Bible Studies

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by Gary Sims
08/21/03
Not For Sale
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The Gospels
John 6:56-69 – Lessons of Life
Key Verses:

56: “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them.” – Jesus culminates His lessons on bread with a statement that stirs the imagination. Reflect on these words before moving on.
58b: “But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” – As we come to know Christ, as we consume His teaching and devour His love, we are drawn to God and then, through Christ, His promise for eternal life becomes a reality.
60: “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” – We do not always easily accept the teachings that Jesus provides. Our discerning mind frequently blocks our access to truth in its quest for the concrete and the exact.
61-62: “Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before?” – Jesus takes His lesson a step further. If you are having difficulty with a parable outlining Jesus as the Bread of Life, then what are you going to do with this miracle called Ascension?
63: “It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” – As He so often did, Jesus takes a moment in His lesson to explain, to outline in plainer language, the truth that lies within the imagery He has presented. The lesson is about spiritual hunger, not physical.
64: “But among you there are some who do not believe.” – These are followers of Jesus who have witnessed miracle upon miracle and have received, first hand, an education revealing the essence of God.
65: “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.” – Still teaching He says: ‘Do you remember that lesson from a few days ago? Have you forgotten some of the basics that I have shared?’
68-69: “Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’” – Some may choose not to follow Christ, as many did on this day in Capernaum, but Peter, already rock-solid in his faith, answers that for him there is no other option. Christ is the Truth, the Way and the Life.

Points to Contemplate:

“Is this teaching too difficult for you to accept?” How do you respond to challenging lessons in the Bible? Are there verses and scripture that elude your comprehension and understanding? Are there lessons you find uncomfortable? Is the box that describes your definition of God soft and flexible, always evolving and changing shape? Or is it hard and rigid, resistant to new ideas and concepts, forever causing you to bump your head against its unyielding limitations? Do you think that you have God figured out? Is there room for more of God in your life?
“Does this offend you?” Does it shake your faith? When you find yourself struggling with a lesson from God, can you hear Jesus asking you this question? “Does this offend you?” Do you see that His lessons are not designed to always provide you clear sailing and smooth seas in your boat of spiritual growth? Do you accept that Christ frequently shakes your foundation, roughens the waters before you, in order that you can grow and develop greater understanding of His kingdom? That it is within these difficult lessons that the greatest opportunity for your growth exists?
“What if you were to see…?” Can you lift your head and look beyond the moment to see what lies before you on the horizon? Jesus suggests that if you are struggling with an issue, glance up, peer ahead to the horizon and ask: ‘Where is this path leading?’ ‘What glories lie ahead if I can only get beyond this obstacle?’ If the disciples were unable to absorb the teaching that Jesus is the “Bread of Life” then how would they handle the next bit of Good News? Are you able to accept that 2 times 2 equals 4, if you have not yet established that 2 plus 2 equals 4?
“Do you also wish to go away?” Are you ready to make a commitment? Do you see that there are moments in your life where you have to make the choice to move forward? That you simply cannot sit back and continue to let indecision dominate your life? Are you ready for the next step in your spiritual journey? Do you accept that God is always drawing you closer to Him? Do you also recognize that you have the choice to step off of that path at any time? (Where would that lead you?) Do you have the faith to move on in Christ?

Promises of the Gospel:

Life is never easy. The answers to the questions we face do not always lead us where we think we should be going? Every day we are faced with indecision and questions. We are constantly wondering how to apply God’s teaching to specifics in our lives. These questions can be opportunities for further growth or they can become barriers and obstacles that block us from God. The choice is ours to make. Simon Peter’s response was: ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’ Can you make this statement of faith your own to carry you through all situations of doubt and uncertainty in your life?

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