Scripture: John 6:41-60
Focus on Verse 60. "Therefore many of his disciples, when they heard this, said, 'This is a hard saying; who can understand it?' "
This scene takes place during his third year of ministry known as the "year of opposition." The term "the Jews" indicates hostility toward Christ. He was beginning to create real problems for both his followers and his opposition. Placing himself equal to God did not sit well. The Jews continued to see him on an earthly level (vs. 42). This was a continuing problem for them as they couldn't make the leap from earthly to spiritual. He has continually taught them, in the previous two plus years, that he is in the "bread of life" (John 6:35) and through him they will have eternal life (John 6:40). However, they continually, "Don't get it." He teaches (reteaches) them about the manna from heaven that was given to Israel in the wilderness (Exodus Chapter 16). Even then they grumbled and complained. Grumbling, complaining and unbelief came natural to them. Jesus understands this but it still doesn't make his message any easier for them to digest. Their hearts are hardened and they substitute "Head Knowledge" instead of "heart knowledge." In the last six of seven verses of our text he gives an analogy that has spiritual rather than literal or temporal significance. He is telling them that they must die with him in order to live with him. They still "don't get it." He tells them he is spiritual bread not earthly bread (manna). Their ancestors ate the earthly bread and still died (vs. 58)
Now his disciples (literally student or pupil) speak up. They say," This is a hard saying, who can understand it?"
I would like to state that "we CAN understand it." "We CAN get it." It's not hard. The disciples had that wrong. They kept letting "head knowledge" get in the way of "heart knowledge." They kept trying to make literal sense only of the sayings and teaching of Jesus. The leap from temporal to spiritual was the hard part for them. It need not be for us in the 21st Century. We need only read God's word and put on our "heart knowledge hats" instead of our "head knowledge hats." The scriptures then open up to us and we "get it"
Prayer:
Lord, help us to read your word and cut through the clutter. The message will come through loud and clear. Amen!
Focus on Verse 60. "Therefore many of his disciples, when they heard this, said, 'This is a hard saying; who can understand it?' "
This scene takes place during his third year of ministry known as the "year of opposition." The term "the Jews" indicates hostility toward Christ. He was beginning to create real problems for both his followers and his opposition. Placing himself equal to God did not sit well. The Jews continued to see him on an earthly level (vs. 42). This was a continuing problem for them as they couldn't make the leap from earthly to spiritual. He has continually taught them, in the previous two plus years, that he is in the "bread of life" (John 6:35) and through him they will have eternal life (John 6:40). However, they continually, "Don't get it." He teaches (reteaches) them about the manna from heaven that was given to Israel in the wilderness (Exodus Chapter 16). Even then they grumbled and complained. Grumbling, complaining and unbelief came natural to them. Jesus understands this but it still doesn't make his message any easier for them to digest. Their hearts are hardened and they substitute "Head Knowledge" instead of "heart knowledge." In the last six of seven verses of our text he gives an analogy that has spiritual rather than literal or temporal significance. He is telling them that they must die with him in order to live with him. They still "don't get it." He tells them he is spiritual bread not earthly bread (manna). Their ancestors ate the earthly bread and still died (vs. 58)
Now his disciples (literally student or pupil) speak up. They say," This is a hard saying, who can understand it?"
I would like to state that "we CAN understand it." "We CAN get it." It's not hard. The disciples had that wrong. They kept letting "head knowledge" get in the way of "heart knowledge." They kept trying to make literal sense only of the sayings and teaching of Jesus. The leap from temporal to spiritual was the hard part for them. It need not be for us in the 21st Century. We need only read God's word and put on our "heart knowledge hats" instead of our "head knowledge hats." The scriptures then open up to us and we "get it"
Prayer:
Lord, help us to read your word and cut through the clutter. The message will come through loud and clear. Amen!
Frank Rankin
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