John Chapter 6:48-71

Jesus did not come that we might be better people. He came the dead people might have life, see when we get the mistaken notion sometimes the you know Jesus, just only just want to do us up little bit. He just holds the fixes open limo will be just fine. No were dead spiritually. We need to be forgiven, saved and born again we need to be made alive and the preaching where people notice like a hip hooray come on, let's try harder team, stop.

That's just bogus. It's not that you're not trying hard enough. It's the fact you've been playing for the wrong thing and you need to switch sides need to accept the truth of Jesus. What is proclaimed welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is a senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina.

We welcome associate pastor DA Brown to the studio with today. Bob God sent his son Jesus not to make us better people, but to give us new life today – today was good remind us and show us what links God went to to give us it's almost like Jesus didn't come that we might be better people, but that did people come to life to exactly what it is. Bob you love this awesome list jump into part two of David McGee's teaching rejected turn with me to John chapter 6, or going verse by verse chapter by chapter and the continuing on in our study of John chapter 6 in order to pick it up at the verse 57 as the living father sent me, and I live because of the father so he who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down from heaven, not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever. Now things are going on here Jesus is preparing them for his sacrifice. He's also in a way, preparing them for communion in the Last Supper, but this is not about and some people make a mistake in this passage, Jesus is talking specifically about communion now is talking about himself. How do I know that because if you take it to the next. If you take an inferred truth and take it in the necks of a good start about communion so so what. So if you don't have communion, you're not going to heaven. You don't have eternal life.

I have to reject that now understand there's a whole bunch of churches, and then certainly the Catholic Church, including those who believes that if you don't have communion you can go to heaven.

Your sins cannot be forgiven. I don't believe that that's inconsistent with picture. I think we should have communion, you betcha. But Jesus is talking about the truth about him self. Some of the blood that may be offensive to some of don't be offended by the don't be offended receive what the Lord is telling you this morning.

Certainly to the to the religious Jewish people of that day when they didn't understand. He was talking in spiritual terms. They thought Jesus was, cannibalism, Jesus is not talking about them, literally drinking his blood or eating his body. He's in spiritual terms here and will see that a couple verses, but Leviticus chapter 17 verse 11.

The start of its is for the life of the flesh is in the blood, the life of the flesh is in the blood. When we were studying the book of Leviticus.

We went to chapter chapter went through every verse of it. We referred to it as the gospel of Leviticus you know why because when you understand Leviticus you understand the gospel. And if you don't understand.

Leviticus then you only have a partial picture of the gospel. You see somebody had to die. Somebody had to be sacrificed.

In many these days I walk around they say well off a mountain sacrifice all all will suffer for my own sins that you can't do that if you do the prices more than you can imagine Jesus as you know, I'll be the sacrifice.

I will lay down my life.

I will pour out my blood for you because there was no other way. Jesus gave his life and he shed his blood on the cross that you and I might live that we might have eternal life. Now understand the Roman Catholic Church teaches that what happens in communion is transubstantiation long complicated work.

What that means is it during communion, the bread or the matzoh somehow supernaturally turns into the literal literal flesh and body of the Lord Jesus Christ. They believe that the Jews are the one literally turns into the blood of Jesus Christ. That is not symbolic that something happens there. The problem is that Weller's letter from one of the problems with that is that it breaks Levitical law and Jesus never broke Levitical law. Jesus never told people to break Levitical law he broke rabbinical law. What's the difference Levitical law is the law. The Hebrew Scriptures rabbinical all is all these laws and rules and regulations. I came up with afterwards that Jesus really did care for much had to do with a lot of the sample stuff that he seemed to enjoy it messing with them all. I like Jesus go for more reasons than that, but that's just one of the one of the other reasons are balancing with Zwingli who is a Swiss reformer came up and he said no and and it is none of that. It is just symbolic and in some terms. I do believe what Zwingli says but I think if we take it to that point and say well you know it it's just symbolic. It's just a ritual I don't know bongo with. To be honest, because I do believe that something supernatural happens at communion now. I do not believe that it turns into the literal blood in literal body of the Lord Jesus Christ. I don't believe, but if you just go through. It is a ritual you're missing you are missing one of the saddest things that I heard was that you know that if your time communion in with the forgiveness of sins.

What happens to those that can't take communion. The content and I heard a little girl who had estimate the amount of wheat and and she had a wheat allergy so one Catholic Church that the priest gave her a rice wafer in the local leader over that that you diocese or whatever came back so you know what that doesn't count, thereby saying her sins can be forgiven when there's a reason God did not give that power to a man in their and again communion is not necessary for salvation, but it is one of the two. Some places have seven sacraments, we don't we see two things in Scripture that Jesus said very plainly to do. That's baptism. That's communion we don't have seven we got to know that's not what I say. Sacraments are sacred things and I'm not obviously you need to be safe. You need to be born again, but these are two things that we want to do on a regular basis. Verse 15 on these things he said in the synagogue as he taught and Capernaum Capernaum.

The K for NATO.

This town is still there and in you can actually you can see there's a new synagogue. That's an update somewhere between 200 and 400 A.D. and that's it on top of the synagogue that you can see, you can see the stones of excavator part of it were Jesus actually taught where this was going on. The Bible is a real book. It's historically accurate it scientifically accurate is geographically accurate.

Verse 60. Therefore, many of his disciples when they heard this said, this is a hard saying you can understand when Jesus knew himself that his disciples complained about this he said to them, does this offend you. I want you to know something Jesus had a good crowd that day. He had roughly 5000 men. What did he do with all he could've done a lot of things he could've said all you know what this is this enough people to make it weekly could form an army, I could run for office. I could correct the whole Roman political system. Somebody did he proclaim truth claim and that truth he knew beforehand that some people that only did that stop him from proclaiming truth no. I realize that here I could I could water things down. I could skip a couple verses and some people would be far less offended over doing but it's not gonna happen. The Lord is bringing people here and I have a responsibility before God, to proclaim the truth and in the truth is offensive to you will pray for you, but we will change the truth see when you hear these things and you have a decision when truth is proclaimed to you, you have a decision to reject it or to accept it. I would highly suggest you accept as these are my words.

These are the words of Jesus than the right on out. Then he verse 62. What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where he was before. It is the Spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing.

The words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life. I think Jesus is very plainly hearsay and he's not talking about his literal blood or his literal flesh. He sent these are spirit, but is also saying you know what, there is a reality in these words it is more real than what you think reality is she we go through life and we think everything that's around us is with Israel.

Some of it is, so I was pretty quick to understand when we get all absorbed in the buildings and all this stuff is churches and and it's going man is going to be gone in the twinkling of an battle.

We don't want to use that excuse. We are going to one day finish the building and we want to have nice chairs in here so you're comfortable during the teaching. We want those things but we also realize you don't want that one day all those things are all gone. All these things in here, but charitably gone. The lights will be gone all these things will be gone, except these two guitars I got I got a word from the Lord there going in so will be going to be going to those things really what's important in spiritual things more than the real things of life. Jesus is reality. Jesus defines reality and all this other stuff will be passed away.

The flesh profits nothing. Jesus is our glory. Life lesson here.

Jesus did not come that we might be better people. He came that dead people might have life.

Jesus did not come that we might be better people.

He came that dead people might have life, see what we get the mistaken notion sometimes that you know Jesus just holy just wanted to mess up a little bit. He just goes to fix a slow bit memo will be just fine.

No were dead spiritually and we need to be forgiven and saved in born-again. We need to be made alive and you know that the preaching where people you know it's like a hip hooray come on, let's try harder team, stuff that's just focus. It's not that you're not trying hard enough.

It's the fact you've been playing for the wrong team and you need to switch sides. You need to accept the truth of Jesus. What is proclaimed. Romans 718.

For I know that in me that is in my flesh. Nothing good dwells for to will is present with me. But how to perform what is good. I do not find so how we go from these truths to thinking that we just need a little weekend and you know little self, how open this. I don't know things like man's wisdom to me because Jesus said the flash profits nothing. Have you been walking with the Lord for very long, you realize Jesus was telling the truth.

Jesus has a plan for our flesh that we got to and the reason we need to do that is because we don't the flesh will rule and it will kill us. You're listening to Pastor David McGee on cross the bridge will be right back with more just a moment, but I want to remind you of the free resources available to you on cross the bridge.com there's a team of hundreds of people that will pray for somebody to be saved.

You have a loved one that needs to know Jesus as Savior. You need people to pray for them. You need someone to present God's word to them every day were present in God's virtual here on cross the bridge with Pastor David McGee.

We can pray for them as well. Just by simple going to cross the bridge.com and click on the pray for the lost button. All you need to do is put in the first names of the people you love, that need to know Jesus as Savior. Click on submit and immediately hundreds of people begin praying for your lost loved ones.

What an awesome way to bring your love ones to Jesus.

Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown hey Bob want to pray for listeners in these cities in Colorado. Sterling in Yuma and some cities in Florida, Eastport Gulf breeze, Jacksonville, Key West and Largo, God, thank you for everyone listening. Today we pray that they would look forward to hearing from you directly through your word. We prayed that they would share this word that you give them with others in their life. And Lord, that they wouldn't fear that they're going to make too many mistakes to folly, but trusted you're going to do the work in them and help them get plugged into a Bible teaching church Lord, not one that's gonna be full of hate or anger, but of love and compassion.

In Jesus name, amen, amen.

Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse, verse 64 but there are some of you who do not believe for Jesus knew from the beginning who they were, who did not believe in who would betray Jesus didn't let the fact that one of his disciples were going to betray him, keep him from ministry. He didn't looking go wagon.

I want that boy administer these guys which only 11 of them are going to get it out. One of them.

He's just going to betray me. So you know it's just better off if I don't do it and say that wanderlust when I mention it is because so many of us approach ministry like well you know I wouldn't I would teach children's ministry. But you know the kids I get a little rambunctious sometimes.

All I would share my faith.

But you know somebody at some point might say something I don't like it hurt my feelings. Why would I would serve at the church but you know then you appreciate me measure not excuses you see Jesus using Jesus knowing what Judas was, who Judas was. Jesus chose Judas met amazing. He chose Judas and then wonder at the upper room at the Last Supper unit while they were sick and so confused about who was going to betray him is because Jesus treated Judas. No differently than the other disciples that is convicted so often we treat somebody differently because of what we think they might do all I'm not going to be friends with them.

They they were they might hurt my feelings.

One day Jesus knew me, you know. To step out ministry and you're going to do that until you get offended or you get mad or you don't feel appreciated my go-ahead I can save you some time you you will get offended you will get mad. People will say things don't let that deter you guys if it if those things could've deterred me how to quit a long time ago. I can't. I can't remember the last time a week went by where I did get some weird phone call or weird email or something like that that just this part of the package and don't sit there and dilute as it is 30 years in the revenue pastor Jasmine when you have what we had this morning with all these people who just got baptized what you think the enemy is going to be focusing on. If you were in the military. What would you be doing as part of the package got don't don't write off ministry and Jesus loved Judas until the very end, caving every chance even in the car and Matthew Jesus said to him, friend, why have you come.

Jesus knew Jesus knew I was there. He was not asking him if he was there to betray him or why he was there, Jesus was saying, you know why why did you make this decision. It's scary to think that you to set under the teaching of Jesus for three years and then made this decision while because Judas was a man you can sit in here for three years and walking acts of betrayal and reject Jesus. That's the reality.

There's probably some here this morning. Here and how much Jesus loves him how much he cares for him how he gave himself for you and you will reject that you will walk in you will come to Jesus. That's an amazing thing and I don't really ever want to be able to understand may always not understand how somebody can hear the teaching of the Word of God and remain unaffected for 65 and they said therefore I have said to you that no one can come to me unless it is been granted to him by my father.

Verse 66 from that time many of his disciples went back and walked with him no more. What a sad verse. What a sad verse, which also notice that the address of that verse John chapter 6 verse 66 this is the way of man. This is what we act like sometimes walking away from Jesus when something it's a little hard gets a little difficult see this is the final step. There's murmuring there's arguing and then there's leaving see this starts a downward spiral.

When you start murmuring when you start complaining it's only a matter time do you start arguing on them like this running like that. I can't believe they do. This can't legally do that. I disagree.

I disagree strongly know what I'm going I'm hearing the word of God and seen people get saved, I'm leaving. This is a very real thing. This is something that a pastor that I experienced that and may always crush my heart when I see it's a downward spiral. Instead of taking an upward path. It's a downward spell which do you want to go want you want to go on this downward spiral thing. Don't murmur, don't complain, don't argue, don't leave. You can stop that cycle for 67 then Jesus said to the 12.

Do you also want to go away but Simon Peter answered him work, to whom shall we go. You have the words of eternal life. There's nowhere else to go.

That's why we're here. See Jesus without millions of dollars, thousands of soldiers conquered the world conquered more millions than Alexander and Caesar.

Napoleon and Mohammed, conquered more people than any of those Peter here hits a homerun were not here because were good people were here because in a spiritual sense.

We have nowhere else to go other than Jesus and Jesus says whoever comes he will in no way cast out for 69. Also, we have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the Christos in the Greek, the anointed one, the son of the living God. Again, people, it's a Jesus didn't claim to be deity. Jesus didn't correct Peter here when Peter said you're the son of God, you obviously if you're the son of God, your God is been dealt you like produces like for 70 Jesus answered them, did I not choose you. The 12 and one of you is a devil. He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon for was he who would betray him be in one of the 12 all the way through those three years Jesus gave Judas every chance to repent he gave them every chance to turn from his heart heart and accept the Lord before you sit here and accuse Judas what's in your heart this morning. When you accept Jesus, or will you reject. It's interesting to know the inner Judas ended up on a tree. Jesus did to Judas chose the wrong tree. He could've went to Jesus and said Jesus, forgive me. I've messed up.

We see it was Peter the grace that Jesus extended, but he decided not to do that.

He decided to be hardhearted and not to respond and you know what friend you get to choose your tree. I choose the cross which tree will you choose. There's a lot riding on on this decision friend. Choose well, there's more than you can imagine Rodney on this. What will your decision be Jesus gave himself for you. He gave his life for you he offers you his righteousness. Don't reject that the receiver how do you receive pray and ask the Lord to forgive you ever sent some of it might be for the first time some of you might be coming back to the Lord.

But this is a choice because you don't just choose to follow Jesus one time in your life. Choose the following everyday friend.

You know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only Jenna short, simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. God wants you to pray this prayer so much that he died to give you the opportunity and the ability to ask him to forgive you.

Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life now done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name, amen it friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again. Jesus said he would not turn anybody away who comes to him and he came for those people who knew they needed forgiveness. Those who were sick, not the righteous to congratulations bring you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make.

God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life will DA before we go.

What are some ways that we can bless our listeners each day.

You can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David to the word of God with his email devotional life lessons to consider a daily reading plan and a thought to meditate on throughout your day. From the heart of David McGee.

That sounds good pastor day and again.

It's been great to have you with us on the program today but tell us what else can a listers find on cross the bridge.com.

If you're not able to make it to your home church this Sunday. Why not join us for our life. 10 AM Eastern time or on Thursday night 7 PM this visit, cross the bridge.com and click on a lot extremely there you will experience a live service from David's home church. The bridge in North Carolina again.

That website is cross the bridge.com. Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the Gospel of John