The invitation to spiritual life has been offered, explained, and now rejected. The multitude misunderstood; the religious authorities were actively hostile. But the worst result was desertion by many who were already attached to Jesus at some level. For the first time, He distinguishes between superficial believers and true followers…a distinction still evident.

The day before, the crowds had been ready to proclaim Jesus as political Messiah, a King out from among them. Now, they turn the familiar facts of His home against Him. In their fickleness and murmuring, John sees the mark of their forefathers grumbling in the wilderness against Moses. Determined unbelief is satisfied with any objection.

Despite eating until they were full the day before, the crowd wakes up hungry the next morning and seeks out Jesus to provide another meal. This search produces not a meal, but a pointed explanation by Jesus of everything they missed in the earlier “sign.” With great patience, Jesus offers them one more chance to consider the true Bread of Life.

Both publicly among the crowds and privately with the disciples, Jesus’ presence made everything better. Whatever the challenge, He focuses our attention, teaches us to trust, demonstrates practical compassion, and offers peace in especially stressful moments. His instruction to us to abide (rest) in Him is, really, the sweetest invitation of life.

A testimonial to oneself is no testimonial at all. No one can witness his own signature. So Jesus now extends His defense by summoning witnesses to testify that He is equal to God and the promised Messiah—witnesses His Jewish critics should have accepted as trustworthy. Even today, the rejection of Jesus is not based on lack of “proof,” but rejection of truth.

Just like our physical body, the church body must be fully functioning to work properly and to avoid serious consequences. Paul has spent the first three chapters of Ephesians setting forth the honors, blessings, and privileges of being a child of God. In Chapter 4, Paul now describes the responsibilities of such a title. To be a child of God is to recognize your place in the Body of Christ, His Church, and to desire unity in the body to help it function properly and, more importantly, bring forth glory to God.

Listen in as Pastor Philip Jackson walks us through what the Bible says to parents and those affected by friends and family members who have walked away from the faith.

The heart of Christianity is the affirmation that Jesus is both divine and human, both Son of God and Son of Man. In the argument that ensues in John 5, Jesus makes exactly such claims. The Pharisees accurately understand and consider these claims to be blasphemy. Jesus offers a powerful defense, impossible to refute. Nevertheless, He had to die…

Book V opens with a series of poems that affirms that God hears the cries of His people and will respond to their needs by establishing a Kingdom of justice. The King will defeat all enemies. The days of evil are numbered already. This hope is expressed in the Hallel songs (Pss. 113-118) and the Songs of Ascent (Pss. 120-136). Between these collections is Psalm 119, a Hebrew alphabet mnemonic song offering tribute to God’s word to His people.

(Book V conclusion—Psalm 150:6)

Book II opens with two poems united in the hope of God’s close presence, a return to the atmosphere of the Temple. This is the language of anticipation for the messianic Kingdom. This division closes with a description of the future reign of the messianic King over the entire world. Echoes can be found of the prophets—Isaiah 11, 45, 60; Zechariah 9. This is the fulfillment of the promise so long ago made to Abraham—Genesis 12:3, 22:17-18.

(Book II conclusion—Psalm 72:18-19. Book III conclusion—Psalm 89:52. Book IV conclusion—Psalm 106:48.)