Jesus uses the word as a threat to those who would cause a little one to stumble [GSN4624 skandalizo]. The usage is severe here. He actually tells his followers that it would be better for them to die than to block one child from God. He goes on to preach on the gravity of all sin. It is better to cut off one’s arm, cut off one’s foot, or pluck out one’s eye than to continue stumbling [GSN4624 skandalizo] into sin. Mark 9:41-43[Mark 9:41] “For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as {followers} of Christ, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward. [42] “And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea. [43] “And if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.” (NAS) These words are harsh, graphic, and vivid. They shock, confuse, and disorient. We want to water them down and make them more “edible.” We want to say; “What he really meant was…” But… what he really meant was… exactly what he said. This is how horrid sin is. This is how terrible the result. When it possesses any part of our bodies it is like a gangrenous limb that must be chopped off. Discarded! Its stench should make us wretch. That’s what Jesus really meant! This is why the words of Jesus divided and continue to divide. They are not words for the comfortable. They are not suggestions for living a “nice” life. Jesus didn’t come to offer us a “nice life.” Matthew 10:34[Matt 10:34] “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (NAS) We can hear Jesus saying, “Does this cause you to stumble?” “Does this scandalize you?” “Are my words too harsh?” Consider the alternative. Jesus is harsh when he needs to wake us up. He will do whatever he needs to do to keep us from a devastating ending. He sees us like children perched on the edge of oblivion not like plump philosophers debating reality on reclining couches. It was “shake and wake” time! Let us not lull people into sleep by compromising his words either. Hell is not a concept. Let’s take it as seriously as Jesus did. “What then if you see the Son of Man ascending?”Jesus told us he must be “lifted up” in two ways: 1. Into heaven, and 2. On the cross. John 3:13-15[John 3:13] “And no one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven, {even} the Son of Man. [14] “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; [15] that whoever believes may in Him have eternal life.” (NAS) We might think that our faith would be easier if we had been able to see Jesus ascend into heaven or that we would really commit if we saw Jesus descend from heaven (as he has promised to do someday). The reality is that this is not faith. Those who did not believe before Christ’s return are not going to have the opportunity to say; “Oh great, he did return, now I believe.” Rather, it will be more like; “Oh no… why didn’t I believe before when I had the chance?” We are called to be convinced by faith, not by scientific proof. A shroud from Turin, a sliver of wood supposedly from the cross, the search for the carpenter’s grail, none of this is the “stuff of faith.” We look at what Jesus did, we hear what Christ said, and then we decide. The thousands that left Jesus when he drew a line in the sand had seen his miracles. They had seen lepers cleansed, the blind see; they tasted of the bread, and heard the sweet words of salvation and still they said; “Give us more proof.” Jesus did everything short of making people believe. God has given us everything that he will give to bring us to a decision. What more is there to give after you have given your only son? What more could we even dare ask? No, even being raised up from the dead would not be enough for people who saw the evidence and still chose to be skeptics. Our Lord could cure anything except the cynical heart. “To where He was before?”Where was Jesus before? John 1:1-5[John 1:1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was in the beginning with God. [3] All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. [4] In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. [5] And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (NAS) Jesus was present at the creation; he was breathed before God set the universe to order. If we only realized what that meant we would be overwhelmed with the incredible gift that is our Lord and Savior. It means that before giving us free will, God gave us salvation. God created us even though he knew we would sin; even though he knew we would fall. Yet, he still created us! A dog must be a dog, a flower must be a flower, a monkey must be a monkey; but we… we have a choice to choose between the sacred and the profane! God created us with free choice. Why? Because love boils down to choice. Love is optional. In fact, love grows the most when we have a choice to abandon someone and yet, we remain committed. I had a friend who once told me he was leaving his wife to ‘go find himself.” I remember telling him that we “find ourselves” in our commitments, not leaving them. Our God is committed to us. Our Lord, Jesus, is committed to us. He left the Father’s side for sinners; sinners like me! He left holiness, perfection, and absolute joy. He allowed himself to be torn from perfect love. To be doubted, chided, condemned, beaten, spit upon, and murdered. He died to the Father and experienced the hell that should be mine. He descended… John 6:63-65[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.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. [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.” “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”There are numerous important words in this reading. · First there is Spirit [GSN4151 pneuma]; Jesus refers to the sacred breath of God: Invisible in form, yet undeniable in power. He compares the Breath of God (which gives life) to the flesh that profits nothing. · The flesh [GSN4561 sarx] not only refers to the body, carcass or corpse; but all things of the earth that eventually decompose. Even more, it refers to the “ways of the flesh,” lust and gluttony, consuming others with the absence of any kindness. Finally, it can be a general overall condemnation of the state of man freed to his own wanton desires. This, Jesus states, is the contrast between the life that he offers and the ways of our world. · These ways profit [GSN5623 opheleo] nothing [GSN3762 oudeis]; declares our Lord. One should understand this to mean that not only are these ways unprofitable to the individual who pursues them; but they are detrimental to all mankind. They are not just unprofitable; they are anti-profitable. To understand sin; we must understand that no sin is individual. No sin hurts only me. Every sin weakens the fabric of hope and trust that underpins all relationships. The man who views pornography on his personal computer may think it is a private sin; but it robs from his family and furthers an institution that denigrates the human body. The person who gossips about others undermines character and lends credence to the belief that such behavior is harmless when, in fact, it ruins lives. There is no private sin. All sin is communal, like little strands of a spider’s web that strengthen a trap of death. Such ways—man’s ways [GSN4561 sarx]—profit nothing. Now, conversely, think of the words and works that bring life to those needing hope. In a previous study of the Holy Spirit; I pointed out that one of the definitions that Jesus used for Spirit was: “The gentle reminder of all things good.” [John 14:26] Imagine being so filled with the Holy Spirit that this was the way that people described you and, in particular, those who were most downhearted. Imagine that this was the name by which you were most often described. Imagine that the sick, the weary, the poor and the imprisoned waited eagerly for your arrival because, to them, you were a reminder of all things gentle and good; all things of God. That is what Jesus promises. That is what the Holy Spirit can give. That is the “stuff of life” which is everlasting. These are the words, indeed, the character that are spirit and life. Galatians 5:22-24[Gal 5:22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. [24] Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (NAS) John 6:64-65[64] “But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. [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.” (NAS) For Jesus knewWhat does Jesus not know [GSN1492 eido]? He shared with God in the authorship of all creation. He knew every heart that was molded from the beginning of time: Psalm 139:2-102 Thou dost know when I sit down and when I rise up; Thou dost understand my thought from afar. 3 Thou dost scrutinize my path and my lying down, and art intimately acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O LORD, Thou dost know it all. 5 Thou hast enclosed me behind and before, and laid Thy hand upon me. 6 {Such} knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is {too} high, I cannot attain to it. 7 Where can I go from Thy Spirit? Or where can I flee from Thy presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, Thou art there; if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, Thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, 10 Even there Thy hand will lead me, and Thy right hand will lay hold of me. (NAS) What does Jesus not know? He knows our hearts, he knows our hopes, our fears, the innermost being that we try to hide from anyone else. He is “intimately acquainted with all my ways.” He knows us so well that he knows who is going to choose eternal life and who is not. Jesus knows all that God knows. John 2:24[Jn 2:24] But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men. (NAS) Hebrews 4:13[Heb 4:13] And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. (NAS) This might be fearful to some; but—to those who understand the love of God—this will bring great joy; because our Lord knows the pain of our heart and the sorrow of our lives. This, in no manner, excuses our sinfulness, but it is what brings us forgiveness when we fall upon the Lord’s grace. The Lord KNOWS! Alternatively, what a horrible sadness it would bring to know the fate of men. To look upon a face that you would offer all of eternity’s joy and yet know that person will never choose the right path. Mark 10:21-23[Mk 10:21 And looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” [22] But at these words his face fell, and he went away grieved, for he was one who owned much property. [23] And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” (NAS) Yet, even in this story there is some hope. The apostles are so unnerved by Jesus’ statement that they ask: Mark 10:26[Mk 10:26] And they [the Apostles] were even more astonished and said to Him, “Then who can be saved?” (NAS) And, Jesus gives his followers the key that we must desperately cling to: Mark 10:27[Mk 10:27] Looking upon them, Jesus said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” (NAS) Jesus knew this man would turn away but he still never gave up. He never compromised, he never diluted what he said to make it more amenable to his followers but he never stopped trying to offer them the gift of life either. We don’t know the “rest of the story” about the rich young man, nor are we supposed to. We are supposed to keep trying. Even when trying means to “shake the dust off our feet” [Matt 10:14] (a symbolic act of finality that shows someone they are doomed if they do not change their ways). The incredible truth is that some of the people who most reject us are those who come to the Lord because of our gentle firmness in the face of rejection. Certainly this was the case of one foul sinner named Saul who was converted shortly after he put Stephen to death. We cannot underestimate the power of Stephen’s final words on the man who took the church beyond Jerusalem’s grasp: Acts 7:59-60[Acts 7:59] And they went on stoning Stephen as he called upon {the Lord} and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” [60] And falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And having said this, he fell asleep. (NAS) It is never for us to decide if someone is a “lost cause.” No one is a lost cause to the Lord of the lost. He is the one who came for sinners, the defiled and the wounded. He came for us: Matt 9:12-13[Matt 9:12] But when He heard this, He said, “{It is} not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. [13] “But go and learn what {this} means, ‘I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (NAS) “Unless it has been granted him.”The term, “granted him” or “given him” [GSN1325 didomi] has a very wide base. The word is alternately used for: · Bringing someone forth (from obscurity); · Committing or charging some with a great adventure; · Delivering or bringing forth someone who is imprisoned, enslaved, or held hostage; · Striking someone with your hand (as when someone is confirmed by a Bishop in some traditions); · It is also used for granting someone power or ministering to a person in need. All of these definitions would apply appropriately to the Father who gives us life. We cannot “earn” our way to him. We cannot buy it, inherit it from our ancestors, or demand it. It is a gift; a gift that only God bestows and only bestows upon us when we accept the sacrifice of his Son. Read the list above again. Look at all that God offers us. He grants us the greatest adventure, empowers us to accomplish it and delivers us from obscurity and the imprisonment of sin. Our God is worthy of our utmost praise! Psalm 150:1-61 Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty expanse. 2 Praise Him for His mighty deeds; praise Him according to His excellent greatness. 3 Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with harp and lyre. 4 Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe. 5 Praise Him with loud cymbals; praise Him with resounding cymbals. 6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD! (NAS) John 6:66-69[Jn 6:66] As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. [67] So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” [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.” (NAS) “Lord, to whom shall we go?”This is one of the greatest statements of faith in the entire bible. For all the foibles of dear Peter, one has to be completely disarmed by his simple, revealing statements of uncomplicated faith. 1. Lord, to whom shall we go?” [John 6:68] 2. But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “Thou art the Christ.” [Mark 8:29] What should disarm us about these statements of faith are not just the words but also the actions that back them up. Peter and the twelve had other lives before Jesus. From tax collector to fishermen they had careers, families, and homes. They, just like us, had other choices but ultimately they placed themselves in positions where Jesus was their only remaining choice: “Lord, to whom shall we go?” This is perfect faith, not just a statement, but total reliance; placing oneself in complete dependence upon Jesus. Those closest to Jesus had burned the bridges behind them so that even when the statements of Jesus became increasingly more difficult there was no other place for them to go. It was following “without a net.” Copyright NoticeCopyright © 2005 Jerry Goebel. All Rights Reserved. This study may be freely distributed, as long as it bears the following attribution: Source: Jerry Goebel: 2005 © http://onefamilyoutreach.com. Scripture taken from God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society original work copyright © 1995. |