Is Your Commitment Sure?
Pentecost 2023
(Sermon Notes) By Warren Zehrung 5/28/2023
We begin with the Offertory where we will look at a few examples of God’s Holy Spirit at work. We have counted 50 days and have come to the Feast of Pentecost.
Pentecost shows the pouring out of God’s Holy Spirit on the New Testament Church, but that was not the beginning of blessings being given by God.
There is an example of God’s Holy Spirit at work in 2Samuel 6 that demonstrates God’s blessings being poured out. It is the story of a man named Obed-Edom. It took place on the occasion of King David bringing back the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem from the city of Kiriath Jearim, a town about nine miles west of Jerusalem. [also known as Baale]
2Samuel 6:1 Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.
2Samuel 6:2 And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him, from Baale of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwells between the cherubims.
In those days God resided in the Ark of the Covenant.
2Samuel 6:3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.
2Samuel 6:10 So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.
David parked the Ark of the Covenant in Obed-Edom’s driveway for three months.
2Samuel 6:11 And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obed-Edom, and all his household.
2Samuel 6:12 And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God.
What does that mean, “The LORD blessed the house of Obed-Edom? It means that the LORD was with Obed-Edom, and everything he did, the LORD made it to prosper (Gen 39:23).
His herd was multiplying, his crops were yielding bountifully, the cows were giving more milk, and the chickens were laying like never before! Obed-Edom’s barns were filled with plenty, and his wine presses were bursting out with new wine (Proverbs 3:10).
Simply because of God’s presence, Obed-Edom was blessed tremendously.
Brethren, that is an example of God’s Holy Spirit at work. God, through His Spirit opened the windows of heaven for Obed-Edom, and poured him out a blessing so great, that there was not room enough to receive it.
Please understand, God was not obligated to bless Obed-Edom, but He did it as an example of His Holy Spirit at work.
One more example of God’s Holy Spirit at work:
When Jesus had been dead and buried for three days and three nights, God the Father brought Jesus back to life with the exceeding greatness of His power which He worked in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead to life eternal, and restored His divine glory to Him (Ephesians 1:17-20, John 17:5).
But something else happened as a result of that greatest outpouring of God’s powerful Spirit:
At that very moment, because of the unprecedented power of life that God the Father projected forth, many who were destined to become saints sprang forth from their graves.
Matthew 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Matthew 27:53 And came out of the graves after [Jesus’] resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
Those are only two examples of the many Biblical examples of the wonderful workings of God’s Holy Spirit.
God pours out His blessings through His Spirit. Offertory Music
Title: Is Your Commitment Sure?
John 6 is our primary text for today – Keep your Marker here.
We sometimes refer to Pentecost as the birthday of the Church.
With the coming of God’s Holy Spirit, big changes were able to take place in God’s people. When we have added the workings of God’s Holy Spirit to the workings of our mind, we are changed into the Children of God. That is a picture of this Day of Pentecost. God’s Holy Spirit is the greatest gift that mankind will ever be granted. It is eternal life (John 6:54).
My Specific Purpose today will be to search the Holy Scriptures to see how utterly unattainable it was for the people of Christ’s day to make a full commitment to truly follow and believe Jesus.
Brethren, I want to ask you a difficult question. Do you believe in Jesus? Over two-hundred-million people in America would answer, “Why, that is not difficult at all, Yes, of course, I believe in Jesus.”
The dilemma here has to do with Jesus’ own definitions of “belief,” which seem to contradict one another, but in fact they do not:
John 6:36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and you still do not believe.
And then Jesus said:
John 6:40 And this is the will of Him that sent me, that everyone who sees the Son, and believes in Him, may have everlasting life:
These verses do not contradict one another – Scripture is not broken! We will see how this dilemma is clarified by Scripture.
Pentecost shows the conversion process wherein God’s Spirit is added to the spirit in man, which is then empowered, enlivened, vitalized, animated, given life, impregnated by the Spirit of God, making us Children of God.
Only one-hundred and twenty New Testament Church of God brethren were empowered on the first Feast of Pentecost following Jesus death and resurrection (Acts 1:15).
That day they were each sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13). Jesus had instructed them:
Luke 24:49 Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but you wait in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
In John 6 we will see that Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
The feeding of the 5000 took place in 29 AD when Jesus had just one year remaining in His public ministry. Just a year before Jesus died, He taught great multitudes of people.
John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is also known as the sea of Tiberias.
How many people was Jesus speaking to on this occasion?
John 6:10, “About 5,000.”
How is it then, that only 120 people showed up for Pentecost services after Jesus resurrection? The answer lies in the categories of depth of belief they had in Jesus.
If we had a scale from, “no belief” on one end, to “total belief” on the other end – that is what we would have found in the multitude. Skeptics, Curious On-lookers, Followers, Convinced supporters, Believing students called disciples and so forth… Some believed very little – and some believed entirely.
But there were no bonafide committed Church members / saints seeking eternal Life by way of the Flesh and Blood of Jesus Christ, because God’s Spirit had not yet been sent on the following Pentecost. Let’s understand that there is always a range in the depth of believers.
John 6:2 A great multitude followed [Jesus], because they saw His miracles which He did on them that were sick and diseased.
“They saw His miracles” – that always draws a big crowd. There was free food – that always draws a big crowd. Do not assume – as movies would show – that this multitude was a great horde of pious, faithful believers who were ready to die for Christ. They were no more converted than the crowd that you would expect to find at a Friday night LSU football game – except that some were very serious about finding out about Jesus. Some were merely interested religious hobbyist who could not distinguish right from wrong.
Not long before this, John the Baptist had drawn the largest crowds – where some of the people were serious and repented, and were baptized, while some were trouble makers like the Pharisees and Sadducees who were a generation of vipers.
*Jesus asked rhetorical questions about who draws a following: Some people just went to see John the Baptist for the excitement.
*Matthew 11:7 …Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John the Baptist, What went you out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
Matthew 11:8 But what went you out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.
Matthew 11:9 But what went you out for to see? A prophet? yes, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
Matthew 3:5 Then went out to [John the Baptist] Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan.
My point right here is that not everyone in the crowds that followed a Prophet like John the Baptist, and Jesus, were seeking God and salvation with all their might.
When I was teaching the Book of Proverbs to the Imperial School students in Pasadena we had a saying,
“The Bible is a gold mine – but you have to dig for the gold.” “It is not laying around on the surface of the ground – in fact the deeper you dig the more Gold you’ll find!”
*Acts 1:15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
*Who were those people, and why were they gathered together observing the Feast of Weeks? The answer is that they were responding to Jesus command:
*Acts 1:3 [The chosen apostles] To whom also He shewed Himself alive after His passion [and death] by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God:
Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with [the apostles], commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith He, ye have heard of me.
In answer to the question, “Why were these 120 gathered at that first Pentecost,” it was because Jesus had told them that something really, really important was going to take place. The promise of the Father.
So, out of the thousands and thousands that Jesus preached to, fed, healed, only these 120 people were fully convinced that Jesus had somewhat to offer them.
They were not simply Curious On-lookers, followers, supporters, – they were believing students called disciples.
This 120 people in attendance on Pentecost Day were fully ready to receive God’s Holy Spirit.
But, the question we want to consider is, “Why were there so few there – considering how many had followed Jesus around during His public ministry!?”
Most people in the crowd had little or no spiritual depth. The parable of the sower describes these folks as dry and shallow soil that cannot produce fruit.
John 6:3 But Jesus went up hill-side, and sat down there with His disciples.
John 6:8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said unto Him,
John 6:9 There is a lad here, who has five barley loaves, and two small fish: but what are they among such a crowd?
John 6:10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was plenty of grass there. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
John 6:11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when He had given thanks, He distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes, giving everyone as much as they wanted.
Everyone filled up on the loaves and the fish.
John 6:12 When they had all eaten enough, [Jesus] said unto His disciples, “Gather up the fragments [of bread] that remain, that nothing is wasted.”
Apparently they polished off all the fish, but there was bread left over.
John 6:13 Therefore they gathered and filled twelve baskets with the broken pieces of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
They began with five barley loaves—and ended up with twelve baskets full – that is quite a miracle.
That Prophet – Messiah
John 6:14 When the men saw the miracle that Jesus did, they said, “Truly this is that Prophet who is [prophesied] to come into the world.”
Everyone there was familiar with Moses’ words from the Old Testament:
Deuteronomy 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto you a Prophet from the midst of you, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto Him ye shall hearken;
Did they actually become true believers at that point?
No, they were simply caught up in the moment saying, “He’s that Prophet, “He’s that Prophet…”
However, they were not that interested in the Word of God and the holy principles that Jesus was teaching.
Brethren, had we lived back then during Jesus’ public ministry we would have said to ourselves, and to Jesus Christ as well, “I will remain fully committed to you, no matter what.”
And that is exactly what Jesus’ twelve apostles thought.
The problem was that without God’s Holy Spirit no one was able to remain committed to Jesus through thick and thin.
But the crowd was getting worked up to the point that they were no longer listening to God’s teachings through Jesus.
John 6:15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take Him by force, to make him a king, He departed again into a mountain Himself alone.
John 6:16-17 And when evening was come, His disciples went down unto the sea, and entered into a boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus had not come to them.
But then a turbulent storm blew up…
John 6:18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.
John 6:19 So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing near unto their boat: and they were afraid.
John 6:21 But they eagerly received Him into the boat: and immediately the boat arrived at the land where they were headed.
Remember, Jesus had not left with the disciples.
John 6:22 The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except the one His disciples had used, and that Jesus had not gone with His disciples into the boat, but that His disciples had left out alone;
As soon as the people realized that Jesus was not there the next morning they went hunting for Him – wondering how He had crossed the Sea of Galilee to the other side.
John 6:24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither His disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.
John 6:25 And when they had found Him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, how long have you been over here on this side?
HOW DID YOU GET HERE?
Jesus did not answer them directly – because it was another miracle!
He had walked on the water.
Jesus’ answer to them was, “You came for the free food I provided.”
John 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, Truly, truly, I say unto you, You seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
That point alone shows us that most of the crowd of people were not true believers in Jesus, but simply opportunists looking for a free lunch.
They sought Food – when Jesus had so much more to offer! Very important things – Even the Holy Spirit – but they did not know about the Holy Spirit – the greatest GIFT that mankind will ever be granted by God.
Then Jesus gave the people the best advice we’ve seen today – and He even hints at where He is headed –> the Body and blood of Jesus Christ.
John 6:27 Labor not for the food which perishes, but for that food which endures unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him has God the Father sealed.
The people misunderstood Him – thinking Jesus was going to show them how to work miracles.
What Jesus surely sought after was truly believing students – who are called disciples who would be totally committed to Him. Most did not understand:
John 6:28 Then said they unto Him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Brethren, we come now to a most powerful verse, and yet a verse misunderstood by most.
John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He [God the Father] has sent.
This verse answers a great question, “What is the work of God?”
And it tells us that it was God the Father who sent Jesus to the earth for the express purpose that people would believe in Jesus – and more specifically – know Jesus’ message and embrace it.
Even religious hobbyist casually believe that Jesus existed, that He is an historical figure—but they do not begin to believe the things Jesus taught about Godly life and living it.
“Believe Me,” was what Jesus sought of the people. Again, these believers were not yet converted. The people answered – give us some proof – work a miracle.
John 6:30 They said therefore unto Him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
John 6:31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
Who Gives the True Bread from Heaven?
John 6:32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
That is another huge statement: God the Father gives the true bread from heaven – Jesus Christ.
John 6:33 For the bread of God is He which comes down from heaven, and gives life unto the world.
Another incredible statement: Jesus gives life – all life – to this planet. Without the Life Jesus gives, this planet would be as lifeless as the crater poxed moon. Well, certainly, the people wanted that true bread from heaven – “Hand it over!”
John 6:34 Then said they unto Him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
OK then, give us an unending supply of this special bread. A veritable, unending cornucopia of bread from heaven. Brethren, you know what a cornucopia is: it is an infinite supply of all things good that never fails. A free a profusion of all things good.
“Give it to us they cried.” But, Jesus was telling them that HE was the source of life in the world. Jesus was saying to them, “Without ME there would be no life anywhere – just a dead planet.”
The Bread of Life
John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believes in me shall never thirst.
Well said – we can’t improve on that. Jesus was saying, “I created life on this world, and I sustain this life. Otherwise all will perish. Jesus continues, “You have seen but you do not believe.
Look for the Resurrection
John 6:36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and you still do not believe.
Please notice the high standard Jesus sets for true belief in Him (:36). America does not believe in Jesus according to Jesus’ standards. The people Jesus taught – saw Jesus and yet Jesus said, “You still do not believe in me.”
John 6:37 All [the people] that the Father gives me shall come to me; and him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out.
John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of [The Father] who sent me.
The Resurrection
John 6:39 And this is the Father’s will who has sent me, that of all which He has given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
Our only hope is that the Life Giver – Jesus Christ – gives us life. Brethren, do you really and truly believe enough to die as Jesus died? Jesus isn’t just interesting and fascinating to admire. That is what a worldly believer holds to be true.
The people were upset with Jesus – they murmured – Jesus was losing them because they could not keep up with what He was saying – even some of the disciples came short of Christ’s expectations:
John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with [Jesus].
John 6:40 And this is the will of Him that sent me, that everyone which sees the Son, and believes in Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
How do we rectify the difference between John 6:36 and John 6:40? One is a simple recognition of a historical figure (John 6:36). The other (John 6:40) is a total committed belief in Jesus and all that He taught and stood for – even to the point of laying down our lives as He did. Here comes some of the cynics and disparagers:
John 6:41 The Jews then murmured at Him, because He said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.
John 6:42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?
John 6:43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
How can Jesus say, “I came down from heaven? Again, we find Jesus pointing to the resurrection:
We must be called of God first.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
The answer is, first you must be drawn :44, 65 reiterated…
John 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
John 6:46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save He which is of God, He hath seen the Father.
The ANSWER
John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes in me has everlasting life.
A true disciple of Jesus goes well beyond believing – he is a student that sits at Jesus’ feet and continues to hear, and learn what Spirit life means – and becomes a doer of the word.
John 6:48 I am that bread of life.
John 6:49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
Joh 6:50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
There is a Big transition here – put on Christ! How? Listen to how Jesus presented this great truth. What food feeds every cell of my body to give me life? Jesus’ Flesh – and His Blood must be eaten – an almost impossible concept for a Jew to grasp!
John 6:60 Many therefore of His disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
You don’t hear the Protestants quoting John 6 as much as John 3:16, do you? John 6:51 is a big verse:
John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
*Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
Isaiah 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows [sickness, pain, disease – even death], and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed Him not.
Jesus should have been held in the highest regard – but the people demanded miracles of Him. “esteemed him not” – Jesus was not recognized by the multitude – not even after the Father worked miracles through Him. My father does the works – not me.
*John 14:10 Believe you not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwells in me, He doeth the works.
Those healings that Jesus worked came at great personal cost to Him. Jesus paid with His life for the healings He did.
*Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with His stripes [suffering, torn, beaten, nailed, flesh stripped and cut] we are healed.
This is the FLESH that is given for the Life of the world. Jesus personally paid for every individual healing that took place then and NOW, and into the future that the entire world through Him might be saved. (John 3:17) As the Creator of everything that exists, Jesus’s life is worth more than all His creation.
That salvation in Christ was God the Father’s purpose in sending Jesus into the world. Some minsters have wanted to be known as having a healing ministry. Brethren, it does not work like that. Jesus alone heals – and all who were ever healed are healed by Jesus. Jesus paid the cost of healing with every one of His stripes and all of His sufferings
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him [Jesus Christ] the iniquity of us all.
Jesus alone Has borne our sins and the sins of the world. There is a great debate going on in America as to when can a baby can be killed in the womb – 6 weeks or 15 weeks, or when the baby feels pain. All human flesh – from conception – is precious to God – make no mistake! God assigns an identity to each and every person at the moment of conception.
*Genesis 2:24 Therefore man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.
That “one flesh” occurs at the moment of conception when the DNA of the male joins with the DNA of the female to become a new and wholly unique human being. At that very second, an individual comes into existence!
*Job 32:8 There is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty gives understanding to the heart, and puts wisdom in the inward parts (38:36).
Man’s mind is designed to become brilliant, and meant from the very beginning to be so. God has given man a human brain and fired it to life and reason—hence our mind. The human mind is the most complicated mechanism in the universe by far! Brethren, do not get caught up in this Artificial Intelligence controversy (AI).
Computers cannot feel, cannot be happy, cannot think, cannot fear, cannot envision life, let alone eternal life, and cannot love. Next to the human mind a computer is nothing more than a bucket of nuts and bolts. But, add to our mind the workings of God’s Holy Spirit and what we you have? We have a Child of God.
The spirit in man is the non-tangible part of the mind which defines each individual’s personal identity. We each have a unique identity that distinguishes us from all the rest of mankind. The spirit in man gives us self-awareness so that we know who we are. The mind, heart and spirit of man is his knowing and cognitive nature.
Human beings have an intellect composed of a physical brain working in conjunction with a non-physical element – spirit – that God forms in us – beginning at conception. The non-physical element of the mind is the component that the Bible calls, the spirit in man.
*1Corinthians 2:11 Who knows the things of a man, except by the spirit of man which is in him?
Romans 8:16 The Spirit [of God] itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the Children of God:
John 6:52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us His flesh to eat?
Jesus utters His Most Profound Statement
John 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you.
Not just life – but Eternal Life
John 6:54 Whomsoever eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, has eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
It does not get any more serious than that – resurrection to life, or not! In that number of 5,000 who listened to Jesus that day, there was a mixture of followers, believers, disciples and some who would eventually become saints, the highest category on earth – bonafide committed Church members / saints seeking eternal Life by way of the Flesh and Blood of Jesus Christ.
The Bible calls them: Saints, holy ones, ‘hagios,’ sanctified, consecrated, set apart, dedicated, to God. The true saints are committed to God and one another. There is a powerful extended Biblical relationship here we should understand:
We’ve heard of blood brothers who swear an allegiance to one another by tying their cut wrists together so as to share the same blood. They swear that either party can require anything of the other blood brother – they are that close.
In the ancient times men would drink a sip of each other’s blood forming an unbreakable bond covenant between themselves – forming a committed relationship – as close as blood brothers.
As time went by men substituted sacrificed animal’s blood for the same purpose. We know that God forbad that practice of eating blood, so men adopted the eating of a sacrifice meal to become blood brothers.
This concept of a familial / brotherhood relationship is what took place when Jesus, the God of the Old Testament entered into a Sacrificial Covenant with Abraham.
Remember the deep sleep of Abraham as Jesus passed through, consuming the halves of the animals that were the Sacrificial Covenant – in effect – – making Abraham the root of the Messiah who is the branch (Isaiah 11:1, Matthew 1:1)
The root is the familial ancestor, and the branch is the blood offspring. Jesus was the offspring of Abraham – but so are we (Galatians 3:29). That covenant makes us all, Abraham’s children, and heirs according to the promise.
We are more than full-blooded brothers and sisters to Jesus Christ – and He is not ashamed to say that He is our Brother because we share the same spirit with our Father God (Hebrews 2:11-12).
Genesis 15:9 And [The LORD] said unto [Abram], Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.
Genesis 15:10 And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.
Genesis 15:17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.
That was Jesus consuming those divided pieces – in effect saying unilaterally to Abram, I will die just like these divided pieces in order that my covenant can be fulfilled and he, Isaac, that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir – and so forth down to Jesus – and then to us!
So, symbolically drinking Jesus blood is not an act of cannibalism at all! It is God’s legal way of entering into a family covenant with us.
John 6:55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
This is the supreme Covenant of all covenants – calling for total commitment to our calling—God’s way of life.
It is a covenant so strong that either party can require anything of the other – ask and it is yours – no questions asked!
They are fully committed to do Jesus’ will, which is God’s PLAN,
Are we truly, bonafide committed Church members—committed to one another as in a total family covenant – like blood brothers?
Jesus said something incredible – many do not believe Him!!!
John 14:13 And I will do whatever you ask in My name, …
Wow! Can we believe that literally?
John 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
It works both ways – anything that God asks of us – we will do it.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. [our part]
“Keep my commandments,” is where Jesus requires our total obedience back to Him. Let’s realize that because we are in a blood brother covenant with Jesus, the agreement cuts both ways – actually three ways! We are Church brethren – and we too can require anything of each other.
Did you ever think of that? Is that a hard saying? It adds a little context to that verse in Acts 2:44:
Acts 2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
Mine is yours, and yours is mine! I’m afraid that practice would fail quickly in many congregations today. Here is an example where Paul required something from a fellow Church brother (Philemon 1). Paul handled the matter of a run-away slave delicately—but according to John 14:14. We are Church brethren – and we too can require anything of each other.
Philemon 1:6 As you share the faith you have in common with others, I pray that you may come to have a complete knowledge of every blessing we share in Christ.
Philemon 1:8 That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you. I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do.
Philemon 1:17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive [Onesimus] as myself.
Philemon 1:21 Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.
Back to John 6:56 and the blood brother concept of the covenant: Jesus says:
John 6:56 He that eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, dwells in me, and I in him.
This closes the loop on our brotherhood with Jesus – it makes us Kinfolks.
John 6:57 As the living Father has sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eats me, even he shall live by me.
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
John 6:58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eats of this bread shall live forever.
We receive LIFE through Jesus. He is even the very SOURCE of LIFE, so we will never die.
John 6:60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
Which part was hard for His disciples? Jesus living in us, and the Father, too? Living forever? Remember, they did not have God’s Spirit yet.
John 6:61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples murmured at it, He said unto them, Doth this offend you?
“Start thinking outside the box, because you haven’t seen anything yet!”
John 6:62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where He was before?
“Because that is exactly what you are going to witness.”
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickens [gives life]; the flesh profits nothing: [we are not going to save ourselves!] the words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are Life.
It is the very words of Jesus that bring life. Some disciples did not believe Jesus to the very core of their being – they were not fully committed.
John 6:64 But there are some [plural] of you that believe not! For Jesus knew from the beginning who they [plural] were that believed not, and who should betray him.
John 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.
Among Jesus’ disciples there were some who were not called – and they were being weeded out by their own lack of commitment.
John 6:66 From that time many [plural] [plural] of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.
John 6:67 Then said Jesus unto [His handpicked twelve apostles], Will ye also go away?
John 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? you have the words of eternal life (:63).
John 6:69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Messiah, the Son of the living God.
Jesus continued to gather followers in the last year of His ministry in His ongoing ministry. A year later when Jesus died at Golgotha – many lost faith in Him and walked no more in His steps.
Even those closest to Jesus thought that Jesus’ words about His being raised the third day were somehow metaphorical or allegorical. Even having seen Jesus raise the dead, like Lazarus, they really did not expect Jesus’ resurrection. None expected Jesus to be raised from the dead!!!
By their words and actions, they had pledged themselves to remain faithful to Jesus – come what may.
Peter denied, and the others ran and hid – but that was in their moment of confusion.
Zechariah 13:7 …Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered:
But there were 120 were fully committed with their lives – even when they did not fully understand, or fully believe.
Consecration is the act of devoting and dedicating yourself to the service and worship of God.
Brethren, had we lived back then during Jesus’ public ministry we would have said to ourselves, and to Jesus Christ as well, “I will remain fully committed to you, no matter what.” And that is exactly what Jesus’ twelve apostles thought. The problem was that without God’s Holy Spirit no one was able to remain committed to Jesus through thick and thin. (repeated for emphasis)
Consider these examples:
Jesus saw Nathanael in the very act of devoting, consecrating, and dedicating himself to the service and worship of God.
John 1:45 Philip find Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
John 1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
John 1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
John 1:48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw you.
That was a miracle! No one could have known what Nathanael was praying.
John 1:49-50 Nathanael answered and saith unto Him, Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto you, I saw you under the fig tree, you believe? You shalt see greater things than these.
Nathanael was committed to the cause, and believed in Jesus as much as was humanly possible—but without God’s Holy Spirit he was unable to stand strong when the multitudes came with swords and staves to arrest Jesus (Mark 14:48).
Matthew 26:56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook Him – [including Nathanael] (Mark 14:50).
Nathanael learned that he needed God’s Holy Spirit to empower him.
Peter
And we all know the story of Peter when he was so sure of himself and said,
“John 13:37 Peter said unto [Jesus], Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.
John 13:38 Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.
Big and tough Peter was fully committed to Jesus, and could not believe that he would ever deny Jesus. Peter was committed to God’s work, and believed in Jesus with all his heart.
Peter broke down and cried bitterly:
Mark 14:72 … [When] Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me three times, and when he thought thereon, [Peter] wept.
The commitment of even God’s leading men was challenged when facing trials, hardship and adversity.
Out of all those thousands of followers who thought they were entirely committed at the end of Jesus’ ministry, there were only one-hundred and twenty souls at Pentecost – even when they did not fully understand, or fully believe they were there trudging on.
No one could have been more committed than Nathanael and Peter!
Peter learned that he needed God’s Holy Spirit to empower him, and when he received God’s Spirit on Pentecost – he became a changed man and spoke boldly to all Israel.
Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word, [of the men of Judaea, and those that dwell at Jerusalem] were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
The full commitment of even God’s leading men was challenged when facing trials, hardship and adversity
With God’s Spirit, they became fully committed with their lives.
What were the expectations of that small faithful flock when that Pentecost rolled around seven weeks later? They did not know how much God’s Holy Spirit would change them. They did not know how much God’s Holy Spirit would enlighten and empower them.
God knew of their unreserved commitment to Him and consecrated them, and made sure of their presence at Pentecost to receive His Spirit and become the First Saints!
What do we learn from those who ate of the loaves and the fishes? Answer, it is not enough to be followers and onlookers; It is not enough to say Lord, Lord; It is not enough to believe in miracles, because there is one coming whose miracles are false and cannot be believed; It is not enough to know the Bible verse by verse; Even being a disciple is not enough.
We need to be committed, consecrated and go far beyond that and become the saints we were called to be.
Many are called – few are chosen!
At the end, there were only 120 who were fully committed.
Where and who are the committed saints today?
End: Is Your Commitment Sure?