07/09/21 REMAINING FAITHFUL WHEN WE HEAR THE HARD SAYINGS

07/09/21 REMAINING FAITHFUL WHEN WE HEAR THE HARD SAYINGS

The "HARD SAYINGS" of the Bible are usually "hard" because they go against errors we have been taught or because the partial truth we have been taught seems to preclude further light. The Jews had been taught, correctly, not to eat human flesh or to drink blood. However, when Jesus explained what it means to believe on Him, He used the Old Testament type, Manna, and then applied that illustration to His sacrifice on the cross. We must believe in His sacrifice of body and blood. Jesus was not introducing
cannibalism or blood drinking into the Jewish system. He was revealing more light on His salvific work.
Remember when Jesus told the people that they must eat His flesh and drink His blood? Of course, Jesus was not referring to His physical body or blood. He was referring to BELIEVING on His atoning sacrifice.

John 6:47-51
47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
48 I am that bread of life.
49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

In these verses (47-51) we are told:
BELIEVING results in everlasting life,
Jesus is the BREAD OF LIFE,
MANNA, in the Old Testament, pointed forward to the work of Christ,

Jesus referred to Himself as THE LIVING BREAD, not as a dead body. He then makes the redemptive and spiritual application of the fact that believing in Him is understood as receiving Him into one's life.

It was at this point the people balked at Christ and His teaching.

John 6:52
52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?

Jesus continued in His analogous explanation, which addressed the importance of remaining, dwelling, abiding, continuing in Christ. Remember, eating and drinking is something we do at various times of the day. Eating and drinking are not a one time meal (conversion) or an occasional ritual (Lord's Supper) but an ongoing, daily activity that must be continued for a lifetime. In fact, in vss 52, 54, 57 and 58 the works eateth and drinketh (when applied to the people Jesus was addressing) were in the present active participle, which conveys the idea of a present action or an ongoing action. Having done something in the past does not preclude the need to be doing the same thing today, or continuing to do it tomorrow. In fact, the words, "saved," and, "born" are also used in present active participle in Koine Greek. A one time meal in a period of years is not normal or life giving. God expects us to eat and drink of His body and blood as a continuing, daily experience.

John 6:53-69
53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

Some of those people rejected Christ and His message.
60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
Jesus asked them what would they do if they actually witnessed the ascension of Christ into heaven? Would they still reject Him or His message?
62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
Jesus then states clearly that it is not the flesh that profits, but the spiritual, the spiritual meaning of His teaching, which is life.
63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
Jesus asked the twelve if they also would go away. Peter responded that there was nowhere else to go, since Christ alone had the words of life.
65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

Sometimes we hear or read something from God's word that is difficult to receive, because it conflicts with our own understanding. We must remember that only God and His word offers life, therefore we must accept, believe, receive His word. As we believe, receive His word, His teachings, His hard sayings, we are enlightened by truth and we grow in grace and knowledge of Christ.