Bible Study Guides – Many of His Disciples Turn Back

March 13, 2005 – March 19, 2005

Memory Verse

“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.” John 6:63.

Suggested Reading: John 6; The Desire of Ages, 383–394.

Introduction

Three events have been documented that have their counterpart in the second advent movement. They are: (1) The first cleansing of the temple and the second angel’s message (Revelation 14:8) in 1844; (2) The Sanhedrin’s rejection of Jesus at the second Passover and the second advent church’s rejection of the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy; (3) The second cleansing of the temple and the loud cry of the third angel (Revelation 18:1, 2).

As it was necessary for Jesus to begin a ministry independent from the Sanhedrin in the first advent, so in the second advent movement, God found it necessary to begin a ministry independent from the organized church. He led E. A. Sutherland and P. T. Magan to open a school and a sanitarium for the people in the South.

Our study this week concerning “the trials of the children of Israel and their attitude” during the first advent of Christ will continue, as we look at the events connected with the ministry of Jesus in Galilee just a year following the Sanhedrin’s rejection of Christ’s message and His departure from Jerusalem.

1 What is the setting for the crisis in Galilee? John 6:1–13.

note: “The Passover was at hand, and, from far and near, bands of pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem gathered to see Jesus. Additions were made to their number, until there were assembled five thousand men besides women and children.” The Desire of Ages, 364.

2 What did the twelve disciples and the crowd plan to do after they were finished eating? John 6:14, 15.

note: “All day the conviction has strengthened. That crowning act is assurance that the long-looked-for Deliverer is among them. The hopes of the people rise higher and higher. This is He who will make Judea an earthly paradise, a land flowing with milk and honey. He can satisfy every desire. He can break the power of the hated Romans. He can deliver Judah and Jerusalem. He can heal the soldiers who are wounded in battle. He can supply whole armies with food. He can conquer the nations, and give to Israel the long-sought dominion.

“In their enthusiasm the people are ready at once to crown Him king. They see that He makes no effort to attract attention or secure honor to Himself. In this He is essentially different from the priests and rulers, and they fear that He will never urge His claim to David’s throne. Consulting together, they agree to take Him by force, and proclaim Him the king of Israel. The disciples unite with the multitude in declaring the throne of David the rightful inheritance of their Master. It is the modesty of Christ, they say, that causes Him to refuse such honor. Let the people exalt their Deliverer. Let the arrogant priests and rulers be forced to honor Him who comes clothed with the authority of God.” The Desire of Ages, 377, 378.

3 How did Jesus respond to this effort to make Him king? John 6:15, 16.

note: “But Jesus sees what is on foot, and understands, as they cannot, what would be the result of such a movement. Even now the priests and rulers are hunting His life. They accuse Him of drawing the people away from them. . . . Calling His disciples, Jesus bids them take the boat and return at once to Capernaum, leaving Him to dismiss the people.

“Never before had a command from Christ seemed so impossible of fulfillment. The disciples had long hoped for a popular movement to place Jesus on the throne; they could not endure the thought that all this enthusiasm should come to nothing. . . .

“Jesus now commands the multitude to disperse; and His manner is so decisive that they dare not disobey.” The Desire of Ages, 378.

comment: Here we have a clear description of a group of people who are followers of Jesus along with the twelve disciples. They plan to take Jesus by force to Jerusalem and, through popularity, proclaim Him King of Israel over the authority of “the arrogant priests and rulers.” It is evident that even though these people had left the organization to follow Jesus, they had no better understanding of the nature of Christ’s kingdom than had the priests and rulers in Jerusalem.

4 Because Jesus refused to let the people proclaim Him king, what great change now occurred in His ministry? John 6:66.

note: “When Christ forbade the people to declare Him king, He knew that a turning point in His history was reached. Multitudes who desired to exalt Him to the throne today would turn from Him tomorrow. The disappointment of their selfish ambition would turn their love to hatred, and their praise to curses. Yet knowing this, He took no measures to avert the crisis. From the first He held out to His followers no hope of earthly rewards. . . . Of those now connected with Him there were many who had been attracted by the hope of a worldly kingdom. These must be undeceived. The deep spiritual teaching in the miracle of the loaves had not been comprehended. This was to be made plain. And this new revelation would bring with it a closer test.” The Desire of Ages, 383.

comment: Although the crowd was dispersed by Jesus, the next day they gathered again at the synagogue in Capernaum. Before we join the meeting at the synagogue, it is important to understand the relationship of these people to the organized church in Jerusalem and the independent ministry of Jesus.

5 How does John identify the relationship of these people to Jesus three times in his gospel? John 6:60, 61, 66.

note: The Spirit of Prophecy calls them “His disciples” seven times:

“He knew the character of those who claimed to be His disciples, and His words tested their faith.” The Desire of Ages, 391.

“By the public rebuke of their unbelief these disciples were still further alienated from Jesus.” Ibid., 392.

“Many are still doing the same thing. Souls are tested today as were those disciples in the synagogue at Capernaum. . . . Therefore they are angry when their sins are discovered. They go away offended, even as the disciples left Jesus, murmuring, ‘This is an hard saying; who can hear it?’ [John 6:60.]” Ibid.

“As those disaffected disciples turned away from Christ, a different spirit took control of them.” Ibid.

“With a yearning heart, Jesus saw those who had been His disciples departing from Him, the Life and the Light of men.” Ibid., 393.

“When Jesus presented the testing truth that caused so many of His disciples to turn back, He knew what would be the result of His words; but He had a purpose of mercy to fulfill.” Ibid., 394.

comment: In looking back, the picture becomes quite clear. About the time of the second Passover, the Jewish church rejected Jesus and His ministry. Jesus then departed from them and went into Galilee to work. This resulted in large multitudes joining Him as “His disciples.” At the feeding of the 5,000, they planned to take Jesus to Jerusalem and proclaim Him their King, but by the end of the next day, the records say that most of “His disciples” turned away and left Him. Let us now take a look at the reasons for this amazing change in the attitude of “His disciples.”

6 What was the hope of this multitude of “His disciples” that attracted them to Jesus? John 6:14, 15. See The Desire of Ages quotation after Question 4.

7 According to the reference following Question 4, what did Jesus have to do for these people before they could understand the true nature of His kingdom? See John 18:36.

8 What would this new revelation bring to the people? John 6:61–64.

note: “Christ had spoken a sacred, eternal truth regarding the relation between Himself and His followers. He knew the character of those who claimed to be His disciples, and His words tested their faith.” The Desire of Ages, 391.

9 What did Jesus tell “these disciples” they would have to do to become His true disciples? John 6:53, 63.

note: “To eat the flesh and drink the blood of Christ is to receive Him as a personal Saviour, believing that He forgives our sins, and that we are complete in Him. It is by beholding His love, by dwelling upon it, by drinking it in, that we are to become partakers of His nature. What food is to the body, Christ must be to the soul. Food cannot benefit us unless we eat it, unless it becomes a part of our being. So Christ is of no value to us if we do not know Him as a personal Saviour. A theoretical knowledge will do us no good. We must feed upon Him, receive Him into the heart, so that His life becomes our life. His love, His grace, must be assimilated.” The Desire of Ages, 389.

10 What does this character change involve that Jesus requires? John 6:44–56.

note: “He [Jesus] declared that they were to believe and act upon His teaching. All who received Him would partake of His nature, and be conformed to His character. This involved the relinquishment of their cherished ambitions. It required the complete surrender of themselves to Jesus. They were called to become self-sacrificing, meek and lowly in heart. They must walk in the narrow path traveled by the Man of Calvary, if they would share in the gift of life and the glory of heaven.” The Desire of Ages, 391.

11 What was the attitude of “these disciples” after Jesus told them that they must believe and act upon His teaching? John 6:60, 66.

note: “The test was too great. The enthusiasm of those who had sought to take Him [Jesus] by force and make Him king grew cold. This discourse in the synagogue, they declared, had opened their eyes. Now they were undeceived. In their minds His words were a direct confession that He was not the Messiah, and that no earthly rewards were to be realized from connection with Him. . . .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.” The Desire of Ages, 391.

12 When “these disciples” turned from following Jesus, what kind of spirit took control of them? John 6:60–64.

note: “As those disaffected disciples turned away from Christ, a different spirit took control of them. They could see nothing attractive in Him whom they had once found so interesting. They sought out His enemies, for they were in harmony with their spirit and work. They misinterpreted His words, falsified His statements, and impugned His motives. They sustained their course by gathering up every item that could be turned against Him; and such indignation was stirred up by these false reports that His life was in danger.” The Desire of Ages, 392, 393.

13 What fatal finality was involved in their decision to separate from Jesus? John 6:66.

note: “By the public rebuke of their unbelief these disciples were still further alienated from Jesus. They were greatly displeased, and wishing to wound the Saviour and gratify the malice of the Pharisees, they turned their backs on Him, and left Him with disdain. They had made their choice,—had taken the form without the spirit, the husk without the kernel. Their decision was never afterward reversed; for they walked no more with Jesus.” The Desire of Ages, 392.

14 What evidence is there of the number of “His disciples” that turned their backs on Jesus at this time? John 6:66–68.

note: “Without attempting to hinder those who were leaving Him, Jesus turned to the twelve and said, ‘Will ye also go away?’ [John 6:67.]” The Desire of Ages, 393.

15 How did Peter express the faith of the disciples at this time? John 6:68, 69.

note: “ ‘To whom shall we go?’ [John 6:68.] The teachers of Israel were slaves to formalism. The Pharisees and Sadducees were in constant contention. To leave Jesus was to fall among sticklers for rites and ceremonies, and ambitious men who sought their own glory. The disciples had found more peace and joy since they had accepted Christ than in all their previous lives. How could they go back to those who had scorned and persecuted the Friend of sinners? They had long been looking for the Messiah; now He had come, and they could not turn from His presence to those who were hunting His life, and had persecuted them for becoming His followers.” The Desire of Ages, 393.