Many Turn From Jesus

Westhill Community Church

21 May 2023

Many Turn From Jesus

Reading: John 6: 60-70

Chapter 6 in the gospel of John is one of the most intriguing and revealing passages in the four gospels. It commences with the account of the feeding of more than five thousand people, and the intention of a significant number of them to make Jesus king by force. It continues with the account of Jesus walking on the water to join his disciples in their boat later that night – the passage Dave McCarthy preached on last week – and finishes with this passage we have just read together in which many of Jesus’ disciples decide to abandon him. How do we explain such a rapid turn-around in two days – massive popularity turning into such widespread disillusionment?

All four gospel writers are clear that as Jesus’ ministry developed he was increasingly mobbed by crowds of people seeking to witness his healing power at close hand. Mark in particular says that this attention got so demanding at one stage that they didn’t even have an opportunity to eat (Mark 6: 31). This was in fact the reason why at the beginning of John chapter 6 Jesus and the twelve had gone by boat to the eastern side of Lake Galilee in an attempt to find a quiet place to unwind, but these plans were put into disarray when the crowds made their way on foot around the lake to join them. This led to the occasion of the feeding of the five thousand. After this the pressure became even more intense. We are told that in the evening Jesus had to surreptitiously get away from the people as he became aware of their agreed intention to defy the Roman authorities and crown him as king. The next day John tells us that a crowd of determined individuals searched for Jesus, first on one side of the lake then on the other. Eventually they found him back in Capernaum and immediately approached him. “How did you manage to get here without us knowing about it?” was their opening gambit.

It is very revealing that Jesus’ response to them was apparently not a smile of welcome, or words of friendly greeting, or even to say, “what do you want me to do for you?” His opening words were ones of stern rebuke. I paraphrase, but this is the gist of what he said.

“I know why you’ve been searching for me! It’s not because you believe I will show you what God really wants. No, it’s because you stuffed yourselves full of bread and fish yesterday afternoon, and now you’re back for more! Stop striving for what is going to inevitably perish anyway; Fix your ambitions on what is going to last for ever. I can give you that if you truly believe in me.”

Even from John’s fairly sanitised account you can tell from their reply that they were stung to the quick: “So, what do you say we should be doing to please God?”

It was the teaching Jesus delivered in answer to this question that led to such a dramatic response, even from many of those who up to this point had considered themselves to be committed disciples. John tells us the Jews began grumbling about what he said, and arguing sharply with one another. His disciples too found what he said too hard to accept and joined in the grumbling.

It is worth pausing at this point to consider the trap that lay at the feet of Jesus. The temptation that was before him was to enhance his public image; to promote himself and seek popularity and public acclaim; to do and say those things that the general public would support and approve of. I say this because in the very next chapter we have this temptation expressed to Jesus explicitly. Not this time by Satan in person, but by those very close to him – his brothers.

When the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, Jesus’ brothers said to him, ‘Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.’ (John 7: 2-4)

Seek to become a public figure, they said. Go where people will pay attention. Do and say what they really want to see and hear. This way you will get world-wide acclaim.

And then John adds this comment: “For even his own brothers did not believe in him” (John 7:5). I don’t think this means that they didn’t believe that he was able to perform amazing miracles, that he was able to hold a vast crowd spell-bound when he taught them. I think it means that they didn’t believe in his agenda, in what he said he had come to do, in what he was challenging them to do.

The same temptation to say and do what will make you popular is faced by every politician, head of news service, and national government. It is faced by every bishop, archbishop and church leader. It is faced by every church however small and insignificant. One of the most oft-repeated mantras that you will hear from church pulpits across the western world today is that the most important thing we must all do is love one another, and it is received with enthusiasm by the commentators. But Jesus never ever said that, did he? He said that the most important thing we must all do today is love God – love God so intently that all of our heart, all of our mind, all of our soul, all of our strength, every fibre of our being is devoted to it. And then, and then only, will we be able to fulfil God’s purpose that we truly love one another as we love ourselves.

And like so many today the people of Jesus’ day had different expectations of him to what Jesus himself had. But what was so wrong with their expectations? After all, they believed he was the prophet promised long ago by Moses, and they wanted to make him king. What was so wrong in wanting to make him king? They wanted him to perform miraculous signs to demonstrate to them and others that he was indeed the Anointed One, the Messiah. They longed for more healings, and, yes, for more provision of food for their physical needs. But what was so wrong in longing for their needs to be met by God’s power? Indeed do not we and all Christians long and pray for Jesus to be King, and for all needs to be met through God’s provision of mercy and grace? Yes indeed we do, but this is not the first and foremost thing that should occupy us at this time. Even just before his ascension the apostles asked Jesus, “Is this now the time when you will set up your kingdom and rule over the world?” (Acts 1:6). And his reply was, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority” (Acts 1:7). For Jesus then and now the focus was always on his Father, God: our reconciliation with God; our relationship with God as our Father; our love for him; our seeking his will for the world; our advancing his rule and authority.

So, how did Jesus respond when the crowds pursuing him asked him what it is God really wants of us? Their desire was to see the kingdom restored. What did Jesus say to them about God’s kingdom? Well firstly he said something about the nature of God’s kingdom, secondly about the kind of people who are citizens of the kingdom, and thirdly how you become a citizen.

1. The Nature of the Kingdom

For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.’ (John 5: 38, 40)

I have come down from heaven, Jesus said. God’s kingdom is a heavenly kingdom, not essentially or primarily an earthly one. The Jews were hoping for a kingdom that would sweep away the yoke of the Roman Empire, where they would be free from the diktats of others, and where the power and glory would restored to their nation. But Jesus said his kingdom was from heaven, a kingdom in which his Father’s will would be done. I have come from heaven, he said, and I will return to heaven and take with me all who believe in me. Though they may have died here on earth, I will raise them up on the last day and then they will live for ever.

Jesus said he had come not to do his own will but the will of God who sent him. God’s kingdom is a realm where we do his will and not our own. This helps us understand Jesus’ difficult words when he said we should deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him. Denying ourselves means that we no longer seek our own will but the will of him who sends us. And if that will means that we must bear a cross, as it did for Jesus, then we carry it willingly.

2. The Citizens of the KIngdom

Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. (John 6: 53, 54)

Jesus said no-one can be a part of God’s kingdom unless they have received life from him. The Jews assumed they were entitled to be citizens of the kingdom because they were descended from Abraham through Isaac and Jacob. Jesus said that no-one would live to experience his kingdom unless he himself had given them new life, eternal life. And to receive that gift of life we need to look to him and believe in him.

On this and on many other occasions Jesus alluded to his death on the cross, his body broken and his blood shed to atone for the sins of the world. The people could not understand it or accept it. Even his close apostles could not understand it. On a later occasion Peter took Jesus aside to rebuke him when he spoke directly of his death and resurrection. But Jesus said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns” (Matt 16: 22,23).

The citizens of God’s kingdom lift high the banner of the cross. It could be no other way, for only through Christ’s death on the cross has each one been redeemed and given the gift of eternal life. Without this no-one can see God’s kingdom.

3. The Entrance to the KIngdom

The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you – they are full of the Spirit and life. He went on to say, ‘This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.’ (John 6: 63, 65

It is God who opens up our understanding of the way of life. By his Holy Spirit he shows us our need of Jesus, and encourages us to put our faith in him. The words Jesus spoke to the Jews seemed cryptic and meaningless. “What does he mean when he says, eat my flesh and drink my blood?” they asked one another. But these very words were full of the Spirit and of life, said Jesus. And when the Holy Spirit shone his light on the hearts and minds of the people then they understood and put their confidence and trust in Jesus. So when Jesus asked his apostles whether they also would leave him their response was simply “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6: 68,69).

Some of those who did not believe at this time came to believe later. As we have already noted, in the next chapter of John it says, “Even his own brothers did not believe in him” (John 7 5). And it seems that this continued to be the case right up to the time of Jesus’ resurrection. But later we learn that James, the brother of Jesus, believed and became a pillar of the Jerusalem church until eventually he was martyred for his faith.

It is God himself who opens our eyes to understand his word, to realise that Christ’s death on the cross was for us personally, and that everyone who believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. But even though God draws us to Jesus it is still necessary for us to respond to his call, to put our trust in him. When speaking to the Jewish leaders Jesus said, “The Scriptures testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life” (John 5: 39,40).

Final Thoughts

The people of Jesus’ day wanted him to fit in to their view of the world. Many of them saw him as a means of satisfying their desires and fulfilling their aspirations. And when he refused to fit in with their agenda they turned away from him. Oh I’m sure they were still happy to receive any free handouts that came their way – healing of injuries or diseases, miraculous provision of food and wine, storms stilled before they did any damage – but not to commit to his teaching and respond to his call for change. “We don’t like everything he says,” they said. “We’d like him to conform more to our ideas and values.”

So what about us today? Do we pick and choose those things about Jesus that we will take on board? When he encourages us to give someone a cup of water in his name that seems fine, but when he says you must be born again otherwise you will never enter the kingdom of heaven then does that seem too extreme? When Jesus says “come unto me all you who are heavy-laden and I will give you rest” we find that quite re-assuring; but when he says “anyone who sets aside one of the least of the commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven” do we decide to ignore him? When Jesus says “blessed are the meek” we fully approve; but when he says “I and God the Father are one” do we reject that as being too far-fetched?

You see there are many who would agree that Jesus was a great moral teacher, perhaps even the greatest the world has ever seen, but who just cannot accept that he was, and is, the Son of God, sent to be the Saviour of the world. C. S. Lewis had something to say about such a position in his book “Mere Christianity.”

A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronising nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to. (C.S. Lewis)

This morning perhaps that question Jesus put to his twelve apostles has impacted you strongly: “You do not want to leave me too, do you?” (John 6: 67). And it’s made you ask yourself, what do I really believe about Jesus? It’s easy for us to think we can keep an open mind, and perhaps be content with just taking on board some of the moral principles Jesus advocated. But Jesus was quite unequivocal when he spoke with the Jewish leader Nicodemus.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3: 16-18).

If God is urging you today to put your trust fully in Christ as your Saviour and Lord then do not delay in responding to his call.