2004-09-05 Communion Dedication - Baldwin Christian Church

John 6:65-71

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.

To this gathering of "disciples" in the synagogue at Capernaum, Jesus is explaining why He had earlier said (back in verses 44 and 45) that "no man can come unto me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him." If I'm hearing the Word of God, and learning the Word of God, these words should be causing me to examine myself, causing me to try and learn why lately it seems the Father isn't drawing me. But on the other hand, if I'm harbouring any self-righteousness, these words will offend me.

66. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

If I want to receive Jesus into my life, if I want to walk with Him, then I have to begin thinking in terms of the Spirit. I cannot do that as long as I have confidence in, or cling to the desires of my flesh. I have to be able to admit that it's true, and that God means it when He says (Rom 6:23), "The wages of sin is death." In my mind's eye, I have to be able to picture Jesus hanging on that cross, and I have to be reminded daily that I should be there instead of Him. I have to keep reminding myself, "I'm not going to resist the grace of God by harbouring any self-righteousness, for even the least amount of it would declare that Christ died in vain (Gal 2:20-21)."

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.
70. Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
71. He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

With the natural man, seeing is believing, but with the spiritual man, he must first believe, and then he will begin to see. Even through the visible, tangible miracles in this chapter, the miracles of healing, the miracle of feeding a multitude from five loaves and two small fishes, and even through the miracle of walking on the water, Peter could still see and proclaim the real reason to follow Jesus. The Bread of Life, our Daily Bread, is the only hope of eternal life, but it's nothing like the hope we might have in ourselves. This is hope through the finished work and the complete Word of the only begotten Son, who came down from heaven, who took our place on that cross, who died for me and for you.