John 6:41-45 – The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.”  And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”  Jesus therefore answered and said to them, “Do not murmur among yourselves.  No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.  It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore, everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.”  And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”  Jesus therefore answered and said to them, “Do not murmur among yourselves.  No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.  It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore, everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.

Rejected by His own – His answer – “Do not murmur.”

The Jews began to grumble about him.  They saw him as just a son of a poor carpenter.  They did not see anything divine or heavenly about Him.  They did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God because He came down to men clothes in our flesh.  Jesus’ divine majesty was not so concealed under the lowly appears of the flesh that it failed to shine out ways of His brightness in a variety of ways.  But these evil and stupid men did not have the sight to see His glory.

We need to be careful that we do not sin in this same way.  We can view Jesus with just our physical eyes and distort, change or misrepresent His Word, not viewing the truth with our spiritual eyes.  Jesus puts the blame for “grumbling” on them.  He basically is saying, “My teaching contains nothing that gives offense, but because you are corrupt, it irritates your poisonous hearts.  We need to be careful about grumbling.  One whole generation of Israelites were not permitted to enter the Promised Land because of their grumbling.

John 6:60 – Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?”  When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you

Rejected by those following Him – His answer – “Does this offend you?”

John 7:3-6 – His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing.  For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.”  For even His brothers did not believe in Him.  Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready.

Rejected by His brothers – His answer – “It is not My time.”

John 7:32-34 – The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning Him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him.  Then Jesus said to them, “I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me.  You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come.

Rejected by the religious leaders – His answer – “You will seek Me and not find Me.”

Is Jesus welcome in your life?  To really have Jesus in your life, what changes would you need to make?  The way you speak to others?  The attitude that you display?  Your daily habit?

Have you rejected Him by rejecting others in need?

Matthew 25:35-40 – for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’  “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?  When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?  Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’  And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

Rejection

• If you spoke to your children, your spouse and they turned away, they suddenly had something else to do, you would feel rejection.
• Do you enjoy the welcome of a handshake of a friend?  How would you feel if that hand was not extended?
• Do you desire fellowship with others?  How would you feel if suddenly you were cut off from all fellowship?
• If you desire fellowship with Jesus, you must reach out to Him, take His extended hand and give Him your undivided attention.
• Are you rejecting Jesus?
• Do you grumble, complain? – You are rejecting Jesus.
• Do you question what He says? – You are rejecting Jesus.
• Do you find some of the Word of God offensive? – You are rejecting Jesus.
• Are you turning away from following some of the Word of God? – You are rejecting Jesus.
• Are you reaching out toward the Word of God, toward acceptance of Biblical principles for your life?  – If not, you are rejecting Jesus.

Isaiah 55:6-7 – Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.

Is Jesus welcome?