John 7:25-36

So some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, “Is this not the man whom they are seeking to kill? 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? However, we know where this man is from; but whenever the Christ may come, no one knows where He is from.” 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. I know Him, because I am from Him, and He sent Me.” So they were seeking to seize Him; and no man laid his hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. 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?”

The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about Him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to seize Him. Therefore Jesus said, “For a little while longer I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me. You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.” 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? What is this statement that He said, ‘You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come’?”

Introduction:

Theme: Four considerations of Jesus 

I. People are confused about Jesus vv. 25-27

A. Confusion about His publicity vv. 25-26

B. Confusion about His identity vs. 27

II. We must clarify the truth about Jesus vv. 28-29

Three Ways we can do this:

1. Know why you believe Jesus is the Christ 

2. Live in obedience to the commands of Jesus Christ

3. Tell others about Jesus Christ 

III. Some people will come to faith in Jesus vv. 30-32

Two contrasting responses of the people vv. 30-32

1. Hostility – concerned by His popularity vv. 30, 32  

2. Belief – convinced by His signs vs. 31

IV. We must caution against waiting to believe in Jesus vv. 33-36

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Introduction:

Review:

41 Therefore the Jews were grumbling about Him, because He said, “I am the bread that came down out of heaven.”

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’?”

43 Jesus answered and said to them, “Do not grumble among yourselves.

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.

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. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father.

47 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.

48 I am the bread of life.

49 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.”

52 Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”

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 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.

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.”

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.”

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
(John 6:41-71 NASB)

Theme: Five Common Responses to the bold claims of Christ that reveal if you have been taught by God.

I. The first response of the Jews: complaining vv. 41-42

The answer from Jesus: restatement vv. 43-51

II. The second response of the Jews: arguing vs. 52

The answer from Jesus: strong proclamation vv. 53-58

III. The first response of the disciples: hesitation vs. 60

The response of Jesus: confrontation vv. 61-65

IV. The second response of the disciples: abandonment vs. 66

The response from Jesus: question vs. 67

V. The response of the twelve: devotion vv. 68-69

The response from Jesus: affirmation vs. 70

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Introduction:

Review:

41 Therefore the Jews were grumbling about Him, because He said, “I am the bread that came down out of heaven.”

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’?”

43 Jesus answered and said to them, “Do not grumble among yourselves.

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.

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. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father.

47 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.

48 I am the bread of life.

49 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.”

52 Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”

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 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.

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.”

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.”

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
(John 6:41-71 NASB)

Theme: Five Common Responses to the bold claims of Christ that reveal if you have been taught by God.

I. The first response of the Jews: complaining vv. 41-42

The answer from Jesus: restatement vv. 43-51

II. The second response of the Jews: arguing vs. 52

The answer from Jesus: strong proclamation vv. 53-58

III. The first response of the disciples: hesitation vs. 60

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Introduction:

Review:

41 Therefore the Jews were grumbling about Him, because He said, “I am the bread that came down out of heaven.”

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’?”

43 Jesus answered and said to them, “Do not grumble among yourselves.

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.

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. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father.

47 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.

48 I am the bread of life.

49 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.”

52 Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”

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 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.

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.”

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.”

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
(John 6:41-71 NASB)

Theme: Five Common Responses to the bold claims of Christ that reveal if you have been taught by God.

I. The first response of the Jews: complaining vv. 41-42

The answer from Jesus: restatement vv. 43-51

II. The second response of the Jews: arguing vs. 52

The answer from Jesus: strong proclamation vv. 53-58

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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.

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.

38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

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.

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
(John 6:35-40 NASB)

Introduction:

Theme: Understanding the Work and Will of God

I. The Work of God is for you to believe on Jesus vv. 26-34

A. Three distractions that prevent saving faith in Christ vv. 26-31

1. Being satisfied with the wrong motive vs. 26
2. Doing the wrong work vv. 27-29
3. Making the wrong requests vv. 30-31
B. Two critical themes that further reveal Christ vv. 32-34
1. There is a true bread from heaven vs. 32
2. This bread of God gives eternal life vs. 33

II. The Will of God is to save all who believe on Jesus vv. 35-40

A. Three certainties for those who believe on Jesus vv. 35-37
1. All who believe in Him will be spiritually satisfied vs. 35

2. All who believe in Him are given to Him by the Father vs. 37a

3. None who are given to Him will be lost vs. 37b

B. The purpose of Jesus coming is to accomplish the Father’s will  vv. 38-40

1. The Father’s will to save believers cannot be thwarted vs. 39

2. The Father’s will to save believers results in eternal life vs. 40

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26 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.

27 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.”

28 Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”

29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”

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?

31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘ HE gave them bread out of heaven to eat. ’”

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.”

34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”
(John 6:26-34 NASB)

Introduction:

Review:

Theme: Understanding the Work and Will of God so you can be certain of eternal life

I. The Work of God is for you to believe on Jesus vv. 26-34

A. Three distractions that prevent people from saving faith in Christ vv. 26-31

1. Being satisfied with the wrong motive vs. 26

2. Doing the wrong work vv. 27-29

3. Making the wrong request vv. 30-31

B. Two critical themes that further reveal Christ vv. 32-34

1. There is a true bread from heaven vs. 32

2. This bread of God gives eternal life vs. 33

II. The Will of God is to save all who believe on Jesus vv. 35-40

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1 After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias).

2 A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick.

3 Then Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples.

4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near.

5 Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, *said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?”

6 This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do.

7 Philip answered Him, “ Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.”

8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, *said to Him,

9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?”

10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

11 Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted.

12 When they were filled, He *said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost.”

13 So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.

14 Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

15 So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone
(John 6:1-15 NASB)

Introduction:

TANSTAAFL

I. Overview of the miracle

A. Background of the Miracle vv. 1-9

1. The Location (vv. 1, 3) Sea of Galilee

Sea of Galilee – Bethsaida highlighted

2. The Occasion (vs. 4)

3. The Circumstances (vv. 2, 5, 7-9)

B. Presentation of the Miracle vv. 10-13

1. The Preparation (vs. 10)

2. The Performance (vs. 11)

3. The Provision (vv. 12-13)

C. Aftermath of the Miracle vv. 14-15

1. The Significance (vs. 14)

2. The Seizure Attempt (vs. 15)

II. What we learn from the miracle

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