Wandering from the Lord.: Do You Also....? 2-11-24
Overview
"Do You Also Wish to Go Away?"
When Jesus began His public ministry, the crowds grew quickly. People flocked to Him for the miracles, and many hoped He would prove to be the political Messiah who would overthrow Rome. But a striking pattern emerges in the Gospels: when Jesus shifted from spectacle to the hard demands of discipleship, the crowds shrank. Nowhere is this more vivid than in John 6, where Jesus declares Himself the Bread of Life. "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats of this bread will live forever" John 6:51. His call to "eat His flesh and drink His blood" is not yet a reference to Holy Communion but a metaphor for believing—receiving Him by faith as the source of eternal life.
Many disciples grumbled, "This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?" John 6:60. The Greek word behind "offend" carries the sense of a death trap—does this teaching kill your interest in Me? Jesus exposes the root of unbelief: the flesh profits nothing; only the Spirit gives life, and no one comes to Him unless the Father grants it John 6:63–65. And then comes the haunting moment: "After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him" John 6:66. Jesus turns to the Twelve and asks, "Do you also wish to go away?" John 6:67.
That question still searches us. It comes when God does not live up to our expectations, when following Christ feels hard, when His Word convicts us and exposes the depth of our sin, when we feel the daily pull of our own flesh. Scripture is full of those who walked away: the rich young man who "went away grieving, for he had great possessions" Matthew 19:22, and Demas, who "in love with this present world has deserted me" 2 Timothy 4:10. The temptation to go away is real—and it is ours.
Peter's answer is the only answer: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God" John 6:68–69. Jesus alone is the way, the truth, and the life John 14:6—not one path among many. He bore our sin, redeemed us, reconciled us to the Father, rose from the dead, and opened heaven to us. And notice the grace: it is this same Peter who would later deny Christ three times, and whom the risen Lord would seek out and restore three times with the charge, "Feed my sheep" John 21:15–17. That is the grace that keeps pulling wandering hearts back through Word and Sacrament, day after day. "Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; prone to leave the God I love." When He asks, "Do you also wish to go away?"—may our answer be Peter's: Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
Transcript
Would you open your Bibles, please, for our time of study today, to the sixth chapter 2s
of the Gospel of John, if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find 7s
that in the New Testament on page 86. 13s
John the sixth chapter for our time of study today. 17s
We have come to the final sermon in this sermon series, his questions that has spanned over 20s
the last five months. 27s
We have been examining various questions that are Lord asked the answers of course in 30s
Holy Scripture. 37s
We didn't even know the series expanded over this five-month period. 39s
We didn't touch on all the questions by any means. 45s
When Jesus would ask the questions, some of them would convict. 50s
They would confront. 54s
There were other questions in which one would reflect and one would think upon them. 58s
The very first question in this sermon series was chosen for a specific reason. 67s
The question when Jesus turned and said, who do people say that I am? 75s
And the response was, some say, John the Baptist, others Elijah, others one of the 80s
prophets and Jesus said, who do you say that I am? 84s
That question was chosen as the first sermon five months ago because it sets the identity 92s
of Christ, the identity before us and everything flows from there. 100s
Well, this last sermon in the series is also chosen to be placed here for a reason because 109s
it really provides, I believe, a book end, a book end to the very first sermon. 115s
For this question, this question is haunting. 124s
For Jesus turned to the 12 and asked, when Jesus was born, Jesus was really born in a small 132s
group setting. 149s
Mary was there, of course. 150s
Joseph was there. 152s
The Sheppards come. 154s
You've got some animals there, but it's really a small group setting that we 155s
see. 161s
When Jesus at the age of 30 begins his public ministry, we see in the Scriptures that 162s
the crowds, they grow. 170s
They grow. 174s
For example, take a look at chapter six, verse five, please. 176s
Chapter six, verse five. 180s
When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, where we 183s
to buy bread for these people to eat or going down into verse 14 of chapter six. 190s
When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, this is indeed the prophet 199s
who is to come into the world. 206s
When Jesus realized that they were about to come and to take him by force to make him 209s
king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself. 215s
We see in Scripture that the people were attracted. 222s
They were attracted to the miracles in a drew crowd. 226s
They were attracted to the possibility that Jesus was the long anticipated political Messiah 230s
who was going to overthrow the Romans. 239s
There was this attraction that grew a crowd because of the miracles and attraction that grew 242s
a crowd because of the political expectations and hopes. 250s
But have you noticed in your study of Scripture that when Jesus focused on teaching on the 255s
discipleship of the crowds, shrank, attracted to the miracles and a hope of a political 268s
Messiah, the crowds came out. 285s
But when he turned and started to teach on the discipleship, the crowds shrank. 289s
Look, please now, at verse 60 of our text, John, the sixth chapter. 303s
When many of his disciples heard it, they said, this teaching is difficult. 312s
Who can accept it? 316s
The Bible reveals that there are three groups that are following Jesus. 320s
One was the Jews and in the Gospel of John, when you see Jew, it typically, more often than 326s
not, represents an unbeliever. 332s
So you have one group, the Jews, the unbelievers. 336s
You had a secondary group that were called the disciples. 339s
These were people that were attracted to him. 343s
They were interested in him. 346s
They were learning from him. 348s
And then you had a third group of the 12. 351s
Look again at verse 60. 357s
When many of his disciples heard it, they said, this teaching is difficult. 358s
Who can accept it? 363s
Well, what's the teaching? 365s
Turn back, please, to verse 35 of chapter 6. 368s
Verse 35 of chapter 6. 373s
Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life, 378s
whoever comes to me will never be hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 383s
Just as bread, nurses are physical bodies. 390s
Jesus is saying, 395s
I am that which gives you life. 396s
Life that stretches into eternity. 399s
I am the bread of life. 402s
Now note three action. 404s
Go down to verse 41 of chapter 6. 406s
Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, 411s
I am the bread that came down from heaven. 415s
They were saying, is not this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know, 418s
how can he now say, I have come down from heaven? 424s
Jesus reiterates the point, jump down now to verse 51. 430s
I am the living bread that came down from heaven, 437s
whoever eats of this bread will live forever, 441s
and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. 444s
The Jews then disputed among themselves saying, how can this man give us his flesh to eat? 451s
So Jesus said to them, very truly, I tell you, 458s
unless you eat the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood, 461s
you have no life in you. 467s
Jesus is using a metaphor here. 470s
He's not talking about holy communion. 472s
He has an institute to do yet. 474s
This is a metaphor here. 475s
It's a metaphor for believing. 477s
He is communicating that there is a eternal life through faith in Him. 482s
Verse 61. 491s
But Jesus is being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, 494s
said to them, does this offend you? 497s
That word offend there in the Greek? 500s
It means a death trap. 502s
So Jesus is teaching the bread of life. 504s
Jesus is teaching and calling here for belief in Him as Messiah. 507s
He says, does this offend you? 515s
Is this a death trap to you? 517s
Is this teaching? Does it kill any interest that you have in me? 519s
He goes on verse 62. 526s
Then what if you were to see the son of man ascending to where he was before? 528s
Jesus, the second member of the Trinity, 534s
descended. He became infleshed. 537s
We celebrated at Christmas. 539s
Jesus says, so if I ascend to heaven, 542s
well, would that offend you too? 546s
He goes on verse 63. 549s
He exposes here now the reason for unbelief. 551s
He's exposing here the unbelief of those around him. 556s
Verse 63, it is the spirit that gives life. 560s
The flesh is useless. 565s
The words that I've spoken to you are spirit in life. 569s
But among you, there are some who do not believe. 573s
For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, 577s
and who is the one that would betray Him. 582s
And He said, for this reason, I've told you that no one can come to me 585s
unless it's granted by the Father. 590s
The source of the unbelief, these experiencing, 594s
is the flesh. 599s
It is only through the words of Christ that one is brought to faith. 601s
It is only by the action of God that one is brought to faith. 605s
And notice here the reaction, verse 66, 611s
because of this, many of His disciples turned back and no longer went about with Him. 616s
They didn't like His words. 636s
And the crowds shrink. 646s
And then Jesus turns. 658s
He doesn't turn to the Jews. 663s
He doesn't turn to the disciples. 667s
He turns to the 12th. 671s
And here comes the question. 677s
Verse 67. 680s
So Jesus asks the 12th, do you also wish to go away? 683s
He asks the 12th. 705s
In Matthew 19th chapter, there's the account of the man who's rather pleased with His ability to keep all of the commandments. 712s
He says, He's kept them. 722s
He wanted to know how He can have eternal life. 724s
And Jesus understands the man's problem. 727s
He doesn't understand his own sinfulness. 731s
So Jesus points out what His true idolatry is. 733s
And Scripture says, if Jesus turned to Him and said, 739s
if you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions, 741s
give the money to the poor, and you'll have treasure in heaven, 744s
then come, follow me, because that was his God. 747s
And verse 22 says, when the young man heard this word, 752s
He went away grieving for He had many possessions. 757s
He see what He did. 761s
He went away. 765s
Went away. 768s
There's a fellow by the name of Demis. 772s
Scripture says that He was a fellow worker of the apostle Paul. 774s
And Paul writes about him in 2 Timothy 4 chapter. 779s
He writes, for Demis in love with this present world 782s
has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. 785s
And what did Demis do? 789s
He went away. 793s
Just went away. 796s
Jesus turns to the 12th. 801s
So as the crowds are shrinking, 802s
they're shrinking because Jesus is teaching about discipleship, 810s
and they're shrinking. 816s
And Jesus turns and says, 818s
you too, do you also want to go away? 822s
And be loved, He turns to us again today. 831s
And He asks us the same question. 839s
It's those times in our lives when God doesn't live up to our expectations of Him. 844s
And Jesus turns and says through His word, 855s
do you also wish to go away? 858s
It's those times when we find it hard to follow Christ. 863s
Because it's just hard. 870s
And Jesus turns to us and says, 873s
do you also wish to go away? 875s
It's those times when we are convicted by His word. 882s
One of the functions of the law is to reveal our sin. 886s
And that can fix us. 888s
That makes us uncomfortable because it reveals the breath and the extent and the depth of our sinfulness. 890s
And it's those times when we are convicted by the Lord. 898s
When we can be tempted to think and tempted to act upon it, 904s
tempted to think, if that's what it means to follow, 908s
help me out. 919s
Help me out. 922s
And Jesus turns and says, do you also wish to go away? 925s
It's those times daily when we feel the natural pull of our sinfulness. 932s
And Jesus says, do you also wish to go away? 941s
It's why the picture on the front of the bulletin is focuses in right on Jesus's eyes. 946s
It's not the face here. 952s
It's the eyes of Jesus that looks at us through the words and asks us, 954s
do you also wish to go away the same question that he asked the 12 he asks us? 960s
And Peter answers. 976s
Of course it would be Peter. 982s
Of course. 985s
Of the four lists that list the 12 apostles, Peter's name is always the first. 988s
He was the leader. 994s
He was the spokesman of the group. 996s
And look at verse 68, what his response was, Peter said, Lord, 999s
to whom can we go? 1005s
You have the words of eternal life. 1008s
We have come to believe and know that you are the holy one of God. 1010s
Only through the bread of life Jesus Christ is their eternal life. 1017s
Jesus says, recorded in the gospel of John, that he is the way and the truth and the life. 1023s
Notice the definitive article there. 1029s
It's not a way, a truth and a life. 1030s
They're not multiple paths unto God. 1033s
Jesus says, I am the way, the truth and the life. 1035s
Full stop. 1041s
It is only through Christ that there is salvation. 1043s
He alone has the words of eternal life. 1049s
He is the one that died in our place. 1052s
He is the one that bore our sin. 1055s
He is the one that redeemed us, bought us back from all of our sinfulness. 1059s
He is the one that has reconciled us unto the Father. 1064s
He is the one that was raised from the dead. 1070s
He is the one that opens up the gates of heaven for us. 1073s
Look again, please, at verse 68, Simon Peter answered him, 1080s
Lord, to whom can we go? 1087s
You have the words of eternal life. 1091s
We've come to believe and know that you are the holy one of God. 1095s
And it's Peter. 1107s
It's Peter before the cross. 1111s
Who denies him three times. 1115s
It's Peter who says, I don't know him. 1120s
I don't know him. 1123s
And it's Peter who the Lord seeks out after the cross and after the resurrection 1129s
and gives a threefold restoration as he turns to Peter. 1136s
And he says, feed my lamps, 10 my sheep, feed my sheep. 1141s
The very one that had denied him in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, 1149s
he comes and restores him with a threefold denial. 1155s
Now the threefold restoration. 1163s
It's that grace through word and sacrament that keeps pulling us back. 1170s
Day after day after day. 1185s
In the moment, we're going to sing that great, great hymn, come now, fond of every blessing. 1194s
And we're going to sing these words. 1204s
Oh to grace how great a deader daily I'm constrained to be. 1207s
Let that grace now like a feather bind my wandering heart 1216s
to thee. 1221s
Prone to wander Lord, I feel it. 1226s
Prone to leave the God I love. 1228s
Here's my heart. 1233s
O take and seal it. 1235s
Seal it for thy courts above. 1238s
And that's exactly what the Lord Jesus Christ continues 1245s
to do. Pulling us back by His grace. 1251s
Do you also wish to go away? 1270s
Lord, to whom do we go? 1278s
You have the words of eternal life. 1286s