Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

August 18, 2024

Sermon Text: John 6:35-51

Other Readings: Proverbs 9:1-6 and 1 Corinthians 2:6-16

 

 

  1. Jesus quoted the prophet Isaiah when he said, “They will all be taught by God” (v. 45). In this portion of Jesus’ “Bread of Life Sermon,” he teaches important doctrines. For each of the teachings below, list a passage from John 6:35-51 that helps teach it.
  1. Jesus’ Two Natures – Jesus is both true God and true man.
  1. Election – God has chosen those who will believe and be saved.
  1. Conversion – We cannot by our own thinking or choosing believe in Jesus or come to him. Rather, God does that for us.
  1. Justification by Faith – We are saved simply through faith in Jesus.
  1. The Resurrection of the Body – After a believe dies, the soul goes to God in heaven, but the body will be reunited with the soul at the Last Day.

 

  1. The verb forms “grumble” and “grumbling” both appear in this reading. Why might that word have been used to describe the crowd’s reaction to Jesus? Consult verse 49.

 

  1. Jesus said that the Father “draws” people to Jesus. That Greek used is used for getting water from a well, to pull out a sword, to arrest a prisoner, and to stretch out a sail. When you hear that the Father “draws” people, what images do you think of? Related, what does God use to draw people to Christ?

 

  1. God uses his word to draw people to Christ. God then uses his believers to proclaim his word to others. As you think about people you can share the word with this week, what passage(s) from this text do you want to have in your back pocket, at the ready to share with others?

 

  1. Jesus Two Natures –  Verse 37 (among others) teaches Jesus’ divinity and verses 42 acknowledges Jesus’ humanity.

 

Election –Verse 39 highlights this doctrine when it says that God “gives” those to Christ to be kept safe for faith and eternal life.

 

Conversion – Verse 44 shows us that conversion is an act of God that is done to us – not by us.

Justification by Faith – Jesus hammers this home in many places, especially verse 40.

 

Resurrection of the Body: Verse 51 is a place, and it will get picked up again next week.

 

  1. This is the same kind of verb used for their ancestors ungratefulness and unbelief in the wilderness. So, it seems like Jesus (and the Apostle John) are saying, “You’re just like your ancestors. Even though you are staring at God at work in your life, you refuse to trust him.”

 

  1. On one hand, we might have sort of forceful images in our minds because God has to overcome and kill our sinful nature to convert us. On the other hand, we might have gentle images in mind because God does not convert us with sheer physical force or emotional trauma. Rather, he gently calls and woos us by the whisper of the gospel, that is, the good news about Jesus Christ.

 

  1. Answers will vary. God bless your witnessing to others!