Read Together: John 6:60–71

On Sunday, we reflected on the Parable of the Sower and the mixed reception of Jesus’s preaching. The parable helps us answer the question of why not everyone receives the word of the kingdom, the gospel. The answer to that question is found in the condition of our hearts. We see some of this in action in John 6.

Earlier in this chapter, Jesus proclaims that he is the Bread of Life, the true manna from heaven, and he calls us to feed on his flesh and drink his blood (to receive his sacrificial death as our life). Many of those who were following Jesus had a hard time with this saying. They didn’t understand it and even found it offensive. Jesus says that his words are spirit and life, but not all those who hear them believe.

Many of Jesus’s early followers leave him after this exchange. But the Twelve disciples remain with Jesus. Peter shares why: Jesus has the words of eternal life, and they have believed in him and know that he is the Holy One of God. The words of Jesus give life, but not all receive them. In fact, Jesus says that no one receives his words unless “it is granted him by the Father,” (John 6:65).

Our unbelief is only overcome by the gracious work of God in our hearts. We can receive and believe in God’s Word only by his grace. So, as we ourselves hear God’s Word, we must pray and ask God that he would open our hearts to receive it as the word of eternal life. And as we share the message about Jesus, we must rely on God to open hearts to see that it is the word of life.

Discussion Questions

1. What does this passage of Scripture teach us about Jesus? What does it teach us about ourselves?
2. What does it mean that Jesus’s words are “spirit and life”?
3. Why doesn’t everyone receive Jesus’s words as the words of life?

Ideas for Younger Kids

·      Read “A Story about Soils” in The Biggest Story Bible Storybook (pages 318–21).

Memorization: “Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68 ESV)

Song: Listen to “Your Words of Life” (Sovereign Grace Music).

Pray Together

• Praise God that he is the God of grace and truth.
• Confess before God that our hearts are often hard with unbelief.
• Give thanks to God that he has sent his Son Jesus to speak life and open our hearts to believe in him.
• Pray that God would continue to help us understand his word and receive it as our source of life.

Go Together

·      Revisit the questions Pastor Nathan gave from the Parable of the Sower:

o   Am I a careless hearer?

o   Am I a shallow hearer?

o   Am I a distracted hearer?

o   Am I a fruitful listener?

·      Reflect together about which of the four soils you tend to identify with, and pray together that God would speak to you when you hear Jesus’s Word and that you would receive it as the word of life.