CONFRONTED BY GOD'S WORD (BIBLE PASSAGE: JEREMIAH 36: 1-32)

 

WHEN CONFRONTED BY GOD’S WORD…

BIBLE PASSAGE: JEREMIAH 36: 1-32

Picture taken from Google

Lesson Prepared by: Krisha of Solomon’s Wisdom FB page

Lesson ideas taken from: https://www.ssbc.org/sermons/burning-scrolls

OCTOBER 10, 2021

 

MEMORY VERSE

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

ISAIAH 40:8

 INTRODUCTION:

What would be your feeling when your children don’t follow the spiritual path that you have started for the family? (Ask for audience response)  

In the passage that we have read, we have seen that it’s all about the king of Judah named Jehoiakim. Who is this king? He was an evil king according to the book of 2 Kings 23:37. Who is his father? His father is King Josiah. Are you familiar with the king’s name? Yes, He is familiar but before we continue we’ll just have a short recall of King Josiah. The Hebrew Bible states that the priest Hilkiah found a "Book of the Law" in the temple during the early stages of Josiah's temple renovation. Hilkiah then gave the scroll to his secretary Shaphan, who took it to King Josiah. According to the Bible, King Josiah then changed his form of leadership entirely, entering into a new form of covenant with the Lord. He wiped out all of the pagan cults that had formed within his land. He, along with his people, then entered into this new covenant with the Lord to keep the commandments of the Lord. Let’s put our attention to the response of the king when confronted by God’s word. Let’s read 2 Kings 22:11 -12, “And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king's, saying, Go ye, enquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.” And He set a
“Day of Repentance.” In verses 1-3 of chapter 23 say, “And the king sent, and they gathered unto him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem. And the king went up into the house of the Lord, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the Lord. And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.”  In this chapter he did great things to obey the Lord according to the Scripture they had found: He asked to take all the idols in every places and burned, he broke down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the Lord, where the women wove hangings for the grove and the high priests of the high places were not allowed to come up to the altar of the Lord. In verse 25, “And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.” His reign stopped when the Egyptians attacked some part of Assyria under the reign of the king of Egypt, Pharaoh Necho; King Josiah was killed.

Josiah’s successor was his son Jehoahaz and he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, (2 Kings 23:32). He reigned only three months. In verse 34 says, “And Pharaoh nechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there.”

The successor of King Josiah, his son Jehoahaz, though he reigned only three months, he did evil in God’s sight in a span of three months. Now we go to the next, his another son named Jehoiakim. Our lesson for today focuses on the second successor, ELiakim or Jehoiakim. Did King Jehoiakim followed his father’s footsteps? No, based from we have read that when the scripture was read in front of him, he cut with his penknife and burned it. Let’s read Jeremiah 36:23, “And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.” We have seen from the Bible how the two kings responded when they were confronted by God’s Word. The father repented and humbled before the Lord and his son was different. Let’s open it in Jeremiah 36: 24-26 and follow me; I’ll read in Tagalog.

Gayunman, hindi natakot o nagpamalas ng anumang tanda ng pagsisi ang hari, ni sinuman sa mga pinuno niya. Bagamat nakiusap sa hari sina Elnatan, Delaya at Gemarias, na huwag sunugin ang kasulatan, sila’y hindi pinansin. Pagkatapos, inuutos niya kay Prinsipe Jeremeel na isama si Azriel na anak ni Seraya at si Abdeel na anak ni Selemias, upang dakpin si Propeta Jeremias at ang kalihim nitong si Baruc. Subalit sila’y ikinubli ni Yahweh.

The two kings responded differently. Why the son, King Jehoiakim responded this way upon hearing God’s Word?

LESSON OUTLINE:

1.  THE BIBLE CONDEMNED HIS LIFESTYLE (JEREMIAH 22: 13-16)

Remember King Josiah during the preparations in repairing the temple? I know most of us here know the background of this king. In 2 Kings 22: 3 – 7,

 

³ And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of the Lord, saying, ⁴ Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the silver which is brought into the house of the Lord, which the keepers of the door have gathered of the people: ⁵ And let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work, that have the oversight of the house of the Lord: and let them give it to the doers of the work which is in the house of the Lord, to repair the breaches of the house, ⁶ Unto carpenters, and builders, and masons, and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house. ⁷ Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully.

 

King Jehoiakim’s priority was not spiritual. Let’s read Jeremiah 22: 13-16. His priority was to build a lavish palace for himself. Not like his father, he did force labor. He made decisions not according to God’s will, he made alliance to the King of Egypt. He became under the authority of this king. He also imposed taxes to God’s people in order to give to the King of Egypt.

We can see here that without God, decisions, priorities are wrongs, right? I remember when I was young and I had feelings before that even though I’m a Christian I didn’t belong to a group or circle of Christian friends. I felt out of place; why? If you remember Young People before, correct me if I’m wrong, there were different cliques. There were just like social Christian friends and low class. They didn’t do it intentionally; it was like normal. One time I needed to ask something important to one of the young people. I went to their house and said, “Puwede po makausap si _____.” The woman told me who is also a Christian, “Tingnan ko ha kung kakausapin ka ha.” That moment made me to think, “why?” It’s because I didn’t play a major role in the church? When I got home, I prayed to feel better; I just ignored and continue serving. Remember our lifestyles speak a lot and we need to be careful; it’s our testimony. There’s should have a difference between a Christian and not. Before, some were proud to say I didn’t go to church because we had an event here or there. I know there are some we think valid reasons but being proud about it and it’s not a big deal anymore, BE CAREFUL! We always hear from our pastor that whatever we do without God in it, it won’t be successful.

 

Another bad decision King Jehoiakim made was when he made an alliance to the king of Egypt instead of following the prophet’s warnings & commands. Follow in Jeremiah 2:36; I’ll read in Tagalog, “Bakit kay dali mong magpalit ng kaibigan? Bibiguin ka ng Egipto, iiwan mo siyang taglay ang pagkapahiya. Sapagkat itinakwil ni Yahweh ang iyong pinagkakatiwalaan, at hindi ka nila mabibigyan ng tagumpay.” Wow! What can you say in these verses? Do we have something or someone we put our trust or lean on? One of the young people told me before during the team building that one of the greatest fear that she had was “losing their resources” she answered that way because they are in the middle class. That’s true, that the common fear of people but the scripture reminds us to TRUST HIM. WE may lose our resources but the GREATEST SOURCE is GOD.

2.  GOD’S WORD EXPOSED HIS SINS (JEREMIAH 22:17)

But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it.

In Jeremiah 26:20-23, prophet Urijah was killed in the command of King Jehoiakim. Like Jeremiah, he prophesied in the name of the Lord. When the king heard it, he sought him to put him to death. He escaped and went to Egypt but the king sent men to Egypt and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.

 

In Jeremiah 36: 23 says, “And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.”

 

What lesson we could get from this attitude of the king? Imagine a member walks out from the congregation because he thinks that the sermon is intended for him only. Are there parts of the scripture you want to avoid?  I have read a testimony of a man who had hidden sins and he said every time he was reminded by the sermon, he just kept quiet and no had no response at all. Also he didn’t choose verses that might remind him of his sins; he became selective. So you see, sometimes we think that God’s Word controls our privacy. Sin leads you to separate from spiritual matters because you are always reminded, right? So before we come to that point, include in prayer that we would not ignore the warnings of God; be attentive and listen carefully. Also, when we are confronted by God’s Word, we’ll have the right response.  

 

3.  GOD’S WORD ANNOUNCED HIS FUTURE JUDGEMENT (JEREMIAH 22:18-19).

¹⁸ Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they shall not lament for him, saying, Ah lord! or, Ah his glory!

¹⁹ He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.

Sometimes we fight God’s Word; we whisper “That won’t happen to me” especially if we are stable in our job, our resources are good, relationship are quite okay and everything goes smoothly. There are no reasons that these things we hold on would not go beyond our control. We’re wrong because the evidences are clear, beside God’s Word, the pandemic is a strong evidence that we can’t control our lives. We have seen lot of interviews of famous artist who have been suffering from depression because they can’t imagine that the work they’ve trusted are temporarily closed. It’s already two years but the others jobs like bars and other entertainment companies are still not open until now.  

There are lot of warnings from the word of God for example in Malachi 3:10-11 if you give your tithes, God will rebuke the devourer but if you don’t, of course that’s the opposite outcome. Another in Psalms 1:1-4, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful ² But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.” These are just two examples and there are a lot more. May this lesson point make us aware of the warnings from the Bible and be attentive.

CONCLUSION:

Let’s read Jeremiah 36:1-2, “And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day. It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.”

We can see that the word came unto Jeremiah from the Lord and asked him to write the words to the people of Judah that they might return from their evils ways and God will forgive them; God gave chances. Because Jeremiah was shut up from the temple, he asked Baruch helped to proclaimed it to the people in the temple. We have read previously that the scrolls were burned in the fireplace by king Jehoiakim. After burning the scrolls, in verses 27-28, then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah and asked him to take another scroll and rewrite again. What’s your feeling when you are asked to write again? Is it tiring or wearisome? Jeremiah didn’t mention any complain but he also reached the point of saying to God all his concerns and sufferings. It is mentioned in Jeremiah chapter 20. He suffered greatly in the hand of Pashur, the son of Imer the priest, the governor in the house of the Lord. When he heard Jeremiah prophesied, smote him, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the Lord. In verses 7 – 10, he told God all the things he suffered from proclaiming His Word to the people. Did Jeremiah get weary or intimidate in carrying God’s Word? Did he stop? In verse 9 says, “Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.” Therefore, to all pastors and preachers don’t stop proclaiming and also to all of us, don’t stop sharing the Gospel.

If we have questions in mind how the word of the Lord, the Scripture, came to us, one of the good answers was when God spoke to Jeremiah and wrote the things God has spoken. Remember the scrolls were burned but it won’t stop there, the scrolls were rewritten. Eugene Peterson said, “Scripture can be burned but God’s Word cannot be destroyed. It’s been burned many times but no one has yet successfully suppressed.” Bible says in Isaiah 40:8, “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” God’s Word will prevail.

HAVE YOU NEVER READ?

Matthew 22: 15-46; Matthew 21: 14 - 16 picture taken from Google

MEMORY VERSE Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. Lesson Prepared by: Krisha of Solomon Wisdom FB page some lesson points taken from: https://www.tomorrowsworld.org/magazines/2005/september-october/how-the-bible-can-help- Introduction:

Have you tried a new-bought machine and tried to assembly it with your own knowledge? It is possible that we have a little knowledge about it, but the full details are needed to be read and executed.

One time our nephew, this was already mentioned by my sister in her lessons, bought a swing from the store to be their gift to their mother as Mothers’ Day gift. At first, we just watched him in a distance but when we saw that he was struggling in assembling, we offered help. He was about to bring the swing to the store and pay for assembling the parts when we approached him. The first thing my sister, Kris, asked was “where’s the manual?” She read the manual and followed the instruction and after few minutes, it was successfully assembled.

We know that the Bible is a manual of life but most of the time we try our own way and knowledge and seldom read the manual which is the best way to do.

The title of our lesson is taken in Matthew 21:15-16 wherein the priests and scribes were displeased when they saw Jesus did wonderful things and heard the children crying and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David.”

And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

The Lord Jesus Christ quoted the verse in Psalms 8:2

Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

Jesus was pointing out that they didn’t read what mentioned in God’s written word

In our passage today we have read, Matthew 22: 15-46, there are five situations wherein God answered the people’s questions.:

         a)      Matthew 22:15-22 – Jesus was asked about paying taxes. When people heard His words,             they marvelled.

         b)      Matthew 22:23-30 – Jesus was asked about a wife who had 7 husbands; whose wife shall         she be in the resurrection. Jesus answered in this manner in verse 29, “…Ye do err, not              knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.”

         c)      Matthew 22: 31-33 – Jesus answered with these words, “…have ye not read that which          was spoken unto you by God…? He has explained the God of the living and not the dead and the people were astonished to his doctrine.   

          d)      Matthew 22: 34-40 – Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment

         e)      Matthew 22: 41-46 – This time Jesus was the one asking them., “What think ye of Christ? Whose son is He?

       If you notice to the following situations, there are commonality; those are coming from God’s Word, the scriptures, and the Lord Jesus Christ always says, “HAVE YE NOT READ?” If today at our present time, we have struggles and problems and we feel confuse, our Lord might say, “HAYE YOU NEVER READ?”

Lesson Points:

     1.   HAVE YOU NEVER READ THE WAY TO LIFE BEYOND DEATH? (LUKE        10:25 -28)

The Bible reveals the way to eternal life and salvation. After you die, will you live again? How do you know? Look at what the Apostle Paul wrote to the young evangelist Timothy: "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:14–15)

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  Another verses from Luke 10:25-28, we see that a lawyer asked the Lord on how to inherit eternal life

²⁵ And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

²⁶ He said unto him, What is written in the law? HOW READEST THOU?

²⁷ And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy

soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

²⁸ And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

In 2 Timothy we can see that Timothy has leaned the scriptures since childhood and it’s a good spiritual idea that the parents as well as the Sunday school teachers need to teach the kids the right way to God’s salvation. And in our next verses, again, we notice that Jesus replied the lawyer with a question, “What is written in the law? How readest thou?”  All things are answered in God’s word but sometimes we are sidetrack, we listen to false views in social media. Another thing, when we are asked about our salvation, we keep silent and what does this imply? We don’t listen to the sermons and we think that our bible is not readable.

         2.     HAVE YOU NEVER READ YOUR LIFE’S REAL MEANING AND             PURPOSE? (JEREMIAH 29:11-14)

Christians know that the world we live in today is temporary and our final destination is in heaven because we have faith and accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour but why there are Christians don’t still give time for spiritual matters. What is the purpose of this life? Have we never read in the Bible our purpose?

God had a purpose for Jeremiah. God selected him. He knew him before he was formed. It is one thing to brag about who you know. It is quite another thing to boast about who knows you.

There may be many people you know who don’t claim to know you. God knows you and claims to know you.

Not only did God know Jeremiah, He chose him. Nothing makes a person feel better than to be chosen by someone. Knowing everything about you even before you were conceived, your strengths and flaws, your obedience and disobedience, God chose you. Wow!

Not only did God select Jeremiah, He shaped him in his mother’s womb. In the words of the Psalmist, we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). When God made Adam and Eve, He did so with His hands. Handmade items always have a greater value. God wove you while in your mother’s womb. You are a one-of-a-kind creation of God.

God also sanctified the prophet. He was set apart for a special purpose. God has special plans for you (Jeremiah 29:11-14). God has chosen you to do things and say things that will impact all time and eternity.

He sanctioned Jeremiah to carry out that plan.  Jeremiah realized the facts. Notice the absolute words God used. God declared to him that he would go to everyone God sent him to, speak whatever God told him to speak, and not to fear anyone.

Why? God told him he was not alone. God promised to be with him and to deliver him.

     3.      HAVE YOU NEVER READ THE WAY TO HARMONIOUS RELATIONSHIPS?

    4.      HAVE YOU NEVER READ ON HOW TO FIND TRUE SUCCESS, FULFILLMENT AND         HAPPINESS?

     5.      HAVE YOU NEVER READ THE FUTURE?

OFFENDED BY THE WORD

This picture was taken from Google

Memory Verse

Matthew 11:6 (KJV)

⁶ And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

OCTOBER 20, 2018

MATTHEW 15: 1 -20;

JOHN 6: 27 - 71

Introduction:

What does offend mean?

The Oxford dictionary defines the word 'offend' as 'to cause to feel upset, annoyed, or resentful'

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as 'to cause (a person or group) to feel hurt, angry, or upset by something said or done'

Have you experienced being offended? Many of us would say yes but the great thing is we still here. How about being offended by men, leaders, and pastors of the church? I had an experience wherein a pastor was assigned to be the speaker and people were blessed with the sermon. After the worship service, few leaders, pastors had the chance to have a short talk. I heard the speaker talked about his preaching. He said he was not really cried in the sermon, he had a cold and pretended to cry. I was offended not because some members went forward to surrender but because the sermon is a serious matter that needs more focus and prayer to the Lord; it’s a time to share God’s message through you. This kind of offense is different from our topic today; Offended by the Word is quite serious and needs spiritual discernment from the Lord.

Have you thought about being offended by the Lord Jesus Christ?

I’ll give some situations from the Bible and try to personalize them:

a)       A rich young ruler liked Jesus and agreed with what He taught ("Good Teacher") and clearly wanted confirmation that his good behavior would result in eternal life. But Jesus' response offends his own sense of worth, and he walks away from Jesus saddened, and unchanged.

b)      ²¹ Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

²² And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

²³ But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

²⁴ But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

²⁵ Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

²⁶ But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.” (Matthew 15:21-26) [emphasis mine] The Jews regarded Gentiles as 'dogs' - a deeply offensive term in their culture (Matthew 7:6) And Jesus has just publicly referred to her daughter as a dog!  How offensive was that? But listen to her reply. “Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” (v.27) Now listen to the response from Jesus. “O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt.” (v.28) And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

                        Matthew Henry's commentary on this event.

Many methods of Christ's providence, especially of His grace, in dealing with His people, which are dark and perplexing, may be explained by this story, which teaches us that there may be love in Christ's heart while there are frowns on His face; and it encourages us, though He seems ready to slay us, yet to trust in Him. Those whom Christ intends most to honour, He humbles to feel their own unworthiness. A proud, unhumbled heart would not have borne this.

c)       He was speaking the truth from 1 Kings chapter 12 and 2 Kings chapter 5, but the people in the synagogue were so offended by the implications of His words they threw Him out of the the synagogue, out of the city and then tried to throw Him off a cliff.

So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way. (Luke 4:28)

d)      Imagine you are in the temple when Jesus arrives with a whip of cords (John 2:13-16). If that happened at our church would we be offended by His behavior?

e)       For instance how many of us have heard these challenging and potentially offensive words of Jesus preached to us?

"If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. You should lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right-hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. You should lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. Matthew 5:29-30

Then another of His disciples said to Him "Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father" But Jesus said to him, "Follow Me; and let the dead bury their dead" Matthew 8:21-22

“If any come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:26.

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing. If a man abideth not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (John 15:5-6)

So then, because of thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth. Revelation 3:16

These are just some of the situations wherein the sayings of our Lord are offensive. Now let’s study the lesson titled “OFFENDED BY THE WORD.”

LESSON POINTS:

   1)   THEY’RE OFFENDED POSSIBLE BECAUSE THEY NEVER TRUST CHRIST AT ALL, OR ACCEPT HIM AS THEIR SAVIOR (JOHN 6:42).

-      What comes to your mind with our first point? (let few people answer)

-      Proofs that they were not accepted Christ as Saviour:

a)   Looking for Jesus for the wrong reasons (6:26)

b)   The Work of God—Believe (6:28-29)

c)    Requiring another miraculous sign (6:30-31)

d)   The True Bread from heaven (6:32-34)

    2)   SOME JOIN THE CHURCH WHO, AFTER TIME, ARE OFFENDED (PROFESSING CHRISTIANS) (John 6: 66-67)

Now, why is it that some, who profess to know Him are offended with Christ?  Well, with some it is because the novelty wears off. Very earnest services were held and they were greatly affected. They thought that they repented and believed, so they joined the church. Now the good men who held the services are gone and everything seems rather flat after such excitement. And so, they have gone back again. They jumped into religion like a man into a bath, and they have jumped out again, put on their clothes and gone back to the world and to what they were before.

When we visited the USA a few months ago, we noticed that we hadn’t seen any lizard in my sister’s place. We just ignored it until one time, a blogger sited an example to his sermon about lizards then I started to search about them. The explanation about lizards was answered:

(explanations are taken from http://lizardsandfriends.org/?p=596

In spring and summer in Texas, we see lizards everywhere we look.  They’re climbing on the trees, crawling on the ground, and running around the walls of our houses.  If you watch a lizard for a few minutes in the summer, you’ll probably see it catching an insect to eat, or chasing another lizard out of its territory, or sitting in the shade to stay cool.

But in the fall and winter when the temperature drops, we don’t see many lizards anymore.  What are they doing when the cold wind and rain come?  The answer is, they’re not doing very much!  Lizards are a type of animal called ectotherms, which means that their body temperature is the same as the environment around them.  So when the air outside is cold, lizards are cold too.  On the other hand, humans (along with other mammals and birds) are endotherms, which means that our internal functions keep our bodies at a warm temperature no matter what the weather is outside.

When lizards are cold, they don’t need to eat very much to stay alive, so they don’t need to be active.  Instead, they try to find a warm place to hide.  They might burrow under leaves, or dig a hole in the soil, or find a hole in a tree trunk.  In general, lizards will sit very still in these safe places and wait for warmer weather, when they will come out and sit in the sun to warm themselves.  Once they’re warm, they’ll start running after food and chasing other lizards again!

Not any of the twelve apostles, for they are distinguished from these in the next verse; nor any of the seventy disciples, but some of the a multitude of the disciples, who followed Christ, heard him and professed to believe in him, and were baptized in his name, but were not true disciples,

    3)  SOME WHO WERE OFFENDED BY THE TRUTH BUT DID NOT WALK AWAY (JOHN 6: 36 – 71)

-      What were the lessons mentioned:

a)    I Am the Bread of Life (6:35-36)

b)    A Passage of Promise (6:37-40)

c)    No-one Can Come Unless the Father draws Him (6:41-47)

d)    The Bread of Life that Comes Down from Heaven (6:48-51a) Now Jesus repeats His claim that He is the Bread of Life (6:33,35).

e)    Eat My Flesh (6:51b-52

f)     Flesh Given for the Life of the World (6:51b)

-      The earliest New Testament believers were 'messianic Jews'. Men and women who were raised in the Jewish religion, the Jewish traditions and Jewish culture.

Scripture states that 'life is in the blood' (Lev. 3:17 & 17:11) and so eating blood was (and still is) a deeply offensive thing to a Jew. Hence their ritual slaughtering of animals which allows the blood to be drained from the meat.

When gentiles - who knew little of the Jewish culture - began to flood into the Kingdom some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees wanted them to be circumcised, and this issue, in particular, brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute with them. (Acts 15:1-3)

Eventually the apostles and elders met at Jerusalem to decide what wise stipulations they should lay upon the rapidly increasing numbers of gentile believers. After much debate, James - the step-brother of Jesus - stood up and addressed the council saying,

“It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead, we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from the blood. Acts 15:19-20 [emphasis mine]

Thus the 'original Christians' from within the Jewish culture were agreeable to drop the issue of circumcision, and didn't mention Sabbath-keeping, but asked them to abstain from food offered to idols, sexual immorality, meat from strangled animals and blood. Why these four stipulations?

One commentary on these verses said,

Circumcision was not required but four stipulations were laid down. These were in areas where the gentiles had particular weaknesses and where the Jews were particularly repulsed by gentile violations. It would help both the individual and the relationship between Gentile and Jew if these requirements were observed. (The NIV Bible Study) [emphasis mine]

So with this background information it is not hard to understand how deeply offensive the idea of flesh being eaten with the blood still in it would be, even to a messianic Jew.

We get that.

Jesus was Jewish, raised in a Jewish home, in a Jewish land with Jewish traditions and a robust Jewish culture. He knew flesh with blood was offensive.

With that understanding, listen to Jesus addressing Jewish listeners in the synagogue in Capernaum.

"I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

Jesus said unto them, “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. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood hath eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed". (John 6:51-55)  [emphasis mine]

What offense! And the crowd was offended. Very offended. So were His disciples.

With great understatement many of His disciples said,

“This is a hard saying; who can hear it? (“This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”) (Luke 6:60)

To which Jesus replied,

“Doth this offend you?” (or “Does this offend you?)  (John 6:61)

So the offensive was His words that we read,

From that time many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, “Will ye also go away?”  (John 6: 66-67)

Simon Peter answered him on behalf of them all,

“Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”(John 6: 68-69) [emphasis mine]

In other words, the disciples who did not walk away - were definitely offended by 'the truth' but did not walk away as others did because they had truly come to believe and to know that He was indeed, the Christ, the Son of the living God.