There is one more little theme in John 6 before we leave and move to chapter 7. – We do need to keep going. (Tania’s group covering Deuteronomy at BSF covered Deuteronomy 1-16 in one sitting.) At that rate we would cover John in two sessions. What do you think readers? Should I speed up? I don’t believe so. I gather from the comments I have had from some of you that you like me sharing some of the depth of the Scripture. Is this the right balance? Talk to me.
Find the common thread in the verses I have clipped below: Do you see it?
Then the people began to murmur in disagreement because He had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”
John 6:41
But Jesus replied, “Stop complaining about what I said.
John 6:43
Then the people began arguing with each other about what He meant. “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” they asked. I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.
John 6:52-53
Many of His disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?” Jesus was aware that His disciples were complaining, so He said to them, “Does this offend you?
John 6:60-61
But some of you do not believe Me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and He knew who would betray Him.
At this point many of His disciples turned away and deserted Him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”
John 6:64, 66-67
Then Jesus said, “I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.” He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, who would later betray Him.
John 6:70-71
John traces a thread of the growing opposition to Jesus ministry. There is a theme of salvation / belief / receiving eternal life as opposed to judgement. You can reject him and he will allow that to happen (remember John 1:11) or you can accept and receive eternal life. Notice how in this case the opposition is getting closer to home
The people murmur in disagreement . . . the people began arguing with each other . . . disciples say this is hard to understand . . . disciples were complaining . . . many of his disciples turned away and deserted him . . . to the twelve – are you also going to leave . . . Judas . . one of the twelve . . . who would betray him.
Do you see the progression? Hey it can happen to any one of us. John moves from people to disciples to the Twelve to Judas (one of the 12).
Finally in the next Gem we will cross the chapter boundary into chapter 7. Are you ready? Do you know what to do? Don’t forget Robert Estienne and his horse.
Do you remember Angela from the previous Gem? Angela had back surgery in September 1993 to correct an injury she suffered while on duty in the military. The botched surgery, however, resulted in incorrect bone grafts and disabling injuries when a drill or screw pierced her spinal cord.
“One doctor told me my physical condition was a waste of human life. I decided to prove him, and everyone who thinks like him, wrong by making my life anything but a waste,” Madsen said.
On June 25, 2009, Angela Madsen took part in a crew of eight to row across the Indian Ocean from Australia to Africa. They completed their ROW across the Indian Ocean in the boat Audeamus after 58 days at sea. They set the World Record for the fastest Indian Ocean Crossing by Oar, Helen and Angela were the first women to row across the Indian Ocean. Angela became the first disabled person to row across the Indian Ocean and to row across two oceans (Indian 2009 & Atlantic 2007).
Angela Madsen
I do it because I can. I can because I want to. I want to because you said I couldn’t.
Angela Madsen