In the sixth chapter of the gospel of John, Jesus had just passed over the Sea of Galilee [Tiberias] and gone up on a mountain with His disciples. Jesus saw the multitudes approaching Him and told Andrew [Simon Peter’s brother] to make the people sit down in the grass and He took 5 barley loaves of bread and 2 fish [5+2=7], gave thanks, distributed them to the disciples and they meted out the food to the 5,000 people that were gathered there. On the next day Jesus crossed back over the Sea of Galilee and came to Capernaum [village of comfort/encourage].
In the synagogue [church] Jesus continues to expound on some really deep spiritual things such as eating His flesh [bread] and drinking His blood but their reaction and Jesus’ response is recorded in verses 60-61: Therefore many of His disciples [church people], when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples [church people] complained [grumbled] about this, He said to them, “Does this [teaching] offend you [cause you to stumble]?” Because His followers were spiritually blind and carnal-minded they could not grasp what Jesus was teaching, and sadly in verse 66, it reads: From that time many of His disciples [church people] went back [withdrew/went away] and walked with Him no more. Jesus was not literally talking about some kind of sadistic ritual of religious cannibalism, but rather offering a richer, deeper and more fulfilling relationship with Him in the Holy Spirit leading to eternal life (Cp. John 6: 53-54, 63).
What is quite instructional is mentioned in verse 64a: But there are some of you who do not believe [in the synagogue/church]. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe [past tense].
John 5: 40-41
“But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. “But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.”
There is no record in the gospel of John of any of those disciples who fell away ever returning back to Jesus, but it is possible that some of them may have done so at a later time. The thing is Jesus already knows who in the church today never did believe in Him and when the word of God offends them because they cannot spiritually discern it, become uncomfortable, agitated and eventually will no longer walk with the LORD. But as Peter said in verse 68: LORD, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
1 Peter 2: 7, 8b
Therefore, to you who believe, He [Jesus] is precious; but to those who are disobedient [disbelieve]. . . They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which also they were appointed.
Hebrews 10: 38-39
Now the just shall live by faith: But if anyone draws back [walks away from grace], My soul shall have no pleasure in Him. But we are not of those who draw back to perdition [everlasting destruction], but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
Luke 7: 23
And blessed is he who is not offended [is not caused to stumbled] because of Me.
When Jesus finished feeding the multitude He said in John 6: 12a: “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” This ties in perfectly with verse 39: “This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me that I should lose nothing, but shall raise it up at the last day.” Jesus also knows who belongs to Him and who is a “devil” (Cp. John 6: 70). Now what does it mean to be a ‘devil’? The Muslim religion has a very interesting definition for Satan or the Devil, and quite appropriately, as “one who separates.” Let’s see how this compares to the Christian Scriptures.
Proverbs 6: 16, 19b
These six things the LORD hates. Yes, seven are an abomination to Him. And one who sows discord [disunity/separation] among brethren.
Romans 16: 17
Now I urge you, brethren, note [reprove or expose] those who cause divisions [separations] and offenses, contrary to the doctrine [teaching/instruction] which you have learned and avoid them.
COMMENTARY: There are some worshippers in the Christian Church today who enjoy a pleasant service where the sermon is administered as a very soothing balm, like in Isaiah 30: 10b, which says: “Do not prophesy [proclaim] to us right things; speak unto us smooth things, things of deceit.” But it says in Hebrews 4: 12: For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow [body], and is a discerner [revealer] of the thoughts and intentions of the heart. There can only be one of two responses to hearing strong preaching of the word-repentance and contrition of heart or rebellion and hardness of heart resulting in falling away [rejection of truth and grace]. A person may still continue to assemble in the sanctuary and participate in worship, but there is no conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit. The Apostle James writes in chapter 1: 22-24: But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
August 7, 2011
robertrandle51@yahoo.com
