Outline for Make-up Work

Here is your second assignment:

Why Did So Many of Jesus’ Disciples Turn from Him Following the Sermon on the
Bread of Life?
 John chapter 6, verse 66

Please answer each of the following questions to the best of your ability.  Pretend you are teaching someone.  What would you say?  How would you say it, to capture the real essence of what is being presented?

JESUS PROCLAIMED HIS MESSIAHSHIP
IN THE BREAD OF LIFE SERMON

The day following the miracle of the five thousand, the same group of Jews appeared for another “handout.” They apparently were not concerned with Jesus’ message or his mission, except only as it satisfied their own physical desires. The sermon on the Bread of Life is highly spiritual. To be understood, its message must be carefully studied and pondered. Let us break it into segments and consider its deeper implications. In order to do this, it will be necessary to read again several important passages. As you do so, underline those verses in which Jesus speaks directly of his messiahship. Read and underline John 6:26, 27.

When the Jews discovered that Jesus was not going to provide for their physical needs again, how did they react? Why did they demand a sign? How did Jesus respond? (See John 6:32–35.)

As you consider the words of Jesus and the response thereto by the Jews, what questions arise in your mind? Did our Savior’s listeners not understand, or did they purposely misunderstand? Bread is the very staff of life, to the ancients as well as ourselves. Moreover, the Jews were skilled in allegory and verbal imagery. When Jesus said, “I am the bread of life,” any other interpretation than that which he intended was a mere twisting of his words. It was as if the Jews were saying, “Why, we know him. He is Jesus, son of Joseph the carpenter. How, then, can he say that he came down from heaven and that God is his father?”

Jesus was not content to drop the matter there. In order to seal his testimony in the hearts of his unbelieving listeners, he repeated it again, this time more forcefully. As you read and underline, note the strength of the following verses from John, chapter 6:47–51.

Once again the Jews pretended not to understand. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked. But Jesus did not mean that men should literally eat his flesh and drink his blood. His language at this point, like that used throughout the sermon, was symbolic. Note and comment on his explanation of his words in John 6:63.

(12-8) The Jews, like Many Today, Lacked Spiritual Understanding of Christ’s Mission

“This querulous, unbelieving attitude on the part of the Jews was, not only wholly unwarranted, but from Jewish lips it bordered on absurdity. Probably no people in all history understood better or had made more extensive use of symbolical and figurative language than they had. Further, Jesus had just taught them the doctrine of the Bread of Life. For them to pretend not to know that eating the flesh of Jesus meant accepting him as the Son of God and obeying his words could only mean that they were willfully closing their eyes to the truth.” (McConkie, DNTC, 1:359.)

JESUS BECOMES THE BREAD OF LIFE TO ALL WHO ACCEPT HIM AS THEIR REDEEMER

How many times have you heard people ask, “Why do we partake of the sacrament so often? What is the purpose of the sacrament, anyway?” The answers to these and related questions are not hard to find. We partake of the sacrament in remembrance of Jesus, in token of our promise to always remember him, to keep his commandments, and to take upon us his sacred name. For many the experience is only a perfunctory exercise, a ritual to undergo because one has membership in the Church. For others, it is an opportunity for communion with Jesus Christ, an opportunity to partake of his Spirit.

(From http://www.ldsces.org/inst_manuals/nt-in/nt-in-04.htm#4)

 

 

Guidelines

  • Do the editing of your assignments in Word or Outlook and paste the information here.  
  • For readings, give the page numbers and complete references and summarize the major points.  Please include your personal impressions, thoughts, and feelings.  The scriptures will become more meaningful to you as you look for new insights and ways to apply them. 
  • You should begin each study session with a sincere prayer.
  • Make a note of the number of minutes you study:
    45 minutes = one day of Seminary.     
  • Be accountable for your duty to God to prepare for a lifetime in his service.  Do your best work.

 


Cut and paste your assignments in the box below, then click the button.  Be sure to include your name and clearly mark which scripture passages or topics your assignment focuses upon.