John 6:58-61
6:58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
6:59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
6:60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard [this], said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
6:61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?

In John 6:41 we already saw that the Jews in the crowd began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven."
By verse 52 the Jews were arguing sharply among themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
Now in verse 61 even the disciples, people who were following Jesus, were grumbling. Why would these disciples, who had been following Jesus, start grumbling?


Jesus use of symbolism has caused enormous controversy in Capernaum, the city which had seen and heard so many of His healings and teachings: the city that had received the most light and also the area in which Jesus had received great popularity.
The term disciples comes from the Greek matheton, meaning "students." and refers to more than just the twelve, including all who have, to this point, been following and listening to Him.

Jesus has claimed to be the Bread of Life, and used the analogy of consuming His flesh and blood in order to explain salvation.

Jesus asks, "Does this offend you", (scandalize you) Does this totally upset your idea, concepts and hopes of a Messiah?

"His words were a direct confession that He was not the Messiah they had hoped for no earthly rewards were to be realized from connection with Him. They had welcomed His miracle-working power; they were eager to be freed from disease and suffering; but they would not come into sympathy with His self-sacrificing life. They cared not for the mysterious spiritual kingdom of which He spoke. The insincere, the selfish, who had sought Him, no longer desired Him. If He would not devote His power and influence to obtaining their freedom from the Romans, they would have nothing to do with Him." {DA 391.3}

John 6:61-63
6:61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
6:62 [What] and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.

Christ is telling them if they found the doctrine of grace offensive, they are actually rejecting His crucifixion and His exaltation. They are rejecting the very center and substance of the eternal gospel.
Christ would return to heaven and sit on the throne at the right hand of God the Father, where He was before His incarnation.

"The Saviour answered them: "Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where He was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." {DA 390.2}
The life of Christ that gives life to the world is in His word. It was by His word that Jesus healed disease and cast out demons; by His word He stilled the sea, and raised the dead; and the people bore witness that His word was with power. He spoke the word of God, as He had spoken through all the prophets and teachers of the Old Testament. The whole Bible is a manifestation of Christ, and the Saviour desired to fix the faith of His followers on the word. When His visible presence should be withdrawn, the word must be their source of power. Like their Master, they were to live "by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4. {DA 390.3}

John 6:63-65 It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, are spirit, and are life.
6:64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

The rejection of His message was not a surprise to Jesus. He knew He would be rejected by the majority, and yet He came, and He taught and He made it plain to them that there was an eternal life for them. He wanted them to understand and to accept, if only they would believe. Christ came to save them, but they had a choice, the Holy Spirit was trying to awaken their understanding, but they had to chose to respond to the Holy Spirit prompting their hearts, or to cling to their humanistic temporal, but soon to fade worldly achievements and worldly hopes. By pushing away the still small voice, thus not allowing the Holy Spirit in, they had no chance. They would remain "dead" in their sin, even though they still followed religious rituals, they had rejected the Spirit and Life. They had rejected the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus.

6:66 From that [time] many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

What a sad statement.
Interesting it is verse 6:66

John 6:67-71 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
He spake of Judas Iscariot [the son] of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.


With a yearning heart, Jesus saw those who had been His disciples departing from Him. He had come to save them, to draw them out of darkness into the light of life. He is the Life and the Light of men. He was filled with sorrow seeing those He had come to save, slight His love and His outreached hand of mercy. Why were so many rejecting salvation. The sorrow was deep, for it was this rejection of His priceless gift for their salvation, that made Him a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.

Finally Jesus turned to the twelve chosen disciples and asked them if they going to leave as well.
Peter replied by asking, "Lord, to whom shall we go?" "Thou hast the words of eternal life," he added. "And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God."

"To whom shall we go?"
"To whom shall we go?"
While many who been following Jesus, listening to His teachings and witnessing His compassion and healing power, had now forsaken the Saviour, Peter expressed the faith of the disciples,--"Thou art that Christ." The very thought of losing this anchor of their souls filled them with fear and pain. To be without a Saviour, they found, would be unbearable. It was from and with Christ they had found joy, peace, forgiveness; meaning in life, to disconnect would mean to be floating in a hopeless condition.

This was a preparatory lesson for the disciples. They were still confused as to Christ's mission to earth, and In just over a week, they would NOT see Him sitting on any earthly throne, and totally contrary to their hopes and dreams, they would see their master denounced, they would see mobs of people screaming "Crucify Him". They see Him die a horrible death. Would they still cling to Jesus, believing He was the longed for Messiah?

We face similar issues.
When things go wrong, maybe a loved one dies, or disease strikes, or any number of bad things, what do we do -- rail against God, and turn away from Him?

At the end of time, God's people will face a very strong situation that will be meant to shake their convictions. . The world will not be on their side. The world will denounce the true Christ, and make laws defying God's command. Will we be able to stand in trust and faith in HIM, when it appears the whole world is against us.?

John 6:70-71 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
He spake of Judas Iscariot [the son] of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.


Many people, who had followed Jesus, turned away to walk no more with Him.
The twelve asserted their belief that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God! They would stay,
but ---
One of those twelve, Judas, who also decided to stay, was staying for all the wrong reasons.
But again, all twelve still entertained those same wrong reasons.
They longed for high positions in what they believed would be the restoration of their present nation to greatness.

So what made the difference?

All the disciples had character defects. But they were open to the grace of Christ which was a transforming power, working marvelous changes in the life of the disciples.
The opportunities and advantages offered to all the disciples were given to Judas also. The same principles of truth were set before his understanding, the same example in the character of Christ was his to contemplate and imitate. But Judas failed to fully respond. His heart was not being softened. While he acknowledged that Jesus was unique, and had high hopes Jesus was the Messiah, yet evil temper, covetous and doubting thoughts and passions, dark calculating thoughts, were cherished, thus he was giving Satan control, and blocking the healing, transforming power of Christ. The humility of Christ disturbed him. How could such a humble man ever be king.
Judas rationalized, by thinking Jesus needed him, Judas, to take control and "help" Jesus reach His ambitions (which were really Judas' ambitions).

John 7:1-5
7:1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Judah, because the Jews sought to kill him.
7:2 Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand.
7:3 His brethren therefore said unto him, You need to go into Judaea, that your disciples there may also see the works that you do..
7:4 For no man who seeks to be a public figure does things in secret, to be known, do these things openly, show yourself to the world.
7:5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.

A rather sad five verses.
The leadership in Jerusalem and Judah, were rejecting Christ -- seeking to kill Him.
To avoid useless conflict with the leaders at Jerusalem, He had restricted His labors to Galilee.

His own "half" brothers, that he grew up with, didn't yet believe in Him, Christ's actions confused them.
Why was Jesus placing Himself in antagonism to the religious authorities. They felt that these men must be in the right, and that Jesus was at fault in placing Himself in antagonism to them.
Yet, they had grown up with Him, they had witnessed His blameless life, and though they did not join themselves with His disciples, they had been deeply impressed by His works.

They would have loved to see Jesus, with authority and power, give evidence that He was Messiah and lead the Pharisees to see that He was what He claimed to be. They cherished the same hopes most Israelites held -- the Messiah would drive out the Romans, set up His kingdom and make Israel great again!
They couldn't understand why Jesus, "If" (here we see doubt) If he was the Messiah why was He hiding as if afraid of the Jewish leadership?

John 7:6-8 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.
7:7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hates, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

Jesus did go to that feast, as we will see in the following verses, but when urged by His brothers to present Himself publicly as the Messiah, His answer was, "My time is not yet come." John 7:6. He made His way to Jerusalem unobserved, and entered the city unannounced.
The time to enter Jerusalem "as the Messiah" riding upon a donkey with people waving palm branches and shouting, that time was not yet. It would come soon, but the time was not yet.

When that time would come, Christ knew, the reception would not be according to what was expected of the Messiah. Once the people realized He had not come to set up an earthly kingdom, drive out the Romans and make Israel great again, they would HATE Him.
Jesus had come to deliver people from sin. But People don't like testimonies that make them realize they need to let go of sin. Christ, Who had come to save people from sin, was hated, (and is still pushed aside as unwanted) because His righteousness was a constant rebuke to those who practiced sin. People reasoned from the selfish motives often found in the hearts of those ambitious for display, power and fame. This spirit is still the ruling spirit of the world.

7:6 My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.
.

The brothers face no opposition. The world doesn't hate them. They are free to mingle without fear, they merge in with the crowd. Going to the feast posed no known threat to them.
Because the life of Jesus condemned evil, He was opposed, both at home and abroad. The example of Jesus was a continual irritation to people, because it was genuine goodness, which stood in sharp contrast to their forms of religion which did not change character.

But in another sense -- "our time is always ready" to separate ourselves from the lure of the world, there is still, time, till probation closes, to turn around away from the worldly pitfalls, and by faith follow Christ where ever He leads.
We know that at least two of Christ's brothers, James and Jude, did accept Christ as their Savior, and were leaders in the early Christian church.

John 7:10-13 But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.
7:11 Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?
7:12 And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceives the people.
7:13 Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.

These verses speak of the tension we find in Jerusalem concerning Jesus.
People are whispering, wondering about Jesus, but afraid to speak openly.
The Feast of Tabernacles is a week long festival, and for the first three-four days, Jesus remains out of sight, quietly observing.
Some people seem anxious to see Him, they are looking for Him, wondering where He is. However, not all seeking Him were doing so for good reasons. The passage contrasts "the Jews" and "the people". "The Jews" are the leaders of the nation and the temple services, seeking to do Jesus harm. "The people" are the multitude of common folk at the feast.
The resentment from the leadership resulted in the people being afraid even to talk about Jesus openly.

The people were divided in their opinion of Jesus. Some siding with the leadership. Others' speaking favorably about Him.

But Jesus will speak to the crowds -- at the right moment.

ARGUMENTS IN THE TEMPLE

John 7:14 - 18

Jesus had spent several weeks in Galilee, but no sooner does He enter the Jerusalem temple again, mid way through the feast, and the previous dialogue seems to begin all over again. Obviously He had been on the minds of the Jewish leaders even while He was away.

John 7:14 Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.
7:15 And the Jews marveled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?

Jesus knew letters and how to read, He had learned from teachers other than the rabbinical schools. People were amazed at his vast knowledge and interpretation of the scriptures which he had not obtained in the rabbinical school. Usually teachers in the temple were acknowledged scholars who had gone through the rabbinical educational system. The people were surprised that someone without this educational background would teach in the temple.

Jesus' didn't start to teach right away, He first allowed the people to discuss amongst themselves, before He "went up into the temple" to teach. He first allowed the people, gathered there for this feast, to think about the question of His work, then He taught by asking questions, thus getting the people to think about His mission for their salvation. Jesus was not only claiming his identity as the Messiah amidst disagreement and even hostility, He wanted people to focus and start to realize that in Him was the hope of salvation.

John 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.


When Jesus said, "My doctrine is not mine", he wasn't disowning His belief in the doctrines he was teaching, rather he was telling them this was the doctrine of God. It did not have its source in humanity, it came from God. They believed in God the Father (at least claimed to) and He, Jesus, was teaching doctrine in perfect harmony with God the Father.
His teachings were not the result of man's intuition, His teachings were divine wisdom, straight from the throne of God. He had a unique connection to God the Father.
In the first chapter, John tells us that Jesus Christ is the incarnate word of God. "John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God, and He was in the beginning with God. John 1:14, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us," Jesus is God manifested, the living embodiment of God's revelations to humanity.


John 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

When we study and know the scriptures and are in connection with God, the Holy Spirit will help us to discern which teachings are just the teachings of men and what teachings come from God.


John 7:18 He that speaks of himself seeks his own glory: but he that seeks his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

This verse gives a powerful sign to watch for when seeking to know if the messenger is from God or not. It can also be a strong reminder to us. Are we doing and saying things to glorify Christ, or are we more focused on what others think of us?

We could look at Philippians 2:3-5, where Paul encourages us to "have the mind of Christ" in His self denying love, going forward to redeem a rebellious people. In the same manner we should do nothing out of selfish ambition but to uplift Christ to others, and consider their needs above ourselves. When we make decisions with a heart focused on glorifying God, we can cultivate a spirit of humility and generosity, which makes truth ring true, and draws people to Christ.

John 7:19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the law?
Why go ye about to kill me?

The Pharisees had accused Jesus of breaking the law, because He had healed on the Sabbath.
Jesus now gave them an evidence of His divinity by showing them that He knew what was in their hearts and minds. He knew that ever since the healing at Bethesda they had been plotting His death. Thus they were themselves breaking the law which they professed to be defending.

The Pharisees were secretly plotting to have Him killed, and Christ's words brought their guilt sharply into focus. Instead of listening to the Holy Spirit urging them to stop their downward journey they felt they must maintain their influence with the people, their murderous designs must be concealed. Evading the question of Jesus, they mutter, "You have a devil: who goes about to kill You?" The people took up the question:

John 7:20 The people answered and said, You have a devil: who goes about to kill thee?

The wonderful teachings and miracles of Jesus, who had come to save them, they were insinuating came from the devil, the enemy of mankind! This seems to happen several times, not only on this one occasion, for again in John 8:48-50 and John 10:20, they attribute His power to demons.

This accusation reveals the hardness of their hearts. In order to destroy Jesus' influence they labelled Him as someone with a devil. Instead of attributing His miracles and teachings as signs that He was the Messiah, they repeatedly hardened their hearts against Him, and worked hard to turn the people against Him as well.

They recognized that Jesus was different. Especially the leaders, perceived Jesus to be outside their norm. He challenged their existing beliefs, and His purity and holiness was a constant rebuke to their outward piety covering a multitude of sins.
Jesus is, God incarnate, His mission to earth was to save humanity from the destructive forces of sin. To seek and save the lost. The leaders completely missed His message and instead turned to insulting insults. They could not comprehend the depth of His wisdom and truth, blinded by their prejudice and preconceived notions.
How Christ's heart ached due to their hardness and resistance: "If you had only grasped the truth, even you, at least in this your day, the things which belong unto your peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes." (Luke 19:42) .

Who is Jesus?
Did they know?
Did they think they knew, but didn't know?
Were they doing their best not to know?

The important question: Who is Jesus?
Who is He REALLY?
Where did He come from?

John 7:25 -30 Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill?
(26) But, lo, he speaks boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?
(27) But how can it be, we know this man where he's from: but when Christ comes, no man knows where he's from.
These Jerusalemites are puzzled. They've been listening to the confused dialogues going on in the previous verses. They live in Jerusalem so they have been exposed to the tension that has occurred over the last three years, and they aren't at all surprised about the intentions of the rulers to kill Jesus. What astonishes them is hearing Jesus speaking boldly and the rulers seem afraid to carry out any move against Jesus.
Could it be, they question, that those rulers realize Jesus is actually, truly the Messiah?

Did the leaders realize, did they know, were they convicted by the Holy Spirit as they witnessed and heard the words and saw the actions of Jesus, that indeed He was the Anointed One, the Messiah ? But instead of responding and leading the people to Jesus, they threw themselves deeper into rejecting Him.

The sin that led to Jerusalem's destruction was not merely because of the sins which the leaders committed, but for choosing to continue in a state of resistance, and, although they had light and knowledge, and were given the evidence, yet they would not submit. They could have found pardon; Christ came to save, but they were determined not to yield. They defied God by their obstinacy.

Notice the Jerusalemites, talking quietly as they observe the rulers and Jesus in the temple. They are puzzled. They see the uncertainty in the rulers, and wonder, could Jesus really be the Messiah?
For a brief moment the Holy Spirit convicts them -- Jesus the Messiah?

But then they philosophize, and conclude, NO, He can't be the Messiah, that can't be true. He was raised in Nazareth, we know where he's from, we know his background, He can't be the Messiah. The mighty evidence of his miracles, all the power of his teaching, and the elevating influence of His personality, all was dismissed in their minds. He couldn't be the Messiah simply because they could trace where he had spent his early years.

JESUS RESPONSE


John 7:28-30 Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, You both know me, and you know from where I am: and yet I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom you do not know.
(29) But I know him: for I am from him, and he has sent me.
(30) Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.

Jesus could not keep silent. The Holy Spirit was working, yet people were resisting with superficial arguments. The fact that he "lifted up His voice", He cried out, indicates His words were a question. "You know me and you know where I'm from?"
Oh, if only they would realize the truth. If only --- there is emotion in His question. If only they would realize who He was and where He was from.
John 1:10-11 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

No, they don't know Him and they don't know where He is from. He did not come of Himself , His heavenly Father sent Him. He intimately knows God the Father, the God they claim to worship. It was God the Father Who sent Him. They don't know God the Father, nor do they know Him.

In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. John 1:1,2
I (Jesus) came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: I (will soon) leave the world, and go to the Father John 16:28
Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also. John 8:19