This Week's Message

Summary: What is a disciple? What does it mean to follow Jesus - really follow Him [not just out of curiosity or for some selfish benefit]? Today we are going to look at a couple of groups of disciples - some who turned away and the Twelve who followed Jesus as the only One who had the words of life.

Key Scripture

John 6:60-71 [NIVO]:

On hearing it, many of His disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" ⁶¹Aware that His disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? ⁶²What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where He was before! ⁶³The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. ⁶⁴Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray Him. ⁶⁵He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." ⁶⁶From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed Him. ⁶⁷"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. ⁶⁸Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God." ⁷⁰Then Jesus replied, "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!" ⁷¹(He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray Him.)

Leaving Jesus

• John 6:60-61 – Many therefore of His disciples, when they heard this said, "This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?"  61But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, "Does this cause you to stumble?
• John 6:66 – As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew, and were not walking with Him anymore.
• Hebrews 4:2 – For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.

Why Follow Jesus?

• John 6:63 - "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life."
• John 6:68-69 – Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.  69"And we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God."

How to Follow Jesus

• John 6:65 – And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me, unless it has been granted him from the Father."
• John 6:37 - All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.
• John 6:44 - No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.
• Romans 1:16-17 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "But the righteous man shall live by faith."