John & 1,2,3 John | Lecture 10 : BC301-John-20260911

Yes. Let's open with a word of prayer. Um, who would be praying for us today? Can we Yeah, go ahead please. Thank you Lord. Thank you Jesus. Lord this wonderful time that you given us Lord Jesus. Lord I submit this server in your mighty hands Lord Jesus. Lord whatever we are learning that we have to understand Lord. Holy Spirit you help us to understand Lord. Thank you father God. Lord I submit ma'am also in your hands in Jesus name I pray. Amen. >> Amen. Amen. Thank you. So we have stepped into chapter six uh which talks about the feeding of the 5000. And last class we looked at the introduction to this event. We saw that Jesus is in a lot of emotional pain. He wanted to get away and be alone with his disciples but the crowd comes after him and he has compassion upon them and chooses to minister to them. We also saw that the disciples themselves were rather tired uh you know after having gone on their mission trip and coming back. Uh so it is under these circumstances that this miracle of the feeding of the 5000 takes place. The entire day Jesus and his disciples have ministered. They have uh you know uh healed people. Uh Jesus has preached uh from the word of God. All this has taken place and now he doesn't want to send them away without giving them food uh because they will probably have to travel long distances and so he wants to provide food and then send them. And um so we will begin with at verse five. Uh so we have looked at three major sign boards you know with the arrow mark pointing saying look look at this event and look at what it's pointing out regarding Jesus. It's pointing out that he is divine. So we have seen three major sign boards with aromarks. The first was the um turning of the water into wine at Canaa. The second one was the raising from the you know healing healing of that uh official's uh son. The third was the paralytic getting healed. And now you have the fourth major sign uh which John is going to be you know including in his gospel uh to point out that Jesus is divine. So this is the fourth major sign. And so now we are beginning with verse 5. John chapter 6. Uh if we can have someone read out for us John 6 5-7 please. >> When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him. He said to Philillip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" He asked this only one to test him for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, "It would take more than a half a half a year's wages to buy enough bread for each one of each one to have a bite." So it says here that Jesus already had in mind what he was going to do. He had already seen the father doing it and what he sees the father doing. That is what he acts out in the natural realm. So he has already seen what the father wants for this particular occasion and he's going to he's planning on acting it out you know uh whatever the father wants and have and doing the father's will and uh so just as a test uh he asks Philillip how how are we going to feed these people and he was hoping that Philillip would reply and say uh lord in the same way you provided for us in the mission trip you will also provide today because you see when they went on that mission trip Jesus gave them very specific speific instructions. He said don't take any extra clothes with you. Don't take extra food with you. Just go and you know by faith and you will be provided for. There'll be people who will you know who will be able to uh uh help you in these matters. So they just went there uh on a faith trip. They didn't take any provisions with them and God provided every single day. So they already have some practical experience on how God provides, how God takes care. So when he when Jesus asked this question, Philip's confident reply should have been the same way you provide God provided at that time he'll provide even today. But he has not yet fully absorbed that lesson that divine lesson of God's provision you know which which the Lord was trying to show them during the mission trip. He has not yet caught that lesson. And so he's still thinking in natural terms and he says my at least you would need half a year's wages if you want to give each of them a small bite of food you know because uh this is a very large crowd that is being talked about over here the men are 5,000 in number they have not included the number of the women and the children if they include even that then it's a really large number so he's still thinking in natural terms Philillip he has not yet absorbed the lesson and it's the same with us. Uh we don't generally catch God's lessons at the first go you know but when we when the Lord keeps doing the same thing for us three times four times then we should start absorbing this truth. Yes that the Lord will take care. So yes, the Lord may not think much if you don't catch it in the first you know instance but again and again when the Lord is showing his faithfulness it's proof that he is someone who can be relied upon. He expects you to start believing in this truth and standing firmly on it. You know just this morning um when I was coming in the auto there was something troubling me in my mind and then the Lord said how many times have I helped you and I began to remember you know all those times when I thought oh situation is impossible and the Lord helped. So the Lord said h so now now that you're remembering those things do you think I'll help you in this current one I said yes Lord you will. So you see we we learn in we grow in faith we recollect what the Lord has done for us in the past and we believe that he will do the very same thing even now in the future one you know which the the current event which is probably concerning us. So here, Philillip is still in the learning process and so he's still thinking in human terms and he says, "Oh, this is impossible. There's no way it's going to happen." But of course, Jesus knows that it is going to happen because he has already seen the father doing it in the spiritual realm. So verse 8 and um yeah, we can go up to verse 11 8 to 11. >> Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up. Here is a boy with five small barely loaves and two small fish fish. But how far will they go among so many? Jesus said, "Have the people sit down. There was plenty of grass in that place. And they sat down. About 5,000 men were there." Jesus then uh took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. >> Yeah. So um Andrew has probably you know you know wanted wanting to be helpful he's going around asking the people you know I mean how much food do you have with you and all he's able to come up with is one boy who is willing to you know give give up whatever he has with him and that is five small Bali loaves and two small fish and so he says how far will this go among so many I mean you have thousands over there uh and then Jesus says have the people sit down and they all are seated and then Jesus takes the loaves and the first thing that he does is he gives thanks and then he begins to distribute the food among the people and the uh the sentence over here you know this is the way John was inspired to write this sentence he says uh Jesus gave thanks and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted it's not rationing you know you can have half half a piece and then you'll have to share the other you know half piece with the another person. No, that's not what Jesus says. He says as much as they want, start distributing to them. And he does the same with the fish. So, we see here that we can't always be in charge of circumstances. Sometimes things just happen. I mean, uh on this occasion, neither Jesus nor the disciples were expecting a large crowd. they their plan in going to that particular place was to get away from the crowd so that they can spend some time together alone by themselves but the crowd turns up. So under circumstances like that God operates with whatever you have in your hand in that current situation. So right now over here all that all that is available are those five small Bali loaves and those two small fish. So when you are in an impossible situation, you ask yourself, okay, right now what do I have in my hands? You know, um is there someone you know that you can contact who will be able to give you the advice that you need or the help that you need or is there uh some step that you yourself can take? Do you have some skill or talent which will help you to overcome that particular situation? You just look at whatever is in your hands and then you place it before the Lord. You thank him for that little bit that is there and you say Lord now you have to use this and multiply it to help my family in overcoming the situation. So whatever you have in your hand what if you're in a situation where there's nothing in your hand I mean you have no skills or talents which can help you. You do not know anyone who can advise you on the situation. There's no one who coming forward to assist you. What if there's absolutely nothing in your hands? You still have your Bible in your hands. And the Bible is filled with truth. Not just promises the way politicians make promises, but actual concrete promises that can be fulfilled. So even if you have nothing in your hand, you still have your Bible. So you open your Bible and say, "Lord, give me the scriptures which I which I am meant to use as my sword." The Bible is full of scriptures. But there may be one or two specific scriptures which will serve as your sword which you can use to fight your battle. So at least you have that in your hands. So you are never left with nothing in your hands. You will always have something. And even if you have nothing, you'll at least have the scriptures, the promises of God. So you take that, you place it before the Lord, you give thanks and then you begin to stand on it by faith and you know begin to use it for your situation, for your circumstances and the Lord will see to it that that little bit which you have you know taken with a with a grateful attitude and you know stepped out in faith to use he will see to it that it is sufficient. So we can apply this to a life situation where you're going through some hardship. So you and your family would prayerfully ask yourselves what do we have in our hand right now you know right okay things are really bad but on our side what do we have and you sit and you discuss that and then you place it before the lord and say thank you lord that at least this much we have but it's not enough for this big situation now lord even as we are thanking you and stepping out in faith which direction do we go what steps do you want us to take and the lord will guide you can apply it even to a ministry situation ation where you're saying Lord my skills are so little my talents are so inadequate and those people that I want to share the gospel with I mean uh they are so learned and they are so against uh the Bible I don't know what to say to them but if if you're sensing in your heart that the Lord wants you to go and talk to them then you say okay Lord this little bit which I have I'm going to prayerfully prepare with that and Lord uh I'm placing it before you you multip multiply it and you cause it to be sufficient even as I go and speak to those people. So that's it you know I mean whatever is in your hand you thank the Lord for it and you step out in faith you start using that little bit which you have that little bit of talent with which you can speak to them about the Lord you start doing it and then the Lord takes it the Lord multiplies it the Lord is the one who works in the background so Jesus with that confidence he thanks the Lord and he begins to distribute the food and the food doesn't run out it continues to and um you You and I would have heard many instances of this particular miracle. Right? I mean uh even here in India so many people in their ministry when they had to serve food to large numbers the food in the dsha just never ran out. I mean they would keep removing from the dsha and putting into people's plates and the food just did not run out. Uh there are so many instances of that. Um brother Bakin Bak yeah yeah Bak Singh he talks about uh I mean at that time when he was alive he had shared examples of how that was you know true in his ministry. I have watched videos where people have talked about how you know they wanted to go and uh serve food to the poor and uh they kept you know rem you know removing removing the food and putting it on people's plates and it just did not run out. Uh so the Lord has you know done that miracle many times for many people and so um it's it's just you know a matter of walking in faith and trust. Um so coming to verses 12 and 13 if you could read out that when they had all had enough to eat. He said to his disciples gather the uh pieces that are left over let nothing be wasted. So they gathered them and filled 12 uh baskets with the pieces of the five belly loaves left over by those who had eaten. Yeah. So uh there's still a lot of bread which has not been eaten and so you know that should not go waste. So Jesus says collect it. No because then they can go and give it to the poor. They can hand it over somewhere else to people who are in need. And so when they gather all the uneaten uh bread, they are able to collect 12 baskets uh of that uh you know of those Bali loaves. Uh they're able to get that much. And so we see that when God does the miracle, he doesn't do it in a very limited manner. God does his miracle in a generous manner. So the Lord's miracles are never stingy. His miracles are always lavish and they are abundant more than what we need. So we see this miracle also pointing out uh to the character of God. How the Lord is gracious and generous in what he supplies. Um so after seeing a spectacular miracle like this, the people are very attracted to Jesus. I mean someone who can just take a small amount of food and multiply it and make it into a large amount which can serve thousands. That's exactly the kind of person that you know people feel you know it would be beneficial to have and so they would like to make him their king so that he can continue providing them with food. Maybe after after some time they can even you know resign from their jobs and just sit around at home and this king of theirs will keep providing free food. That is the attitude which these people have and so Jesus does not you know go with that um with with that uh you know with that intention which these people have. That is what we see over here in the next few verses. So if you can read out verses 14 and 15 after the people saw the sign uh Jesus performed they began to say surely this is the prophet who is to come into the world. Jesus knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force withdrew again to a mountain by by himself. >> So in Deuteronomy 18 Moses had said God will raise up a prophet for you and uh so you have to you know uh obey his words uh because he he he will be from God. So the so this that is what these people start saying oh you know Moses he used to give us mana from heaven. Now in the same way this prophet this new prophet Jesus he is giving us food uh in a in a in a miraculous manner. So let's make him our king. And so Jesus who has no such intention of you know becoming their earthly king at this moment uh he he leaves and he goes away to a mountain by himself. Um so they uh so that evening now now it's late in the evening. Uh so Jesus sends the disciples off by boat. We get to know a few verses later that there was only one single boat over there. So that's that one single boat in which he puts the disciples and asks them to go to the other side. So which means there's there are no extra boats to transport Jesus. The one single boat has already started off to the other side and Jesus goes back onto the mountain. He must have spent time with the Lord you know so that the Lord can comfort him after his uh you know the the painful incident of his you know of the loss of his friend. So uh of John the Baptist you know being killed. So Jesus spends a lot of time over there strengthening himself in the Lord and then finally he comes to join his disciples. So there's no boat available and so Jesus just basically walks on the water. The waters are very rough. It's almost like a storm at that time. But for Jesus, it's not an issue because he's after all the the one who created those waves. He's the one who created everything, the wind and uh the waters and all of them. So for him, a storm is not an issue. He's above those things. So he calmly walks on the water and comes to join his disciples. They get really afraid and uh they think that it may be a ghost or an evil spirit or something. And then in your verse 20 in our English translation, it says it is I. Jesus says to them, it is I. But then if you look at your actual, you know, Bible hub and you look at the Greek wording, he just basically says I am. That's the wording over there. Ago, I me. That's your Greek uh ego is I and I, me, ei. That is am. I am. So that so that's the you know that um that divine phrase where God always addresses himself as I am. That's the phrase which Jesus speaks to them and when he says that phrase they automatically know that this is him that it is that it is their master. So they allow him into the boat and in the next moment they you know they're automatically uh teleported to the other end to the other. So they don't travel the rest of the way they automatically end up on the other shore. They are teleported divinely. Uh so that's basically what takes place. So the next day the people are highly curious. They want to know how did Jesus get there to the other side. Uh because when when they saw only the disciples left and Jesus was not with them. So they in verse 25 they ask him rabbi when did you get here? And they're very very curious. Jesus does not answer that question. He addresses a bigger issue. He says to them you people have not looked at the sign boards which are pointing to my divinity. That is not your interest at the moment. Your eyes are completely full of the loaves of bread which you ate. Right now you're looking for someone who can give you free food, you know, so that you can just sit around being lazy and I will just keep giving you whatever you require. So he says you seem to be more interested in the in the food than in the spiritual things which I am trying to teach you. So therefore Jesus says in verse 27, do not work for food that spoils but for food that endures to eternal life. So he's basically telling them your priorities are all wrong. You're highly attracted to the material things which I can give you but then there are spiritual things which you require far more because they are of eternal value. So he says pursue those things. So when Jesus says that they ask him in verse 28, what must we do uh to do the works God requires? Jesus answered the work of God is this very simple to believe in the one he has sent. Don't just believe in me as a king who can give you food. Believe in me as the son of god who is teaching you spiritual principles which can change your life which will involve repentance which will involve a change in your priorities. So you need to believe in me as the son of god that is the work which god requires of you is what Jesus says. And then they say the most ridiculous thing in verse 30. It says so they asked him what sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you I mean 5 minutes back they all ate up to the until the stomachs were full and that's the reason why 12 basket fulls of loaves got left over right because their stomachs were full they couldn't stuff those extra 12 baskets into their stomachs they're completely full and the same people are now asking okay you really want us to believe you as the son of god is it then in that case what sign can you give us so that you know we will be able to believe you. It just shows the level of blindness and the level of stubbornness in their hearts. And then you see this is the actual intention of their question. So they are asking in the next sentence verse 31. Our ancestors ate the mana in the wilderness. You know every day week after week, month after month, year after year they were getting free mana supply. So can you do that? If you do that then yes then we will be able to believe that you are the son of god. So you see that's basically what they're asking. So they're saying our ancestor ate the mana in the wilderness as it is written he gave them bread from heaven to eat. So they're asking can you do that? Can you give us that sign? You know year week after week month after month year after year if you do that then yes then we will believe. And um so Jesus uh replies you know he he says that bread was not actually the true bread you know that mana which fell from the sky that was not the true bread there's something greater this bread which has now come down from heaven that can actually give you life that was just able to feed you for a day you would be hungry again the next day but this bread which has now come down from heaven this can actually give you life is what Jesus says Um so that that would be in your verses 32 to um yeah if you could read out verses 32 to35. Jesus said to them, "Very truly I tell you, it is not uh Moses who has given you the bread from heaven. But it is my father who gives you the truth and bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. So they said always gives us this bread. Jesus uh then Jesus declared I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. >> Yeah. Because you see in the old testament the mana would come they would eat that entire day the whole family and then uh in the morning the kids would be saying mommy I'm hungry mommy I'm hungry mommy would say please wait the will fall from the sky and then I'll make you breakfast. So you see you you eat that mana you get hungry the next day. So Jesus says this is very different. I'm talking about something far greater. If you come to me and you believe in me and you know you place your faith in me, you will never go hungry and you will never be thirsty. So there's a big difference between the mana which you people want me to supply you know on a daily basis day after day. That is not the kind that's not the kind of um u bread which leaves you hungry and then you need more the next day. I am not that kind of bread. If you come to me you will not be hungry again. you will not be thirsty again. That's the uh difference between the Old Testament mana and me is what Jesus is saying. So he's asking them not to keep remembering that mana which fell from heaven but now to pay their you know place their faith in this new bread who has now come down physically from heaven to give them uh to take away their hunger totally. Okay. So um he's asking them to pursue him and place their trust in him. And then Jesus says in verse 36 uh you have seen me and still you do not believe. Jesus is basically saying you know you saw me you saw what I did on that mountain. You saw how I fed you and still you have chosen not to believe me. Um and then this is what Jesus says to them. Verses 37 to 40. Yeah, you can read out verses 37 to 40. All those uh all those fathers gives me uh will come to me and whoever comes to me I will never uh drive away. And uh for I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me and this is the will of him who sent me that I shall lose none of all those he has given me but uh raise them up at the last day for my father's will is that everyone who looks to the son and believes in him shall have eternal life and I will raise them up at the last day. So Jesus says you know there are people whose hearts are in the right uh with the with the right attitude. All such people the father will give me and they will believe in me. Some of you over here your uh your focus is on just the material things. You want someone who will come and provide you with material things. You are you are not interested in the spiritual uh matters. But there are people who have the right heart. All those such all such people the father will give uh you know will give give those people to me and he says that I will protect them I will keep them and uh they will be raised up on the last day because they have believed in me. So Jesus talks about how some people will have the right attitude. The father will choose handpick all such people and he will help them to come to Jesus. Um so now uh you know because now Jesus is speaking a little strictly, a little sternly, you know, now they're very irritated and they're a little upset because he's scolding them. And uh so this is the grumbling which starts. Okay. So uh vers 41 to 50. Yeah, if you can read out >> at this the uh Jews there uh there began to grumble about him because he said I am the bread that come down from heaven. They said uh is this not Jesus the son of Joseph who uh whose father and mother we know how can he say now I come down from heaven. >> Yeah. Yeah. Just pause a minute. So they they're basically saying ah he's saying that he's coming down from heaven. what we know him you know over there from na he was in he was in Nazareth right so uh that's basically where he grew up we saw him playing over there on the streets uh you know when he was a kid so what he's saying he's come from heaven is it so you know they they begin to grumble him and question him um even though they have seen the great miracle which took place on the mount okay so they in spite of that they are grumbling and this is what Jesus replies and says stop grumbling among yourselves so yeah you can Continue reading up 43 to 50. >> Stop uh stop grumbling among yourself, Jesus answered. No one can come to me unless the father who sent me draws them. And I will raise them up at the last day. It is written in the prophets. They will be uh they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has heard the father and learned from him comes to me. No one has seen the father except uh the one who is from heaven. Who is from God? Only he has seen the father. Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your uh ancestors ate the mana in the wilderness yet they died. But uh there is the bread that comes down from heaven which anyone may eat and not die. So Jesus again repeats about how there are some people whom the father will bring to him because they have the correct heart attitude. They are open to learn. They are open to receive. Such people the father will handpick. He will bring them to Jesus they will be able to place their faith in Jesus. Such people when they eat from him they will not die. So the mana the people were the ancestors ate even though they ate that mana they all died. But Jesus says, "Those of you who believe in me, even though you die physically, you see, you will always live eternally. You will never, you know, end up in hell cut off from the presence of God." So he, Jesus talks about how he's able to provide a superior life, a higher level of life if they, you know, um, believe in him and feed on him. The same thing Jesus again says in your verses 57 and 58. U, uh, it's almost like a repetition. Um, so if you could just read out those two verses as well, 57 and 58. >> Just as the living father sent me and I live because of the father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that come from uh come down from heaven. Your ancestors ate mana and died. But whoever feeds on this bread will live forever. >> Okay, so he's again repeating that they died. They you're you're longing for that kind of a miracle, right? where where somebody will provide you with food every day. But he says all those people who ate that mana, they died. But those who believe in me, those who feed on me, this bread, they will live forever. Uh so we um we will um you know, okay, maybe we'll read a few more verses and then we'll talk about it. Uh yeah. So now Jesus talks about how you know, you should be eating him, eating this bread who who has come down from heaven. Uh that would be your verses 51 to 56. And this is where Jesus uses very strong language where he talks about them feeding on his flesh and drinking his blood. And the people are completely shocked and horrified. So yeah, we'll we'll read we'll read out those verses. Verses 51 to 56. >> I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Who whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh which I'll give uh I will give for the life of the world. Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves. How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Jesus said to them, "Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life. and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in them. So Jesus says my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Okay. So um this is similar to what um you know is mentioned in your Matthew I think where it says man shall not live by bread alone. you know the physical material food he doesn't live by bread alone rather he lives by every word which comes out of God's mouth that is the actual food which can keep you uh alive and sustain you and help you to have an abundant life so material food can keep you alive it'll keep you breathing you know the breath will go in and out your heart will continue to pump so physical food can keep you alive it can keep you it can cause you to continue to exist But what actually gives you life, abundant life which gives you the satisfaction and the blessing and the eternal life later which you know which you require. Those are those are the things which you know when you feed on every word which comes out of the mouth of God. That is what actually sustains you. That is what changes your life from mere existence to something uh which you can enjoy something which is meaningful. So here that's the point which Jesus is making over here regarding himself. He's saying my flesh is real food. Bread will keep you alive. You know, it'll it'll help you to go and work in the office and earn a livelihood and all of that. But that's that's just mere existence. Waste the joy, waste the peace, waste the abundance that comes when you feed on me, not just on the physical bread. So Jesus says, "My flesh is real food. My blood is real drink." because he's he's pointing towards what he's going to be doing on the cross. Once that is done and the people who believe in him uh you know believe in what he has done for them on the cross such people they will begin to enjoy the abundant life that god wanted them to have. The rest of the people will just continue to exist. They'll be able to breathe. Their heart will be pumping and that's about it. But the ones who place their belief in what Jesus is going to do on the cross, they will actually step into real life into abundant life. That's the point which Jesus is making over here. And so uh we have the Catholic community who use this passage and they say you know when we are taking communion that is actually what happens that wafer turns into the actual flesh of Jesus and the grape juice it turns into um actual blood. Uh but over here in this passage Jesus is not referring to the communion at all. He's referring to what he's going to do on the cross. what he's going to do on the cross is a separate event and what we do during communion is a separate event because over here in your verse 53 where Jesus says unless you eat the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood you have no life in you and over the the Greek grammar that is used over here for eating and drinking it is the aorist verb a o r i s t an aorist verb basically is a verb which is talking about one-time action. It's not something that you do again and again and again. You know, Jesus doesn't go and crucify himself again and again, right? It's a one-time thing. One time he did it. And if you place your belief in that one-time action, then it's, you know, you have eaten his blood and you have had his eaten his flesh and blood and now you have stepped into eternal life. It's a one-time thing. So it's not this passage is most definitely not referring to the communion. The communion is something that you do as a remembrance of what he has done on the cross and you take those elements. Over here when Jesus says eat my flesh and drink my blood he's talking about a one-time event and aist verb is used for the eating and the drinking which is talking not talking about repeated eating and drinking which is what we do with a communion. We do it on a regular basis. Here it's talking about a one-time accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior. When you accept him as Lord and Savior, you're saying, "Yes, Lord, you are the real flesh. You are the real drink. Without you, I actually will not have life. I'll be breathing. My heart will be pumping, but I will not have the abundant life and the eternal life that I'm supposed to." That happens only if I believe in you. So it's that eating and drinking which Jesus is referring to over here is telling them to believe in him. Okay. So it is not referring to the communion and um so we should not get this passage mixed up with the with what we do when we are having communion. The the wafer does not turn into anything except a wafer and the grape juice remains grape juice. You are doing it in remembrance of what Jesus has done for us and the covenant which he has established. Okay. So this passage and that and the Corinthian passage are two separate passages. Um all right let's move into the next portion. Uh you know uh because from verse 37 onwards again and again Jesus has been saying you know the father will bring people to me and they are the ones who will believe in me and they are the ones who will be saved. So from verse 37 repeatedly Jesus has been making that point. Uh let's look at that uh in greater detail. uh verses 64 and 65 if you can read out. >> 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. He went to he went on to say this is uh this is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the father has enabled them. >> Yeah. So it was actually first in verse 37 that he mentions the father will bring some to me or something like that. I don't remember the exact wording. So from your verse 37 in many times, you know, if you if you were to look later, you will see again and again it is repeated about how there are some whom the father will bring to him and they are the ones who will truly believe in him. And so now here in verse 65, this is the last time he says that and he this is he clearly says this is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the father has enabled them. So there are some people whom the father will enable to believe in Jesus only they will be they will be able to place their faith in Jesus and become believers. So some people take this and they turn it into a very wrong faulty theology. They say oh yeah the reason some people are not becoming believers is because the father is not enabling them. He doesn't want them to become believers and that's the reason why you know they are not getting saved. That is such a wrong wrong teaching because we see this in 1 Timothy 2:es 1-6. Uh these are six verses long verses but it's so important because this these verses clearly establish the heart of God regarding salvation. So let's actually read those verses. 1 Timothy chapter 2 1-6. I urge then first of all that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people for kings and all those in authority that we may believe uh we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all uh godliness and holiness. This is good and uh pleases God our savior who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is no one no go. There is one God and one mediator between God and mankind. The uh the man Christ Jesus who give who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been a witness to at the pro uh prosper time. >> You see again and again the wording used over here is that this act of salvation it was done for all people. It says you know so make prayers for all people intercede for their salvation. And then in your verse four it says uh verse three and four it says that God our savior here it's talking about God the father god the father our savior wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. And then it talks about Jesus in verse 5. It says that this Jesus he became a mediator and he gave himself as a ransom for all people. So it is extremely clear in scripture that God the father wants everyone to be saved. Then why is it that only some people are enabled? That depends on their heart attitude. Those who are open and willing to believe the truth which is being who which is being shown, God will enable them to believe more to a to a stage where you know they can they can come into salvation. So they have to at least cooperate with the lord. When when when a person has hardened his heart and he's refusing to open his heart then because they have consciously rejected you know and refused to open their heart the father cannot enable them because they have already made a choice. So that is why I know um people ask that question they say oh some people don't really know have you know they're living in some remote part of the univer of the earth not universe remote part of the earth and they have never you know heard about the gospel so how will they get saved anyone who is seeking the truth because it says in Romans 1 even creation talks that there is a god and so anyone who has that heart attitude and is asking and seeking and saying I want to know this true God reveal yourself to me. The father will enable them. He will communicate to them in in his own way and help them to know the truth. So the father will enable everyone who has that hunger. I mean we've heard so many testimonies right of people who came to Jesus in the most extraordinary ways. They had the hunger. They were seeking. They were searching. They were not busy running their careers. They were not busy you know accumulating wealth. They had a hunger. So they were desperately seeking after the truth and God revealed himself to them in some way or the other. The father enabled such people to come to Jesus. And I have given this example earlier you know of this friend of mine uh she was hungry for the truth and so she um began to read a book belonging to her religion you know her previous religion belonging to her previous she began to read that book. every time she would read that book uh she would get this thought in my in her mind this is all lies it's not the truth it so she would close the book it happened to her three three times four times uh you know and every time she would try start reading that book again she would get this thought in her mind very clear thought saying no no no this is all lies so finally she got fed up one day she closed the book and said okay what is the truth and just one thought clear thought came into her mind Jesus and she was surprised she was not expecting that thought to even come into her head, you know, and then um the Lord told her to contact a friend of hers who was a Christian and she did and that's how she was led to the Lord. So, I'm just saying the father will enable the ones who have a hunger to know the truth. They may in fact be reading their book from their religion, seeking the truth, but because they genuinely searching, God will reach out to them. God will minister to them. So that is why Jesus finally says all the way from verse 37 up to verse 65 he says there are those with an open heart who are willing to believe because everyone looked at that miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 on the mount but some were still saying give us a sign after seeing the sign they were saying give us a sign so there are some who still have hardened their hearts and Jesus says such people they will not believe but those you know whose hearts are open the father will enable them and then they will come to the Lord. Just one example, you know, even as we're, you know, talking about this Acts 16:14, it talks about Lydia. Uh, look at what it says over there, you know, regarding her heart. Acts 16 verse14. One of those listening uh was a woman woman from the city of um Tatira named Lydia, a a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart uh to respond to Paul's message. >> So, here is a woman with an open attitude. You know, she already believes in this Yahweh. uh she's a gentile so she's not a Jew but she believes in this Yahweh who is supposed to be the true God so she tries to worship him in her own way and she you know attends this uh this prayer time which they have by the riverside she's doing all of that and so because she has an open heart look at what the Lord does for her it says the Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message so he enabled her because she's already have has an open attitude the Lord further opened opens her heart to respond and actually accept Jesus as Lord and Savior and she becomes saved. So in that way the L the father enables those who have a open attitude who are willing to hear um and uh okay so then verse 66 it says from this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. So these disciples that word used over there is disciples. These disciples turned back and no longer followed him. So we get to know what kind of disciples they were. They were not disciples who came because they wanted to know the truth. They were disciples who came because they wanted to to see what benefits he can give them. So when he said no I will not give you the benefits which you are asking for. I have something higher to offer. They were not interested in the higher thing which he is offering. and they turned back and no longer followed him. So then Jesus turns to his 12 disciples and he says, "What about you? Do you also want to go away?" Uh is this and then they have this conversation. So that would be your verses 67-7. Can someone quickly read those verses? 67 to 71. You do not want to leave too, do you? Jesus asked the 12. Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have you have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the holy one of God. Uh then Jesus replied, "Have I not chosen you?" Uh the 12 at one of you is a devil. He uh he mean Judas uh the son of Simon uh Iscariot who uh though one of the 12 was later uh to betray him. So there are many of these disciples who stopped following him and turned back because he's not giving them the material benefits which they want. And then Jesus turns to these 12 disciples and ask them what about you? Do you also want to go away? And Peter says where would we go? I mean what we wanted was the truth and now we have realized that you're the one who has the truth that you're the one who has the words of eternal life. So if we leave you and go away we are bas basically walking away from eternal life. So he says no way. He says we have come to believe and to know that you are the holy one of God. And then Jesus says yes you believe. But even in your group there is one person who still does not really believe. He is still looking for what material benefits he can get out of following me. But he has not opened his heart to believe in me as Lord and Savior. So this one man Judas Escariat he did not eat and drink you know he did not eat Jesus' flesh he did not drink Jesus' blood he that commitment he was not willing to make okay so the other 11 they make that commitment and so they step into eternal life by believing in Jesus and eating his flesh and drinking his blood Judas's carrot has not believed in him so for him it just stays a belief at the mind level where he's still thinking okay this man is going to become a ruler and then what benefits can I get when he becomes a ruler he's still thinking in human terms that would be Judas Escariat so yes uh we will begin from um yeah chapter 7 uh next class so yes let's quickly close with a word of prayer Lord we just thank you that You have chosen to present yourself to us as uh flesh that can really satisfy hunger and blood that can really quench our thirst. In you, oh Lord, we can actually have that abundant life which you have promised your followers. Uh people can through their own efforts build up a career, make money, gather influence and uh try to make themselves happy for a little while, but it doesn't last. But when we choose to make sacrifices and give up things to follow you, then Lord, we step into actual abundance where our needs are met, where you hear our prayers, where you build us up in the faith, where we are able to gain victory over forces in the spiritual realm which we cannot even see. We can't even see them, but we are able to defeat them and come out victorious. We become strong. we become powerful in you while the world is just trying to chase material temporary things. So Lord yes in you there is real life in you there is um real freedom. So we thank you that we that you that we had we thank you for enabling the uh us through the father. The father enabled us to come and believe in you and now we are walking in the luxury and the privilege of of having this eternal life. Thank you for what the father did for us Lord and thank you so much that you presented yourself as a ransom for us to make this possible. We are so grateful Lord. Thank you in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Thank you. This is a good batch. They listen well. Even even online also they listen well. Thank you. >> Thank you, ma'am.