Will You Also Go Away?
Preaching Thru John • Sermon • Submitted
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Will You Also Go Away?
Text: John 6:60–68
60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you that believe not.
For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
Introduction:
* This morning I want to introduce my sermon by building upon our previous messages from the Gospel of John in the last few weeks.
* As I preached last Sunday, Jesus had just finished telling the people that He was the Manna from Heaven.
* Back there in the wilderness, in the time of Moses, the children of Israel Cried out to God to save them from starvation. The cried out for God to save them!
* These people to whom Jesus was preaching had just saw Him feed a great multitude of people with just five barley loaves and two small fishes. This same people watched in awe as Jesus commanded them to gather up the fragments , and twelve large baskets were filled with the leftovers from five little barley laves and two little bitty fish!
* As I preached to you last Sunday, Jesus scolded the people because they followed him across the sea of Galilee the next morning, not to hear the truth of God, not even to see another great and might miracle from God, but to get more food.
* People were no different in Jesus day than they are today.
* In this great land in which we live right now there are grave issues at stake. In a few days we will make a decision that will determine the direction that this country will take for the future.
* This election will determine whether religious freedom will continue in this country, or whether we, as a nation, will chose to go down the path of socialism and communism.
* We, as a nation, will decide in this election, whether or not we will continue to say as our national motto “In God We Trust.” Or will change or national motto to “In ourselves we trust.”
* But we are just like the people of Jesus day. With these great and grave issues at steak what is on the mind of the people?
* Which candidate or party is going to fill my pockets with more!
* Jesus scolded the people for following Him because He provided food. He taught them that their preoccupation with the temporary things of this world was keeping them from knowing the truth that God wanted them to know.
* What is the truth that God wants you to know this morning? Why have we left the comfort of our homes to come here and listen to the Bible?
* I preached to you last Sunday from the words of Jesus when He said:
John 6:26–27 (KJV 1900)
26 … Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you…
* Jesus continued on to say in verse 63 of our text this morning:
63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
* Jesus was reasoning with the people to open their eyes to the truth that what is spiritual this morning is more important than our physical needs.
- Our greatest need this morning is not what the Democrats can do for us!
- Our greatest need is not what the Republicans can do for us!
- Our greatest need is not what civil rights can do for us!
- Our greatest need is not what a good economy can do for us!
- If we all lived in a country where everybody was free to worship as we choose…
- If we all lived in a country where everyone had the best health care available…
- If we all lived in a country where there was no racism and every one was treated with respect…
- If we all lived in a country where all laws were fair and equal for every citizen…
- If we all lived in a country where everyone had a job and there was no unemployment…
- If we all lived in a country where everybody was protected and free from crime in its cities…
- If we all lived in a country where there was no threat of terrorism and every citizen was safe from fear…
What would this truth profit us if we then died and like the rich man in the Bible, we opened up our eyes in Hell being in torments!
* Listen to the words of Jesus in Mark chapter 8:
Mark 8:34–37 (KJV 1900)
34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
* Jesus was trying to each us what the nature of our real “need” is. The most important need you and I have this morning is not physical, but Spiritual and Jesus came to meet that need!
* The most important need this country has this morning is not about the financial direction we are headed, but the direction that we are headed in spiritually.
* You have a great need this morning! Our country has a great need this morning!
* With this thought in mind, let’s turn now and look at the main thought of our text this morning.
I. Because the truth is offensive, the Gospel is Hard for some to believe.
60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? 61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
* Preachers all over this earth this morning stand in pulpits and proclaim this very same truth: “Believe in Jesus and He will give you eternal life.”
* This is a simple truth to those who have believed, but to those who have not believed this is a hard saying still today.
A. There was a rich young ruller that was offended by Jesus and he turned away. (Riches)
Mark 10:17–31 (KJV 1900)
17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. 19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? 27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. 29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, 30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
B. The Gospel was offensive to the Apostle Paul. (Religion)
Acts 9:1–5 (KJV 1900)
And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
II. Without God, life has no purpose.
63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you that believe not.
A.Without God life is too short.
James 4:13–14 (KJV 1900)
13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
* James goes on to talk about how we waste our few precious short days on things that are going to vanish…
James 5:1–3 (KJV 1900)
Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days….
* James goes to say that those who neglect their great spiritual need and live just for the temporary, material things in life are like a pig that is being fattened up and prepared for the slaughter…
James 5:5 (KJV 1900)
5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
B. Without God life is vain- (Filled with useless, maddening repetition with no point.)
* Life, this morning without God, is like a pencil- it has no point.
Ecclesiastes 2:17–23 (KJV 1900)
17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 18 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. 19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity. 20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun. 21 For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil. 22 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? 23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
Ecclesiastes 6:1–3 (KJV 1900)
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: 2 A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease. 3 If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good...
Ecclesiastes 6:7 (KJV 1900)
7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
Ecclesiastes 7:13–14 (KJV 1900)
13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? 14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.
III. God’s has enabled you to see spiritual truth.
64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
* Jesus here is teaching that it is impossible for us to understand the truth this morning without Devine help from God.
* The only reason that you and I can possible understand the truth that we so desperately need about life is the God has opened our eyes by His Devine spirit so our spirit can see the truth.
Romans 3:11–18 (KJV 1900)
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Romans 6:23 (KJV 1900)
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ephesians 2:5–9 (KJV 1900)
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
1 Corinthians 2:6–14 (KJV 1900)
6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
IV. After all God has done, will you wall away from the truth?
66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
* Have you considered the alternative to the truth about Jesus this morning?
A. If you are not saved, will you walk away?
* If what Jesus told these people here in our text is not true, then what is the truth?
* The evolution is truth. If evolution is truth, then there is no Creator.
* If there is no Creator, then there is no God. If there is no God, then there is no judgment.
* If there is no judgment, then there is no such thing as sin. If there is no such thing as sin, then we are all perfectly free to take whatever we see, not matter who has it.
* If there is no such thing as sin, then we can have sex any time we want, any way we want. Men with men, women with women, men with children, or even animals.
* If there is no judgment, thus no sin, then if you are angry with someone, or if they have something you want, you can just kill them. You could even kill people for the pleasure of watching them die!
* You get where I’m going here. If Jesus did not come to tell us the truth of God, then the world is doomed to corrupt its self. The world would destroy its self in utter Chaos.
* On the other hand, if Jesus did come down from God to tell us the truth of God, then we must listen or we will end up in that awful Hell of Eternally tormented people that Jesus so often warned us about.
* If Jesus really preached the truth, then without the Savior you have not hope!
* If Jesus really preached the truth, then if you do like the people in our text and turn and walk away from the truth of the Bible, you will burn forever in Hell- Just like many of the people in our text did.
* Are you willing to take that chance today? If you walk out of this church today without believing on this Jesus, who came to tell you the He was sent by God to save you from your sin, then the alternative is for you is to live and empty, vain, short life, and then wake up in Hell.
B. If you have believed, will you turn your back to the truth?
67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
* In our text in verse 67, After those who refused to believe His message went away, Jesus look at those disciples that had been following him and asked? Will you also go away?
* I also as all you people who sit in these pews and claim that you have believed on Jesus-
* Will you, after that you have been granted by God, the great privilege to know and understand spiritual truth- will you leave this church this morning and turn your back on Jesus by living for the temporary this of this world?
* Will you backslide on God and turn from the truth to live in sin and disregard the Bible?
* Do you not feel shame to take the wonderful gift that God has given you to understand the spiritual things of God and turn and live like God us a spare tire- you put Him in the trunk and call on Him when you need Him?
* Do you not realize that this is the ultimate offense to God?
Hebrews 2:3–4 (KJV 1900)
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
Hebrews 12:1–13 (KJV 1900)
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.