How many of you enjoyed singing this morning?
Come on, raise your hand.
! Did you enjoy singing this morning?
We sang a little longer than we normally do.
! Listen to me.
And that's okay.
In fact, that's wonderful.
But I still get time.
And honestly, I have a heart that's full.
And the truth of the matter is,
is that the Scriptures are what make our singing what it is.
Do you understand that?
It's the truth that frames our singing.
And it's the truth that encourages our affection.
And it's the truth that we delight in this morning.
Let me read the passage to set the text
and then ask that you join me in prayer.
John chapter 6, we're going to look at first at verse 53.
Verse 63.
They said,
This is a hard saying.
Who can listen to it?
Our Father God,
for us this morning,
prayer is
our thankful
expression of confidence in you,
our happy
recognition of your
person and your presence
and your
abiding interest
that we who are your children
find the glory
and the fullness
that we have in relationship
with the Lord Jesus Christ.
And in this
period of time
that we call life
before we step into your presence
as believers
to enjoy
the presence of Christ
forever,
we are thankful
that you have given to us
your word,
you have given to us
your Holy Spirit,
and we would ask
that we
with humility
would depend upon the Spirit
and rely upon your word
that we would grow
in our love
for the Lord Jesus
that someday
we are going to see
and that as a result
of that,
we grow in our humility
and our affection,
the holiness
of our passion
for your glory,
the clear
and deliberate
lifestyles
that display
the character
of Christ
in a broken
and struggling world.
We ask this
in Jesus' name.
Amen.
I want you to know
as you pick up this passage
we're going to be looking
at John chapter 6
from verse 60
to 72
and I'll tell you
ahead of time
that what this chapter is
is a closing summary
or better yet
a grand finale.
As I was thinking about it
in a musical sense
and I don't profess
to be a musician
of any form,
but I do appreciate
good music.
I would say
that in some senses
John chapter 6
verse 60
from that verse
on to 72
is a little bit
like the Hallelujah Chorus.
It is the summary
and the great blowout
to this extended chapter
in which John
has been building
a case
and lifting
the glory
and the supremacy
of Christ.
It's also a little bit
like Tchaikovsky's
Overture 1812
and any of you
that are musicians
know how that ends.
Tchaikovsky was writing
to celebrate
the victory
of the Russian army
over the invading French
and the way in which
that comes to a grand finale
is they actually used cannons
to kind of boom, boom.
Now they emulate that
using cymbals and drums
and even on occasions
they'll pipe in
the sound of cannons.
but it's something
that if you are
in any way
inclined musically
when you come to this part
your hair stands on end.
How many of you
have that happen
every now and then?
Your hair stands on end.
I mean,
on the arm
it goes up.
It happens to me
when I'm fired up.
The hair on my arm
goes up.
They're like,
I'm into that.
My wife said
don't shout
so I gotta back off
a little bit.
Hi Judith.
I love you.
She's my best critic.
So,
anyway,
don't shout.
I made a note to myself
even and it doesn't
pay attention.
But you know,
you get fired up
thinking about
what we're looking at
this morning.
This is
the climax
to John chapter 6.
There'll be more climaxes,
trust me,
but this is
an early one.
Remember how
John comes together
and what his goal is?
He wants us
in reading the book
of John
to know
that Jesus
is the Christ,
the Savior of the world
that knowing that
we can believe on Him.
John 6 opens with,
how's it open?
Does anybody remember?
Remember he takes
his disciples
and they go away
because they need
a little bit of break.
They're kind of washed out
and fatigued from ministry
and they need to get away
but when they're getting away
the crowd follows them
about 20,000
and they're out there
and when he sees
the opportunity
guess what he does?
He starts teaching.
I mean at the end of the day
his affection for people
led him to open
the scriptures
and inform them
of the things
they needed desperately.
They stay
past dinner time
and he feeds them
about 20,000.
As the result of that
you'll remember
that the crowd decided
that it would be
a good idea
to make him king
and what does he do?
He resists.
He sends his disciples away
to protect them
from being carried away
with that ambition
and then he goes up the mountain
to pray by himself.
The next day
he finds himself again
surrounded by the crowd.
He had moved over to Capernaum
and there he was
and the crowd came
and he preached
an extended sermon.
An extended sermon.
And in that sermon
that we find
the substance of it here
he makes it
undeniably clear
that he is
the only way
of salvation.
He alone.
He makes reference
to the fact
that he would die
and that his sacrifice
would be the only hope
that people have
in satisfying
the wrath
of a holy God
against sin
and that faith
in him
was the only way
of heaven.
Well as you look
at this passage
what we're going
to find
is this summary
of the lengthy part
that we've talked about
pressed together
and we're going
to see first of all
salvation refused.
Now that's hard
to imagine isn't it?
Salvation refused.
We're also going
to see salvation received.
And then here's
what I want you to do.
I want you to stop
just for a minute.
Take your Bible
or take your
whatever you have
iPad or whatever
and I want you
to put your finger
on a couple
different things.
Look at verse 64.
It says
he knew who it was
who would betray him.
Now we're dealing
with a kind of
a global summary
at the end
of the chapter
about Christ's ministry
and here is a little
it almost seems
to be a little
marginal comment.
He knew who was
going to betray him.
It even gets ramped up
if you will go ahead.
You look there
at verse 70
it says
Jesus answered then
did I not choose
you the twelve
and yet one of you
is a
what?
Devil.
Verse 71
he spoke of Judas
the son of Simon
Iscariot
for he
one of the twelve
was going to
betray him.
Now look
you can understand
the Jews
redacting Jesus.
I mean we follow
that.
We see that.
You can understand
the disciples
who else shall we
go to?
You have the words
of life.
What is Judas
doing in all of this?
Ask yourself
the question
what is Judas
doing in this picture?
I wouldn't ask
the question
if I didn't have
an idea.
And I want you
to chew on that
and think about it
because I think
Judas' presence
is profoundly
significant to us
in our awe
at the glory
of salvation.
Well let's get
into the passage
and pick up
first of all
on salvation
refused
there in verse 60
when many of his
disciples heard it
they said
this is a hard
saying
who can listen
to it?
And I want you
to recognize
that when we
pick up here
in verse 60
we find that
this is at the
conclusion of
actually two days
of ministry
and in those
two days of
ministry
I want you
to know
that Christ
had over
and over
again
made the
issues
of salvation
undeniably
clear
and lest
you have
any question
about it
salvation
is not
something
that just
kind of
delivers us
from mediocrity
and gives us
something better
than what we
had before
salvation
is
the grace
of God
that delivers
us
from the
moral
bankruptcy
and darkness
of our own
heart
and gives
to us
eternal life
a change
we who were
dead in
trespasses
and sin
become alive
in Christ
Jesus
we who were
once
the absolute
miserable
hopeless
broken
individuals
in our
rebellion
against God
become the
children of
God
salvation
always has
the starting
point in
helping a
man recognize
the hardness
of his heart
and the despair
of his soul
and unless
you understand
the darkness
of your heart
and the sin
that is there
you have no need
for the Savior
Jesus made that
clear in his
preaching
and as you
work your way
through the
passage you
will see that
actually when
people heard
what Jesus
had to say
they were
offended at it
that brings us
here to verse
60 and mark
what it says
this is a hard
saying
and what I
want you to
understand
is this
is that people
understood
Christ's message
and they didn't
like what they
heard
they didn't
like what they
heard
how many of you
have wondered
that well
if I could
just make
the gospel
a little
clear
I mean
obviously
everybody
would like
it
hey
that's not
necessarily
the case
and the
absolute
perfect
instrument
and messenger
of the Lord
of hosts
namely
his own
son
who with
perfection
and humility
and with
tenderness
preached the
gospel message
at the end
of the day
when people
understood it
they didn't
like it
now mark
what this
actually is
saying
the statement
was really
not a
humble
understanding
or a
humble
admission
that the
gospel
was difficult
to understand
when it
says this
is a hard
saying
how many
of you
have actually
had to deal
with hard
sayings
that you
couldn't get
your hands
around
I mean
you know
someone's
trying to
explain something
to you
man can you
go over that
again slowly
because I
don't get
it
it's hard
it's complex
that's not
what they were
saying at all
what they were
saying is this
is they
understood
exactly what
Jesus was
saying
and they
were irritated
by it
they found
the gospel
objectionable
now why
is that
why is that
the truth
of the matter
is is that
the gospel
begins by
helping us
recognize
the bankruptcy
of our soul
and the
darkness
of our
heart
and the
rebellion
of our
nature
against the
authority
and the
supremacy
of God
and the
gospel
begins by
first of all
letting us
know that we
are in a
terrible
situation
it's kind
of interesting
actually I was
thinking about
this this
morning as I
was praying
because if
you were to
listen to a
lot of
televangelists
you would
hear a
very interesting
gospel do you
know what it
is Jesus
has a wonderful
plan for your
life and if
you kind of
send me a
check or two
I will see to
it that you
prosper how many
of you heard
something like
that or if
you put your
hand on the
tele not the
telephone anymore
that's and not
the TV anymore
flat screen but
you know hey if
you do this and
that whatever I
can either take
care of your
financial needs I
can make you a
happy and wealthy
person everybody
in your neighborhood
will like you just
follow my plan and
write your check
thus and so and
I'm going to
bless you that's
not the gospel
that is a
huckster peeling
to people's
carnal desire
the gospel is
this first of all
you've got a
horrible disease
that is going to
doom you forever
and Jesus has
the answer and
come to him with
a broken and
contrite heart and
he is going to
save you I do
want you to
understand that the
gospel is hard
news before it's
good news and
it's often
rejected and so
when we bring the
sweetness of the
gospel when we
bring the hope that
is there in Christ
Jesus we shouldn't
be overwhelmed if
on occasion it
ends up offending
people and is
really troublesome
you see people don't
mind having some of
their symptoms to
sin addressed but
what they really have
a problem with is
having the root issues
of their heart
exposed and brought
out into the light
where only Christ can
deal with them and
so as you look at
this opening passage I
do want you to
understand that as
we get a drift of
what ministry was
like for Christ we
shouldn't let people's
rejection of Christ
and the message of
hope of salvation in
him alone end up
being something that
overwhelms us and
causes us to be
discouraged in sharing
our passion to see
people come to
Christ don't let
people's struggle
discourage you from
ministry now
incidentally as you
look at this passage
you find there in
verse 60 people are
pretty irritated but
look at 61 Jesus
knowing in himself
that his disciples
were grumbling about
this said do you
take offense at this
that's kind of a
duh question isn't
it like is this really
a problem for you
how many of you
learned that sometimes
questions are just
designed to frame the
moment are you
having a problem
here is there
something bothering
you he knew what
was going on look at
verse 62 then what
what if you were to
see the son of man
ascending to where he
was before you see he
had helped them see
that their real problem
in life was not that
they needed another
meal or increase in
their income or maybe a
little bit of health
care the real issue was
the spiritual hardness
of their heart and
their moral depravity
and they struggled
with that they got
irritated he says hey
let's take it a step
further how is it going
to affect you look at
verse 32 62 how is it
going to affect you if
you were to see the son
of man ascending to
where he was before
what is that all about
remember Jesus had come
down from heaven and
here he was on earth
preaching that he was
the son of man and he
was also going to be
the one who was their
redeemer and hope and
he says and I'll tell
you what if you're
irritated with hearing
what I have to say let
me tell you the time is
coming when I'm going to
go up turn in your
Bibles over to Acts
chapter 2 so you have a
little further
understanding of this in
Acts chapter 2 the
sermon that Peter
preached at Pentecost
begins this way now
you're going to wonder
if I'm going to skip
over to verse 14 no I'm
not okay but in
essence what Peter says
is this is listen you
guys listen carefully to
what I have to tell you
there in verse 22 men
of Israel hear these
words Jesus of Nazareth a
man attested to you by
God with mighty works and
wonders and signs that
God did through him in
your midst as you
yourself know this
Jesus delivered up
according to the
definite plan and
foreknowledge of God
you crucified and killed
by the hands of lawless
men hey is that a way to
win friends and influence
people when you tell
them what they are I
mean hey you guys out
here a bunch of skunks
and let's top it off keep
on working forward Peter
explains and this Jesus
who you crucified what
happened he rose from the
dead and let's go a
little further if you
will notice in verse 36
it says let all the house
of Israel therefore know
for certain that God has
made him both Lord and
Christ this Jesus whom you
crucified in the context of
the argument he explains the
fact that Christ abides in
heaven he's lifted up he's up
there now and he is going to
come back someday and he is
going to deal with those who
have rebelled against him and
refused him and here is
Jesus going back to the
passage in John what he is
doing is telling them
undeniably and clearly the day
is coming when he is going to
rise again and rising again he
is going to be the judge and the
Lord of the whole earth if they
were struggling with hearing him
in the flesh tell them that they
had a sin problem he says that's
nothing compared to when I show
up again and I actually deal with
all the issues going on in your
life look at verse 66 after this
many of his disciples turned back
and no longer walked with him the
verse marks a very distinct change in
Christ's ministry very public open and
we find that this large throng of
people who heard the gospel clearly
proclaimed ended up saying we don't
want anything to do with what we're
hearing and what we see here is that
gospel truth eventually leads people
to believe or reject Jesus and so one
of the things that you can kind of
evaluate in your own ministry and by
the way why are we drawing breath
today does anybody have an idea why
we're drawing breath listen to me it's
not so you can kind of accumulate
something so you can retire and
eventually end up in a nursing home
everybody got that we are here on
temporary assignment for one explicit
reason and as a draw people to Jesus
and when that's over we're checking out
and going home
everybody said amen we're not here
together primarily primarily just to
enjoy one another's company we are here
to have our hearts and souls
encouraged by the glory of Christ and
as we are here together it is to kind
of catch the virus and the infection
and we go out and spread the happy
disease of Jesus is the only answer
everywhere we go right don't be
surprised if people don't like it don't
be surprised and you can evaluate the
testimony and ministry of Christ and use
it as a as a benchmark or an example of
how you go about it for one I do want
you to know that faithful witnessing
involves meeting needs say it with me
faithful witnessing involves meeting
needs when we go out what day is it
Greg we're going out to do oatmeal
19th I should have asked Connie Connie what
day are we going out it's 19th when we go
out and pass out little cups of oatmeal
and by the way there it's really nice it's
hot it's been fixed and in the back do
you put strawberries and raspberries on
top of it and then there's a separate
little baggie that has you know sugar in
it and a spoon and a napkin I mean it's
really well prepared we're going out
there and we're showing kindness but do
you know why we're really doing it because
there are people that need Jesus and I
don't mind whatever it is that gets an
opportunity and by the way so far I've
not had one chance really really to share
the gospel with anybody that I've talked
to there it takes time the last well I
won't go there we get sidetracked okay
you start with kindness everybody got
that say it with me you start with
kindness I do want you to know that
eventually faithful witnessing involves
more than just kindness it involves the
gospel and when that happens don't be
surprised if people don't accept it well
that's pretty sobering look at verse 66
it says and from this time many of his
disciples turned back and no longer walk
with him maybe he should have taken a
class in how to be persuasive you know
try something I mean well let's keep
going so Jesus said to the 12 do you want
to go away as well now I want you to look
at salvation received and do understand
this that when Jesus asked this question
everybody look up so you don't miss this
he wasn't asking because he was insecure
how many of you sometimes have asked
questions where you're really trying to
hope that the question comes back or the
answer comes back and kind of elevate
your spirit I mean out of 20,000 about
the crowd you can see them kind of
shuffling off and irritation muttering
with each other about low life Jesus I
mean why did he just keep feeding us
giving us this business about our sin
and blah blah blah we're leaving and he
says are you guys packing up and leaving
too and he wasn't asking because he
didn't know what the point was he wasn't
asking because he didn't know the hearts
of men his question was not for the sake
of discovery but really for the sake of
display so many times in your life the
challenges that we endure are more for
the sake of helping us see the issues so
we can actually come to grips with what's
going on and we can find the sufficiency
of Christ do you understand that point let
me say it slowly the difficulties and the
challenges that you face are often brought
into your life to help you discover the
needs that you have and the sufficiency
of Christ well I do like Peter's answer
look at it we just sang it earlier Peter
says Lord to whom shall we go you have the
words of eternal life well that's an answer
that just knocks it out of the park isn't
it and I want you to understand as you as you
look at this passage that here is is Peter and
he steps out to the front he says listen I see
all these people who are rejecting you but you
know what are we going to do you're the one that
has the words of life these dear men that that
were part of this little little group 12
were not casual followers that were intrigued by
occasional miracles out of the 11 apart from
Judas 10 of them would die as martyrs and so I
want you to know that when Peter says what he
does here in this passage he says you're the ones
has the words of life what he was saying is this is
that the salvation that we've received brings
complete faith in the finished work of Christ
alone now when you stop and think about this here
is 20,000 who walked away and 11 basically that
stayed it would be interesting for us to kind of
stop and say how did it happen that way well for
one I want you to look then at verse 68 or 69 or I'm
sorry 70 Jesus in 70 answers so how is it that you've
come to faith he says did I not choose you the 12 how is
it that those individuals had come to faith he says I
chose you now go back to 44 just for a minute and not for
the sake of of irritation but I want you to understand
that when Jesus said did I not choose you the 12 the point
that he was making is that your relationship with me is of my
drawing you to faith verse 44 no one can come to me unless the
father who sent me draws him no one and so it's interesting as we
look at this passage to recognize that here is Peter making a profession and
confessing his faith and yet Jesus also reminds him of the fact that his
understanding was the work of grace it was not Peter just being smarter than
the rest let me give you another illustration that is exactly the same
and I want you to turn for it because of the importance of the of the
argument I make turn in your Bible to Matthew chapter 16 verse 17
go back to keep your finger in John because we are coming back there but
Matthew chapter 16 verse 17 just mark what what happens in that case Jesus is
talking with the disciples he said hey by the way who do men say that I am
and they kind of rattle off different things that they'd heard and and Jesus
says that yeah okay but what do you say well who do you think I am Peter says
what you are the Christ the son of the living God and I can see Jesus breaking
into a smile and say let me put an a-plus in your grade book you are smarter
than the rest of them is that what he says huh you got it Peter I mean you're the best
student I have is that what he says oh verse 17 and Jesus answered him did did
did Jesus let Peter give himself an attaboy and a pat on the back what would he do
immediately after Peter's confession Jesus launches he says blessed are you
Simon Barjona for flesh and blood what has not revealed this to you but my father is
who's in heaven you got it with someone else's help
don't want to ask you the question but how many of you ever relied on somebody else to
get an answer in a class huh you know is that you didn't know the answer you
and there you are you got you look brilliant don't you
Peter got the answer right Jesus turned around and said you didn't get it with your own help
you didn't get it by yourself the father my father he's the one who lit you up and helped
you understand and so why is God so focused on helping us understand that salvation is his
business and he's the one who does it I must confess that the fact of God's sovereignty
in salvation and the truth that salvation is his work alone could be a little frustrating a little
confusing if kept to itself how many of you heard what I just said
you see I believe entirely in the sovereignty of God in salvation
but at the same time I recognize that salvation is something that is profound in its beauty
and its declaration of the glory of Christ and as you think about this matter of salvation
it should awe you that God saves it all
earlier in the week I listened to Louis Giglio in his video or his DVD called indescribable
how many of you ever listened to Louis Giglio raise your hands come on get him up I'm losing
out the crowd here Louis Giglio and has a great you can pick it up on YouTube a thing called
indescribable he knocks it out of the park talking about creation listen to me creation is small potatoes
in terms of its significance in declaring the glory of Christ in this universe do you want you to
recognize that at creation you want you to recognize that at creation the angels kind of shouted for joy
it's like yeah you know another universe you know whatever and and that's small salvation is something
that causes them to be awestruck
so why is Judas in this picture
why is Judas in this picture
there
in verse 64 Jesus says
he knew from the beginning
who those were who did not believe
and who it was who would betray him
and in verse 70
did I not choose you the twelve and yet one of you is a devil
he spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot
for he one of the twelve was going to betray him
and as you look at this what I want you to recognize is we have the Jews who rejected Christ
we have the disciples who are drawn by grace to receive Christ
and overarching this thing is the awesome glory of a God who cares enough for us
that he is unrelenting in his interest in our salvation
and here's Judas in the picture and he is there to show us grace abounding
I want you to recognize that every step of the way
Christ who had chosen Judas to walk with him knowing fully that Judas would betray him
had to have pled with Judas
with the tenderness of Christ
that he would walk away
in faith
and not in doubt
Judas spent three years watching Jesus
he watched Jesus perform miracles
he saw Jesus handling the scriptures
he heard the teaching of Christ
he saw the compassion of the Savior
who came into the world to save sinners
and I have no doubt
that over and over again
Jesus with a winsome and a broken heart
ministered to Judas
and how did Judas handle it?
He turned his back
you know what?
the night that Jesus was betrayed
what he did was he broke bread with his disciples
and after he had done that
he washed their feet
do you know whose feet he washed along with the other eleven?
he washed the feet of Judas
I don't look at the statement in verse 70
as an indictment
or even so much as prophetic
but as one that was a recognition
of the desperate spiritual need of Judas
for the sake of drawing attention to the Savior
that he might be saved rather than doomed
and here is Judas
a model
and an example to us
of how Christ loves the broken and ruined sinner
and even in his rebellion
is winsome in his appeal to them
the last thing that Jesus said to Judas
when he came into the garden was this
do you betray me with a kiss?
are you doing this?
for real?
and the way that Jesus ministered to Judas
reminds us that in gospel ministry
there are no limitations to our affection
and our tenderness
do you understand that?
listen to me
it gives me an idea of how to handle a neighbor
who's really irritable
be like Jesus
it helps me understand how to handle a rebellious child
be like Jesus
it helps me know how to deal with rejection
and the disappointment of
the hardness of the world that we live in
be like Jesus
so as we close John chapter 6
here's what I want you to recognize
that this passage gives to us
a wonderful picture of the Lord Jesus Christ
truthful in exposing sin
and pride
people walked away from hearing Jesus
and they understood exactly what their heart's condition was
we see also that Jesus was humble
in explaining that salvation
is the work of God
we also see that he was wonderful
in bringing salvation
to all those that were called
and he was loving
even to the most hard
and unrepentant sinner
in the mix
so let me ask you this
that's my Jesus
do you know him
do you know the one
who came into this world
to save sinners
of whom I am chief
or are you sitting out here this morning
with a heart that
is burdened by the guilt and shame of your life
and I want you to know
Jesus is the only answer
let's close in prayer
our father
as we look to the scriptures
this morning
and we see
the glory of our savior
our longing is this
is that he would be lifted up among us
and that we would delight in him
as our God
and our savior
and I pray this morning
that as
we bring this service
to a close
that
those who are here
that do not know Christ
would have their hearts
warmed by the Holy Spirit
and recognizing
the burden of their soul
would come to Christ
repenting of their sin
and believing in him alone
for their salvation
that's our prayer
that's our desire
as we sing
that Jesus would be lifted up
and we ask this in his name
amen
let's stand together
as our band comes to lead us
in our closing song
let me encourage you
if you're here today
and you recognize
the spirit of God
is addressing
a spiritual need you have
you may be here
and he is calling you
he's talking to you
about the spiritual burden
of your heart
and you recognize
I need Christ as my savior
as my savior