WHY FOLLOW JESUS

TexT: John 6

SOME FOLLOW FOR THE BLESSINGS

(v. 1-15)

Jesus gave a sign of His divinity by multiplying the bread and fish. They perceived him as a prophet, but their real motivation was based on their flesh. (Just looking for the provision of God for our fleshly needs)

Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.”

“Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”(v. 27)

SOME FOLLOW BECAUSE OF THE AMAZING FEATS

(v. 16-36)

The feeding of the five thousand

The curiosity of how He got to Capernaum without a boat. (He walked on the water.)

Now they wanted to know how to do “the works of God” (v. 28) Therefore, they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”

So, they asked for another sign! “They said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’” For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world.” Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe.” (v. 35-36)

SOME FOLLOW BECAUSE GOD IS AT WORK IN THEM (v. 37-51) v. 40 Everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.

v. 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father draws him.

v. 45a They shall all be taught of God

v. 45b Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.

v. 63a It is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh profits nothing.

v. 63b The words that I have spoke to you are spirit and life.

v. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe

Footnotes: “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

“ No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught of God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me”.

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you there are some of you who do not believe.”

THE TEST OF FOLLOWING (v. 54-64)

v.56 “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.”

v.57b “So he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me.”

Living a life that is Given, Nourished, and Sustained by the Word of God

Footnotes: “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever.”

For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. 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.” As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.

John 1:1 “ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of [l]the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth”

So, WHO ARE YOU FOLLOWING?

ONLY A FOOL BELIEVES THAT THEY ARE NOT FOLLOWING SOMEONE!

Who are you going to follow? Your parents Your teachers Your friends

Your Spouse

Your children

Your Boss

Your-self? (Deception)

If you think you aren’t following anyone, AND you believe you are setting your own course,

then you are in fact following the very first being that did not follow God, who led the first humans into disobedience against God.

Again, Only a fool believes that they are not following someone!