
February 9th, 2025
Pastor Matt Lewandowski
Full PDF Notes
John 6:60–71 ESV
60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” 66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.
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OFFENDED & UNBELIEVING DISCIPLES (V60-61)
John 6:60-61 “When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?”” But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this?”
• The disciples had ‘heard’ his word, but couldn’t/wouldn’t ‘
’ it.
• D.A. Carson notes that they were offended in 4 ways by his teaching:
- They were more interested in food (v. 26), political messianism (vv. 14–15) and manipulative miracles (vv. 30–31) than in the spiritual realities to which the feeding miracle had pointed.
- They were unprepared to relinquish their own sovereign authority even in matters religious, and therefore were incapable of taking the first steps of genuine faith (vv. 41–46).
- In particular they were offended at the claims Jesus advanced, claiming to be greater than Moses, uniquely sent by God and authorized to give life (vv. 32ff., 58).
- The extended metaphor of the ‘bread’ is itself offensive to them, especially when it assaults clear taboos and becomes a matter of ‘eating flesh’ and ‘drinking blood’.
• Put into simpler terms:
• They were
- consumed with the flesh, the material and the temporal
• They were(too proud to humble themselves and believe)
• They were committed to theirrather than to God
• They were/dull
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JESUS AGAIN DOUBLES DOWN ON THE TRUTH (V62-65)
John 6:62–65 “62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.””
• The Son of Man will ascend to where he was before
• Ascend:
1: He will return to the Father in great glory
2: Lifted Up: The cross will be the means - his death and resurrection
• The flesh is no help at all
1: Good works won’t save you. No one can perfectly fulfill the Law except Jesus. In fact, your flesh is contrary to the will of God.
2: (some think reference) Not literal flesh and blood, but spiritual bread and drink - don’t get stuck on the metaphor.
• The Spirit gives life
• Only those whom the Father draws can come to him in faith
• NOTICE: Jesus doesn’t soften his words or shade the truth in order to
• ALSO NOTICE: He’s not unkind or rude. Just speaks the truth and makes it
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THE UNBELIEVING DISCIPLES FALL AWAY - REJECT JESUS (V66)
John 6:66 “After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.”
Matthew 13:18–23 ESV - 18 “Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
Matthew 22:14 ESV - For many are called, but few are chosen.”
• In the parable of the sower 3/4 of the seed falls on bad soil and doesn’t produce fruit. Only 1/4 falls on good soil and produces fruit.
• John’s gospel puts an emphasis on
• THOSE WHO DON’T REALLY BELIEVE JESUS WILL EVENTUALLY
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THE CONFESSION OF THE BELIEVING [THE TWELVE] DISCIPLES (V67-69)
John 6:67–69 “67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.””
• Jesus had to put the question before them:
• Peter’s reply:
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THE BETRAYER IN REDEMPTION’S STORY(V70-71)
John 6:70–71 “70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.”
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RESPONSE:
- You must respond to the Father’s work, the Spirit’s work and choose to believe and follow Him.
- Pray for those who seem like they are teetering.
- Pray for those who have run from God - prodigals
- Be encouraged and hope-filled