WHO IS JESUS TO YOU?
Scriptures: TEXT FROM JOHN CHAPTER 6
1). After reading the text, we see several things in review of it. We see that the Lord feeds the 5,000 with the loaves of bread and fishes.
2). This gives Him the opportunity to disclose something very essential and this is that He is the eternal Bread from Heaven and that in order to have eternal life we must eat of his flesh and drink of his blood. We must, in essence, partake of Him. It denotes a "communion" and to "commune" means to "relate".
3). This is a very appropriate Communion message also, because each time we partake, we in essence eat of his body, which is the Bread of Life sent from Heaven and we drink of His blood in remembrance that He shed it for us.
4). What Jesus did and said in the above text met with varying reactions from the people and many still react in similar manners today. Lets look in more detail at an expository of verses from this text so get a more clear picture.
a). Vs. 26 – What is your motive in following the Lord? This verse reveals that the motive in some following the Lord is that of physical & materialistic need….in this case soley for food for the appetite. Don’t get me wrong. God in his love takes care of us. He fed the 5,000 didn’t He? But some of us follow after the Lord only for various materialistic & physical desires alone and we need to examine our hearts as to what our main motivation really is.
b). Some also think and preach Jesus and the gospel as being a means of financial gain and that is wrong. God takes care of us financially. I believe that. But that is a benefit of our following Him and serving Him. It is a by-product of that….it is not and should not be WHY WE CHOOSE TO ACCEPT JESUS AS SAVIOR IN OUR LIVES OR WHY WE CHOOSE TO GO TO CHURCH. Yet in some places prosperity is all that is preached. I have nothing against prosperity. I have been a business owner for years. But I do have a problem with those who use the gospel or teach and emphasize that the gospel is a means to wealth at the exclusion of proper balance and realizing that He is first and foremost our Lord and Savior. Simply put …"TEACHING THE LOVE OF MONEY IS WRONG”. Money is not the root of evil but the “love of money is” and we need to be careful in these times what we teach and how we teach it.
Love of Money - 1 Tim 6:3-6
3If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Is it only because He provides for your immediate materialistic needs or physical provisions such as food or wealth that you follow Him? Or is it because YOU LOVE HIM AND KNOW HE WHO HE REALLY IS, WHAT HE REALLY DID FOR YOU? DO YOU HAVE A TRUE REVELATION THAT HE IS GOD?
b). Vs. 41-42 – reveals that some people simply have no real revelation of who Jesus is. The Jews grumbled…never understanding "who" Jesus was and who was in their midst.
c). Vs 60-64 – reveals that some people try and relate to Jesus and His Words only according to the flesh, not realizing that God is Spirit and to know JESUS and His Word and ways are spiritually apprised. As a result, because they could not understand Jesus and put Him in their own little box, some walked in unbelief (vs 64) Remember that we must walk by the Spirit and that the carnal mind is enmity against God and cannot subject itself to the laws of God, according to scripture.
d). Vs 66 – Some of those who were even His own disciples walked away from Jesus…deserted Him out of a lack of understanding and revelation…and from greed
Some depart from the faith out of greed –Read 1 Tim 6:10 (see above)
ALSO SEE SCRIPTURE BELOW
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1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1 Timothy 4:1-3 (in Context) 1 Timothy 4 (Whole Chapter)
D1 – What happened to the disciples that walked away…that deserted Jesus. Why did they do it?
Were His Words too sickening? Was the idea that one would have to eat his flesh and drink His blood too much for them? Did they think He was suggesting cannibalism? Some have suggested that but I do not think this was entirely the case although perhaps to some it may have been so. Maybe there was a deeper problem? Perhaps it is that they were looking for a something more physical and materialistic…maybe a materialistic and physical earthly Kingdom at that time…someone to overthrow the Romans… and when they understood by the Words of Jesus that Jesus would not be what they wanted Him to be and He instead preached a spiritual Kingdom and spoke of eternal life, it was not what they wanted to hear. Perhaps they just decided after hearing all of this that following Jesus was not worth it. It might be suggested that many of these people, like today, were looking for something "now" in the realm of material and physical blessing and never really had a revelation of who Jesus really was. Jesus does bless us in all areas of life, I believe but again, we obtain benefits from God out of a true relationship with Him first. Remember the Bible says, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and (then...afterwards) all other things will be added unto you."
E). Vs 67-69 – is known as “PETER’S CONFESSION OF FAITH”.
Peter disclosed the following truths in his statements of faith:
A. That once you have a true encounter with Jesus in your life and understand His words, have a true revelation of who He is... that there is nowhere else to go…that Jesus is the only way.
B. That Jesus has the words…the only words…the directives…the map for us to eternal life and that He therefore was speaking of an eternal and heavenly Kingdom.
C. Peter disclosed in his statements of “having believed and having come to know” that Jesus was the Holy One of God, that he had a true revelation of who Jesus is.
5. My question to you this morning is….”DO YOU HAVE THAT REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST THAT PETER HAD?” DO YOU KNOW WHO JESUS REALLY IS? WHO IS THE LORD TO YOU THIS MORNING? DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHY HE CAME, WHY HE DIED ON THE CROSS AND WHY HE AROSE FROM THE DEAD? DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHY HIS BODY IS THE BREAD OF LIFE?
A. Notice that Jesus had compassion and fed the 5,000. Yes, Jesus does meet our needs. Yes, He cares for us. The Bible says that He gives us all things that pertain to life. But that same Bible passage also goes on to say that He gives us all things that pertain to godliness. Do you know that?
B. Who is Jesus to you? Is He just someone to meet your physical and material needs and wants? Or is He the King of King and Lord of Lords? Is He the Lord, the decision-maker of your life? Is He the great God and Creator who designed us to worship Him and who deserves to be loved and worshipped?
C. Do you love Him because of who He really is?
D. Or do you resent Him and rebel if He will not give you what you want when you want it or be what you want Him to be to you when you want Him to be that certain thing or person?
5). OUR REACTION AND RELATIONSHIP SHOULD BE AS IN JOHN 6:68-69
“Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”
May the Lord bless this word to your hearts.
By Evangelist Mischa Safdie’
Mischa Safdie’ Ministries
136 N. Grand Ave., Ste. 278
W. Covina, CA 91791
(951) 796-3936
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