2 Comments

  1. Sylvie said:

    Did start reading your article until …
    One cannot ignore other scriptures , Jesus said also “do this in remembrance of Me “
    If taken literally that would make someone a cannibalist, taken literally “do this in remembrance of Me ( what I have done for you ,dying for sins ) . Indeed He is alive and He did ressurect from the dead
    One has to be born again to see the kingdom of God.
    Jesus said “I’Am The Way , The Truth and The Life no one goes to The Father except by Me”
    Are you born again?

    August 10, 2020
    Reply
  2. mike borden said:

    Hi Matt,

    Just a quick note. The turning away of many disciples in John chapter 6 is a reaction to a different thread in the conversation, as I hope I can make apparent:

    Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” – v 26-27

    But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.  For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”  – v 36-40

    Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.  – v 43-44

    It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”  – v 63-65

    After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. – v 66

    All throughout this discourse Jesus has continually reiterated that no one can come to Him of their own accord and it is the final thing He says to those who then turn back from walking with Him.

    The stated purpose of parabolic language is “This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’ – Matthew 13:13-15

    Like many other parabolic teachings Jesus makes His language more difficult and obscure as opposition arises because the opposition is of the flesh. Early in the discourse “whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst”. It is only later, as opposition mounts, that the language changes to eating and drinking flesh and blood. They can’t come to Him because they haven’t “heard and learned from the Father”. The opportunity was there but they would not hear and learn. They do not want to believe and so Jesus uses language that gives them what they want.

    The central verse of the passage is v 40: For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

    Just as Moses lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness (and those who looked lived) so must the Son of Man be lifted up.

    November 30, 2020
    Reply

Leave a Reply