Do the WorDs offenD you?

John 6:66 – 68

In John 6:66 – 68 these three versus we acknowledge two key points.

1. That there are disciples that walk with Christ but eventually bail out! False disciples.

2. That there are disciples that learn to commit to Christ and stay with Christ. True
disciples.

For us to understand what is going on here, we need to briefly look at the background of this
passage. Jesus Christ the day before he gave this speech on this passage had fed a huge crowd of 5,000
people (v. 11). These people were following Christ because they were seeking miracles, signs, and
healings (v. 2). They were attracted to His deeds, His works and only wanted the physical things. They
wanted to make Christ King (v. 15). But Christ had other plans and had no ambition to be a King, (His
kingdom was not of this world). Right after this night he fled to Capernaum (v.15).

Throughout Christ’s entire ministry He always attracted huge amounts of crowds. In today’s
standard a church with this amount of people would be considered very successful. The modern name for
it is called a mega church.

But during the next day these people started to look for Jesus and once they found Him. They
asked Him, Why he left? (v.25). Christ then, claimed that He is the bread of life. That they should not
seek food that perishes, but food for eternal life (v. 27). Most people spend their entire lives in things that
rot or rust. They cannot get over the fact that it is all worthless or vanity. They seek pleasures,
possessions, and popularity. In which all leads to the grave! It is appointed for men to die, and after comes
judgment. But whoever does the will of God has eternal life. (1 John 2:17, Matt. 7:21)

Now these are the questions to ask:

• Why did these people leave Christ?

• What caused them to turn away?

And the answer is simply the “WORDS.” As soon as Jesus started talking about peoples spiritual
needs. They leave, they get angry, and they get offended. They don’t like to hear what Jesus had to say.
Even today, any time you mention the truth to someone about them going to Hell and that they need Jesus
Christ. They get offended, sometimes they get very hostile. Many religions accept Jesus Christ as the
person, the savior, the deity. Everyone likes the idea of being healed by Him, or the comfort He brings,
the love He brings. They seek the rewards of Christ! But this is all they want! In a sense they use Christ
for their own self-centeredness. They are attracted to Jesus Christ just as long as He keeps His mouth
shut. They don’t want any of His words! Probably another good reason why the world loves Christmas
and the baby Jesus. Exactly where they want Jesus Christ, as an infant where He can’t speak. They don’t
understand that a true disciple doesn’t seek rewards from God. Revelation 4:10 – 11 says,

Jan. 31, 2010 DwellingWithGod.com By Jay Gheen

 “They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive
glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

A true disciple has no desire in rewards of God, but only God Himself.

What is truly amazing is the fact of so many cults and false religions swarming around the name
of Christ. And they pick and choose of how they create their Jesus figure. Truthfully you never hear about
the wrath of the Lamb, the Judgment of God, the commandments Christ demands. You always hear about
the things that wouldn’t offend an unbeliever like how much Jesus loves you and all the good things He
can do for you, the healings, the prosperity, basically the material things that feeds a person’s fleshly
desires.

You see they don’t want a Christ that opens His mouth and starts to demands and commands this
or that. People get angry, and it offends them. Anytime you start speaking on what Jesus Christ demands,
commands, the wrath of God or the judgment of God, the nature of man’s wickedness. You will always
get a negative response. Some will be nice and say something to you like, “I believe what you are saying,
but you don’t have to be so negative. You need a balance!”

But Jesus Christ is seeking something more. I believe there is an initial faith and a saving faith.
The initial faith is claiming to accept Christ as a deity, as a savior, as a person, even as a God. But that’s
it!

I believe Christ is now increasing the commitment. I believe you need a saving faith which is His
words! Jesus says, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.” (John 8:31)

So the question is, do you abide in His words? Do you desire to saturate your mind with His
words? Do you obey His words? Do you know His words? Now here is a big question. Does His word
offend you? Does the wrath of God offend you? Does God’s judgment offend you? Does it offend you
when you hear that sex sin is wrong such as homosexuality, and no one who practices such acts will enter
the kingdom of God? Does it offend you that if you constantly have a hatred for someone you are a
murderer? Does it offend you that whoever divorces their spouse makes them commit adultery and
whoever marries someone who is divorced commits adultery? Does it offend you that the word says you
are wicked and evil and that you deserve the wrath of God?

Jesus Christ says,” Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” (Matt. 11:6) I don’t think a
true disciple will be offended by His words. I think a true disciple will desire more, and more, and even
more of His words. He thirst and hungers for the Word of God. But for someone that gets offended by the
Word of God. Then that doesn’t sound like very good evidence that you are truly believing and you have
the saving faith.

Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my WORD and believes him who sent me
has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (John 5:24)

Back in John 6, these people that Jesus was preaching to. They had two problems they couldn’t
deal with. One, they couldn’t believe the idea that Christ came from heaven (v. 41). After all they all
knew that Jesus was the son of Joseph and Mary (v. 42). Two they couldn’t understand the idea about
eating His body and drinking His blood (v. 53).

Jan. 31, 2010 DwellingWithGod.com By Jay Gheen

 But Christ was not talking about His physical body. He was talking about “receiving me” of what
He has done on the cross, and “My sacrificial death”. This was all spiritual talk and they did not believe
it.

Again in verse 63, Christ says, “it is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The
words, THE WORDS that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”You see it’s the words that you need to
believe in not just the person of Christ, or the deity of Christ.

Now once the crowd left in total denial of Jesus Christ’s words. He asked the twelve “Do you
want to go away as well?”(v.67) It seems to show that He was hurt or even heartbroken. I think this
showed the desire of Jesus that He wants man to be reconciled with Him.

But Peter confesses, “To whom shall we go.” (v. 68) A true believer will realize that life is simply
vanity it is all worthless outside of Jesus Christ. Life comes and goes! Moses says life is a night’s sleep.
David says life is a fading shadow. James says life is a vanishing vapor. Peter says life is a withering
grass. Life will end then comes the judgment. Peter in verse 68 says, “You have the words of eternal life.”
Again the WORDS!

We should not labor for treasures on earth but treasures in heaven. And the only way to lay
treasure in heaven is abiding in Him, abiding in His word. It has been said that John Bunyan the author
and preacher that lived in the 17 century, if you would cut him he would bleed scripture. He was
completely saturated with the Word of God, completely saturated with the mind of Christ; he abided in
Jesus Christ.

When I think about the majority of churches today, they always claim and say that we need more
attendance. So these churches will adopt every little secular idea to bring people to church. The will have
activities, better worship music, parties, entertainment. Some will do whatever they can just to get you to
go to church. Just bring your money in and we got some good music and food in the back.

Indeed I do believe attendance is a great thing. But I also believe quality is better than quantity.
How many churches today, actually seek to edify their people? How many churchmen actually know the
meaning of Theology? Not many, because this evolves the Word of God. Churches don’t seek to offend
people because they need the attendance to fund their debt.

I think if preachers, pastors and teachers would actually learn to speak the truth, the gospel, His
demands, His commands, His judgment, His kingdom. Two things would possibly change. One, many
will scatter like coach roaches. Just like what happened in John 6. Two, many will come to Christ through
faith. Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” So
basically if more pastors and preaches will preach the Word of God and not be so focused on offending
people we will have many to come to faith.

When Jesus was doing these miracles, good deeds, healings, and feeding everyone. They were all
physical experiences. Then when He spoke His words they were spiritual. How many people seek
experience, and emotions from God, rather than truth? You can’t go by your experiences and your
emotions entirely. Practically all religions go with their experiences, and their emotions. You must rely on
truth and the Word of God. Because the heart of man is desperately wicked. (Jer. 17:10)

Jan. 31, 2010 DwellingWithGod.com By Jay Gheen

Jan. 31, 2010 DwellingWithGod.com By Jay Gheen