What Jesus Did : John 6:63-66 - Leaving Life Behind?

    by Phil Ware

    Leaving Life Behind? - John 6:63-66

    "It is not the body that gives a person life. It is the spirit that gives life. The things I told you are spirit. And so these things give life. But some of you don't believe." (Jesus knew the people that did not believe. Jesus knew this from the beginning. And Jesus knew the person that would turn against him.) Jesus said, "That is why I said, 'If the Father does not let a person come to me, then that person cannot come.'" After Jesus said these things, many of his followers left him. They stopped following Jesus. (ERV) Full Text

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    Key Thought

    The Bible opens with the creative and life-giving power of God's word revealed: he speaks and order is formed out of chaos and life out of inanimate dust. His Spirit hovers and fills his precious human creations, and they have life! Jesus claims to have this same creative and life-giving power in his words. His words bring life. His words set loose the holy wind of heaven and the Spirit brings life to those who are dead. The people of Jesus' day couldn't handle such powerful claims, especially on the heels of such demanding and hard teaching. The story begins with them wanting to make him king, but he will not be king on their terms. He calls them to follow him as heaven's King, but most cannot accept that and turn away. Will you? Is Jesus the King of your life or do you want him to just be another religious "king" you can control on your own terms?


    Today's Prayer

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    Father, I confess that I sometimes try to make Jesus into the kind of messiah, the kind of king, that I want him to be. Please forgive me! I want to honor him as you want him honored. I want to hear his words and be changed. I want to receive the Spirit he has promised and be transformed. I really do want Jesus to be my King. I confess this, and ask for your power and grace, in the name of Jesus, my Lord and King. Amen.


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    Today's Verses in Context


    The followers of Jesus heard this. Many of the followers said, "This teaching is hard {to accept}. Who can accept this teaching?" Jesus knew that his followers were complaining about this. So Jesus said, "Is this teaching a problem for you? Then will it also be a problem for you to see the Son of Man going back to the place where he came from? It is not the body that gives a person life. It is the spirit that gives life. The things I told you are spirit. And so these things give life. But some of you don't believe." (Jesus knew the people that did not believe. Jesus knew this from the beginning. And Jesus knew the person that would turn against him.) Jesus said, "That is why I said, 'If the Father does not let a person come to me, then that person cannot come.'" After Jesus said these things, many of his followers left him. They stopped following Jesus. Jesus asked the twelve apostles, "Do you want to leave too?" Simon Peter answered Jesus, "Lord, where would we go? You have the things that give life forever. We believe in you. We know that you are the Holy One from God." Then Jesus answered, "I chose all twelve of you. But one of you is a devil." Jesus was talking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Judas was one of the twelve {apostles }. But later Judas would turn against Jesus.

    -- John 6:60-71 (ERV)

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