TNF - May 11, 2006 Lesson Notes

Thursday Night Fellowship

May 11, 2006

Study of the Gospel of John

Introductory Questions

1. How many of you have never been camping before?

2. How many of you have ever had a communion craving (spiritual or physical)?

3. Have you ever had a time when you missed an opportunity because of different reasons?

Studying John 6

Last week we studied John 6 where Jesus walked on water and specifically how Jesus meets us in our dire straits and can bring us through. We had a good time of prayer together praying for one another at a time when many of us were going through difficult times. Tonight we will be looking at John 6:22-71. Jesus has some tough things to say. Let's see what we can glean tonight. Turn to John 6:22.

Recall first that John 6:1-15 Jesus had fed the multitudes with just a few loaves of bread and some fish.

6:22-26

Here we see the people find out Jesus is missing and then go to follow him to where he went. What possible motives could these people have in following Jesus?

Sometimes we may not have all the right motives in following Jesus or doing spiritual things, but Jesus doesn't turn us away.

6:27

Jesus engages the people to get them to see past the mere physical needs of bread and food.

Often times our eyes are so dull that we can't see past the physical realm of our daily routine. Jesus makes opportunities to point out the eternal things to us through our circumstances, the Word, the Spirit, and other people (not necessarily believers).

6:28-34

The people just don't seem to be getting it do they. They seem to be slow to understand what Jesus is saying. What do you think Jesus is saying? If you were there would you have understood what Jesus was saying?

6:35-42

Unless the Father draws us, we won't even want to come. If he does draw us, we better come. We may not have another chance. If we were there at that time, we would have been able to understand at some level if the Father were drawing us to His Son.

6:43-52

What is Jesus talking about?

We can know now that Jesus is speaking about what we call communion. He was speaking to them on a different level, a spiritual level, but the people were not understanding.

Jesus still offers the bread of life to us today. Have you partaken?

Initially – salvation (justification)

Continually – communion (both physical and spiritual)

Jesus is speaking allegorically (define:allegory). The bread represents his body; the wine represents his blood.

Bread = life

No bread, no life

If I want to live I must eat bread, otherwise I will starve to death. Jesus' body and blood nourishes my soul unto eternal life.

6:53-59

Is Jesus talking about cannibalism here? Cannibalism was considered a very bad thing in Jewish culture (as in most). No. Jesus offers himself as the bread of eternal life. If we don't ingest him into our souls, we will die.

6:60-66

“This is hard to understand.” Read verse 60 in different versions.

It is the Spirit of God that gives eternal life. Without the Spirit's work in our hearts we cannot understand Jesus' call to eat his flesh and drink his blood.

If you don't understand why God is asking you to do something or allowing something to happen, don't give up. Don't walk away from Him like these disciples did. Seek and you will find. If you walk away from Jesus where else can you go for answers.

6:67-71

Peter understands that there is no where else to go in his bold proclamation in verses 68-69. These two verses are some of my favorites in the whole Bible. I know Peter couldn't have understood that Jesus was talking about the Lord's supper (communion), but at some level the Father was drawing Peter to Himself, and the Holy Spirit was revealing the words of Jesus to Peter, and Peter responded. My paraphrase: “If we leave you, where else can we go? I don't understand all the things you are teaching us, but I know that you speak the truth. And the words you speak give eternal life because you are the Holy One of God.”

I only hope that I would have been so bold to speak up like Peter and tell it how it is. Many disciples left Jesus because of his teaching here that day. How many more might have left if Peter didn't speak up.

There will be times in your life when you have the opportunity to open your mouth and speak the truth. You may be afraid of what people will think of you. Pray for courage and speak boldly. The consequences of not speaking may be worse than speaking, and you may not get another chance.

Let's Pray.

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