“DIVINE LIFE: ALL-SUFFICIENT AND INEXHAUSTIBLE”

‘The Lord Jesus’ said: “I came that they might have Life”. (John 10:10)

‘The Apostle Paul’ said: “That Life which I now live in the flesh, I live in Faith, the Faith which is in the Son of God”. (Gal.2:20)

“It is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me”. (Gal.2:20)

We put ‘the emphasis’ upon the word ‘lives’ - “Christ lives in me”.

And so we are occupied with ‘Christ living in us’ as ‘the Life’; and we are seeking to understand ‘the meaning’ and ‘nature’ of that ‘Life’.  

For that ‘purpose’ we are looking into ‘the seven Signs’ which ‘the Apostle John’ chose.  

He called them ‘Signs’, because they were ‘works with a meaning’, and it is ‘the meaning’ which is ‘the important thing’.  

I trust that we are seeing that these things have a ‘deeper meaning’ than we had thought. 

We can take these ‘Miracles’ of ‘the Lord Jesus’ and just conclude that ‘He’ worked ‘Miracles’, or we can go further and say that ‘He’ still does work ‘Miracles’, and then we can take these different ‘Miracles’ and say: “this is what ‘the Lord Jesus’ can do”. 

Well, that is all quite ‘true’, but there is very much more in it than that - there is a ‘whole Life Education’ in every one of these ‘Signs’.  

Each of them contains a ‘secret’ for ‘the whole life’.  

We have already considered ‘three’ of these ‘Signs’ in ‘the Gospel by John’, and perhaps you have noticed ‘the progressive nature’ of ‘the Signs’.  

1.) “The turning of water into wine at Galilee” set forth ‘the  different nature of this Life’.  

‘The Wine’ that ‘Jesus’ produced was altogether ‘different’ from and ‘better’ than ‘the other wine’, and ‘the Life’ which comes ‘in Christ’ is of a different ‘quality’ altogether.  

2.) Then we went on to “the healing of the Nobleman’s son”, and we saw that this ‘Life’ which comes from ‘the Lord Jesus’ is ‘the Eternal Life’, over which ‘time’ and ‘distance’ have no ‘power’.  

‘He’ spoke in ‘one place’ and ‘many miles’ away, at that ‘very moment’, something happend.  

‘Times’ and ‘miles’ were set aside.  

It was ‘timeless Life’, and that is ‘the nature of this Life’.  

Notice: that is not only a ‘Statement of Truth’.  

It ought to be ‘very comforting’ to us.  

You see, we get ‘old’ - our bodies and minds get ‘old’, but ‘the Life of Christ in us’ never gets ‘old’.  

Listen, this ‘Life’ has a ‘wonderful Power’ of overcoming ‘time’! 

3.) Then we went on to “the healing of the lame man at the pool of Bethesda”, and we saw ‘the Power’ of this ‘Life of glorious Liberty’.  

I think ‘Paul’s word’ describes that ’man’s experience’ perfectly: “I have been crucified with Christ: and yet I live: and yet no longer I, but Christ lives in me”. (Gal.2:20) 

That just fits into ‘the man at Bethesda’ - there is a 
‘great Power of Liberation’ in this ‘Life’. 

There is just a further word to say before we come to ‘the next Sign’.  

It is only a ‘technical word’, yet it must be noticed.  

It is important to remember that in ‘John’s Gospel’ we do not have an ‘ordered arrangement’ of ‘the works of the Lord Jesus’, nor of ‘His teaching’.  

There are many things in ‘the other three Gospels’ which are not mentioned by ‘John’, both as to ‘His teaching’ and ‘His works’, and as to ‘the places’ where ‘He’ went. 

Therefore, a ‘great deal of time’ has to be fitted in between ‘the things’ which ‘John’ does record.  

As we read this ‘Gospel’, it looks as though things follow closely, the one upon the other, but that is not ‘true’.  

Take, for instance, ‘the beginning of Chapter 5’ and ‘the beginning of Chapter 6’: “After these things’ there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem”. 
(verse 1) 

And: “Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand”. (verse 4) 

These were ‘two different feasts’, and very likely ‘both’ where ‘the feasts of Passover’.  

If that were so, then there would be a whole ‘year’ between, and a lot of things would have happened in that ‘year’ which ‘John’ does not mention.  

We just have to remember that when we are studying this ‘Gospel’.  

Well, having prepared the way, we can come to ‘the fourth of the Signs’ chosen by ‘John’. 

Reading: ‘John 6:1-19’ (turn to and keep open, please.) 

(We notice that ‘Philip’ had said: “That every one may take  a little” (verse 7) - and the end was that they all had as much as they wanted! - (verse 11) 

To arrive at ‘the meaning’ of this ‘Sign’ it is necessary for us to know ‘the time’ and ‘the setting’ of it. 

At this point ‘the Lord Jesus’ had reached ‘the highest peak’ of ‘His popularity’.  

You notice that ‘verse 15’ says: “Jesus therefore perceiving that they were about to come and take Him by force, to make Him king”.  

As far as ‘the multitude’ was concerned, ‘He’ had reached a point of ‘very great popularity’. 

Next, ‘He’ had entered upon ‘the second phase’ of ‘His ministry’, which was a ‘time of controversy’, with increasing ‘antagonism’ so far as ‘the rulers’ were concerned.  

‘Popularity’ with ‘the people’: ‘Unpopularity’ with ‘the rulers’.

And immediately after this ‘Sign’ that ‘antagonism’ sprang into ‘life’ and ‘He’ found ‘Himself’ in an atmosphere of ‘positive controversy’.  

This had ‘two causes’: - one was ‘the claims’ which ‘He’ made for ‘Himself’, for they would not accept ‘His testimony’ concerning ‘Himself’, and the other was this ‘very popularity’.  

Later it is said that “For envy the chief priests had delivered Him up”. (Mark 15:10) 

It was ‘the jealousy’ of ‘the rulers’ which provoked them to this ‘antagonism’. 

The ‘third thing’ to notice is this: it is quite evident from this ‘story’ that there was a ‘large group’ of those who went by ‘the name of disciples’.  

Look at ‘verse 60’ in this ‘Chapter’: “Many therefore of His disciples, when they heard this, said, this is a hard saying; who can hear it?” 

And  verse 66’: “Upon this many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.”  

So it is evident that there was a ‘large group of people’ who went by ‘the name of disciples’.  

And so we find ourselves in the presence of ‘three groups’ of ‘people’.  

Firstly, there were ‘the twelve disciples’,- then there was this ‘much larger group of disciples’ called ‘many’, - and then there was ‘the great multitude of people’.  

That is ‘the setting’ of this ‘Sign’, and we have to take all that into account in order to understand ‘the meaning’ of it.  

It is quite clear that it was intended to do ‘three things’.  

‘First of all’, it was intended to be a ‘test of everybody’. 

It was not just something ‘done’, but something ‘projected’ to ‘test everybody’.  

‘Everybody’ was going to be challenged by this, and there had to be ‘some kind of reaction’ to it.  

‘The Lord Jesus’ meant it to be that.  

In ‘the second place’, it was intended to sift out all these ‘people’.  

We notice that when ‘the Lord Jesus’ perceived that they would come and take ‘Him’ by force to be ‘king’, ‘He’ “withdrew again into the mountain Himself alone”. 

You see, ‘He’ is not taking all this at its ‘face value’, ‘He’ has seen through it all.  

Presently ‘He’ will say: “You seek Me, not because you saw Signs, but because you ate of the loaves”. (verse 26) 

Notice: this ‘whole crowd’, all these ‘people’, have to be ‘sifted out’.  

‘The third thing’ is that it was intended to confirm those who really did mean ‘business’.  

We shall take this up when we continue ‘next Sunday’, Lord willing!  

In our search to better understand ‘the full meaning’ of ‘the Divine Life’ which is ours ‘in Christ’, we are currently occupied with “the All-sufficient and Inexhaustible Divine Life”.

I trust that you are spending much time in ‘the Gospel of John’, presently in ‘Chapter 6’, in which we have found ‘three groups’ of ‘people’.

First, ‘the twelve disciples’; - then ‘the much larger group of disciples’ called ‘many’; - and then ‘the great multitude of people’.

That is ‘the setting’ of this ‘Sign’ which we have to take into account in order to understand ‘the meaning’ of it.  

It was intended to do ‘three things’, ‘two’ of which we considered ‘last week.’

1.)It was intended to be a ‘test of everybody’. 

‘Everybody’ was going to be challenged by this, and there had to be ‘some kind of reaction’ to it.

2.) It was intended to ‘sift out’ all ‘the people’. 

This ‘whole crowd’, all ‘the people’, had to be ‘sifted out’.

Now we continue and come to ‘the third thing’, which is that it was intended to confirm those who really did mean ‘business’.

Like ‘Gideon’s great army’ of ‘twenty-two thousand’, ‘He’ was bringing it down to a very small ‘company of people’ who really did mean ‘business’.  

Now notice: ‘the means’ that ‘He’ employed for this ‘three-fold purpose’ was ‘Life’ in ‘the form of bread’.   

‘The mind’ of ‘the Lord Jesus’ ran far ahead of ‘His acts’ and beyond what ‘He’ did to what ‘He’ meant by what ‘He’ did.  

Of course, there is ‘abundant evidence’ that that was ‘true’: we have already seen it in this ‘story’ - “From where are we to buy bread, that these may eat? and this He said to test him: for He Himself knew what He would do”. (verses 5-6)

Already ‘He’ had thought this ‘whole thing’ out: it had a ‘meaning’ that was more than ‘the act’, and by ‘the act’ ‘He’ was moving toward ‘the meaning’.  

Now let me ask, what was ‘the test’ by which they were going to be ‘sifted out’? 

We have ‘the answer’ in this ‘Chapter’.  

‘The Lord Jesus’ only wants those as ‘His disciples’ to whom ‘He’ is as necessary as their ‘daily bread’. 

If it should come to ‘the choice’ between ‘daily bread’ and ‘the Lord Jesus’, ‘He’ wants ‘the people’ who choose ‘the Lord Jesus’.  

That is why ‘He’ said: “I am the bread of Life”. 
(verse 48)  

You see, this is a matter of ‘living’ or ‘dying’: - ‘whether you have ‘Me’ is a matter of ‘Life’ or ‘death’.’

‘The people’ that ‘I’ want for ‘disciples’ are those who know  that their only ‘Life’ is to have ‘Me’.

You see, ‘He’ was ‘sifting out’.    

Notice this: “Except you eat of the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have not life in yourselves”.   (verse 53 )...“Many therefore of His disciples, when they heard this, said, this is a hard saying; who can hear it?” (verse 60)...“Upon this many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him”. (verse 66) 

This is ‘the ultimate issue’, and that is exactly why ‘the Lord Jesus’ performed this ‘Sign’.  

‘He’ tested ‘the multitude’.   

‘He’ said: “Work not for the meat which perishes, but for the meat which abides unto Eternal Life”. (verse 27)

To ‘the professing disciples’ ‘He’ said: “Except you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have not life in yourself”. (verse 53) 

Presently that ‘great multitude’ which would have taken ‘Him’ by force and make ‘Him’ king, will cry: “Crucify Him!” 

Let me ask, where was ‘the voice of the multitude’ when ‘the Lord Jesus’ was on ‘trial’? 

It was quite ‘silent’.  

No, they had not come to see that ‘He’ was necessary, absolutely necessary to their ‘Life’.  

So ‘He’ sifted out ‘the many disciples’, drawing a broad line between ‘professing disciples’ and ‘real disciples’. 

And when they answered ‘Him’: “to whom shall we go? You have the Words of Eternal Life”, (verse 68) - ‘He’ had gotten where ‘He’ wanted to get with this ‘Sign’.  

We notice that there were ‘three things’ here. 

‘One’ was that it was a matter of their ‘perception’ as to Who ‘He’ really was.  

Did they really see that ‘He’ was “the bread of God come down from heaven?” 

It was because ‘the majority’ did not see that that they went away. 

How important it is for ‘our very Life’ that we should have an ‘inward Revelation’ of ‘the Lord Jesus Christ’! 

Listen, that was ‘the very thing’ that kept ‘the Apostle Paul’  going right to ‘the very end’.  

What a ‘lot of trouble’ he went through! 

Think of all ‘his sufferings’, all ‘his persecutions’ and all that he had to meet of ‘opposition’! 

Think of him at ‘the end of his life’ saying: “All that are in Asia turned away from me”. (2.Tim.1:15)

What was it that kept that ‘man’ in ‘victory’ right to ‘the end’? 

‘The answer’ is in ‘his own words’: “It was the good pleasure of God...to reveal His Son in me”. (Gal.1:15,16) 

It was ‘the inward Revelation’ of ‘Jesus Christ’ that became ‘the Life’ of that ‘man’. 

I think we can say that that was true of ‘Peter’ and of ‘John’, and of ‘many others’.  

And that is true of some of us here today.  

We have seen Who ‘Jesus’ is by ‘Revelation’ of ‘the Holy Spirit’, in us, within us.  

‘He’ is ‘the very bread of God’ come down from heaven and is as necessary to ‘our inward man’ as ‘natural food’ is to ‘our outer man’.  

Of course, that is so often proved by ‘our choices’.  

If, on the one hand, there is an opportunity for some ‘Spiritual Food’, and, on the other hand, there is an opportunity or invitation for some ‘natural enjoyment’, ‘natural consideration’, ‘the true disciple’ always says: ‘I am for ‘the Spiritual Food’! - that is more important to me than all ‘natural pleasures’, all ‘earthly considerations’.’  

This is ‘the kind of disciple’ that ‘Jesus’ must have: those to whom ‘He’ is ‘the only Life’.

That is gathered into this ‘Word’ which ‘He’ used: “Except”... ‘Except you eat the flesh of the Son of Man’...’Except you drink His blood you have not Life’. (verse 53) 

Listen, there are no ‘alternatives’ to this.  

There is nothing that you can put into ‘the place’ of this.  

It is this, or nothing - or it is this or ‘spiritual death’.  

Yes, ‘He’ wants ‘disciples’ to whom ‘He’ is ‘the only Life’, not just ‘Life’ and ‘something else’. 

There are ‘whole multitudes of disciples’ who want ‘Christ’ and ‘something else’, to whom ‘Christ’ is not ‘all-sufficient’, ‘the only Life’, and ‘the Lord’ is going to ‘sift out’ this ‘large body’ who carry ‘the name of disciples’.  

‘He’ has always done it.  

‘He’ did it in ‘New Testament times’.  

‘The mighty persecutions’ which came upon ‘the early Church’ were ‘His means’ of ‘sifting out’, and through ‘the Ages’ ‘He’ has done this thing by ‘many means’.  

‘He’ is doing it in ‘the world’ today.  

Oh, what a ‘tremendous sifting’ is going on amongst ‘Christians’! 

‘The great multitudes’ who may call themselves by ‘the name of Christ’s disciples’ are going to be ‘found out’.  

We want to be quite clear and certain on this ‘point’. 

If ‘Christ’ is not ‘our only Life’ we are going out, for sooner  or later we should not be able to stand up to ‘the test’.  

But we come to a ‘happier note’ to finish with, and that is ‘the wonder’ of this ‘Sign’.  

‘He’ began with everything very small.  

In ‘our translation’ it says: “There is a lad here”, but in ‘the Greek’ it is: “There is a little child here”.  

‘The probability’ is that this ‘lad’ had been sent out by ‘his mother’ with a ‘basket of loaves and fishes’ to sell for her support, and that ‘the multitude’ away from home presented to him a ‘good opportunity for business’.  

So he got as near to ‘the front’ as possible, offering his wares, and at the same time, like all boys, full of curiosity as to what was happening.  

Of course, he got a ‘big surprise’!  

Now ‘the loaves’ were probably just little round pieces of baked dough, and only a few of them.  

And ‘the fishes’ were very small.  

And ‘the Lord Jesus’ took that into ‘His hands’, and after ‘He’ had prayed ‘He’ began to give to ‘the disciples’.  

‘He’ gave, and gave and gave and still ‘He’ went on giving until ‘every one’ of ‘the five thousand people’ had had all that they could eat and were filled.  

And then there was a lot left over afterward. 

Notice: How ‘inexhaustible’ is ‘the Life’ that ‘the Lord Jesus’ gives! 

There is no ‘end’ and no ‘limitation’ to it.  

Listen, this is not just something that we are saying.  

It is ‘very true’! 

Again and again we have been ‘the doubtful optimists’ like ‘Andrew’.  

We have faced a ‘situation’ and said: ‘Well, from where will we get ‘enough bread’ for this’? 

But ‘the Lord’ has met ‘the need’ and there has always been something over.   

We need never, never come to an end when we have this ‘Life’, for it is an ‘inexhaustible Life’.  

There is always something more.  

We may be filled today, but there is more for tomorrow.  

Now that is very ‘practical’.  

If you go back to ‘your own life’, you know that every day will make ‘demands’ upon you, and sometimes ‘the demands’ may seem too big for you, and you may say: ‘I wonder how I am going to get through! - I wonder how I am going to meet this ‘situation’!’ 

Remember, you have ‘the Lord of Life’ in you, and ‘He’ is inexhaustible in ‘His Life’.  

You may have ‘fullness’ for ‘today’ and then for ‘tomorrow’ when it comes, and right to ‘the end’.  

I am asking that at the end ‘the Lord Jesus’ will be ‘glorified’ in this way - that I have more than when I started.

That is ‘the kind of Life’ that has come to us in ‘the Person of Jesus Christ’.  

May we learn to ‘live’ by ‘Him’! - 

And when I say ‘live’, I do not mean just ‘exist’. -  

I mean live, in a way that ‘naturally’ we could never ‘live’.