John 6:26-40
Last week we looked at the 5th sign in John’s Gospel…the miracle of Jesus walking on the water…I shared with you the importance of Jesus’ walk on the water…it was not just a matter of defying the laws of physics…it’s the more important aspect of Jesus identifying Himself as the ‘I AM.’
That statement ‘I AM’ defines who Jesus is…He is divine…He is God.
Continuing on in the 6th chapter, John records that the next day the people who remained on the side of the sea where Jesus had fed them the previous day thought He was still there.
There had been only one boat…they all saw the disciples enter the boat and push it out to sea…they also remember Jesus not being in the boat with them…His disciples had gone away alone on the only available boat.
The next morning the people who saw Jesus miraculously provide them food the day before looked for Him but soon realized He was not there so they got into a boat and went to Capernaum looking for Him.
Puzzled by how He got there…obviously not realizing He had walked out to the boat while it was at sea…so when they surprisingly found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” (John 6:22)
In His reply, Jesus ignores their question but proceeds to tell them why they came to seek him.
Jesus answered them, ” you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.” (John 6:26)
In other words, you didn’t come for the right reason…you came, not because you understand that I am the Messiah because the signs would have clearly pointed out that I was the Messiah…you came because you wanted another free meal.
Jesus already addressed what kind of people they were back in [John 2:24] – “He knew all men”.
People were believing in Jesus…a belief that He was someone special…many people today believe Jesus is special…BUT not a belief that He is the Messiah.
Not all belief is a belief that saves…that’s made clear by the fact that Jesus knows what’s going on in the heart of people and does not entrust himself to them.
The word we translate as ‘entrusting’ …[[.πίστις in the imperfect]]…means a faith which does not recognize Jesus as the Messiah, but only as a prophet…someone like the Messiah…but not the Messiah,
These people, like many today, feel that the most important thing in life is to enjoy life…to be healthy…to be economically sufficient…have fun…that’s what life is all about, they think…clearly this is the majority view of people all over the world today.
Once we had no delight in God…Christ was just a vague historical figure much like George Washington or Abraham Lincoln…we knew about him but it really didn’t affect our life in any way…in fact the Bible says because of our indifference…we were once the enemies of God [Rom. 5:10].
Here’s how John Piper describe this…what we enjoyed was food…friendships… investments…vacations…hobbies… travel…shopping…and sports on TV…but not God…He was an idea…maybe even a good idea but not someone to be sought after.
That’s still the philosophy of many people today — including many Christians…so Jesus goes on to say:
Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you [27];
Two kinds of food are under consideration here…that which perishes…and that which provides eternal life…the problem is keeping these separate and distinct and in proper focus, which is one of the great challenges confronting Christianity today.
The world pulls us towards those things which perish…already used John Piper’s description of what those are…they are appealing and take our focus off what should be our priority…the food which endures to eternal life.
Jesus then goes on to make an interesting statement…
for on Him the Father God has set His seal [6:27].
Here’s the importance in that statement…God the Father distinguished Jesus from all other men by putting His seal on Him…God put His personal seal on Jesus to be the human example and representation of God… God installed Jesus to this office to reconcile us to God and bring us to everlasting life.
Then Jesus takes that one step further…He seals us.
“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.” [Acts 2:1-4] …here’s how that happens
“When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” [Eph. 1:13].
So, just as God set His seal on Jesus…Jesus through the Holy Spirit puts His seal on us…the importance of that is it shows ownership…who we belong to…it shows that we are approved of God.
Here’s something else…the Holy Spirit is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance… it’s just like when we buy a car or a house…we make a deposit…we give a down payment…that is what God has done here…He has given a deposit to us…He has given us the Holy Spirit as a promise that what He has begun…He will finish.
The Holy Spirit will provide us with new bodies and an inheritance when we finally get to heaven…the sealing in the Holy Spirit promises and guarantees that this inheritance is ours and is waiting for us.
Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God? [6:27]
Americans tend to think of good works as individual acts…which provides for some ambiguity…allowing for several interpretations.
Does the ‘work of God’ mean something God desires that we accomplish…OR …is the ‘work of God’ something God accomplishes?
Their question is misguided…they’re focused on what they could…or should…or must do…to please God…these people were mistaken about God’s will for them, as are many today.
They didn’t realize that Jesus was talking to them about something other than physical bread…or doing something in their own strength to please God…not realizing that He was talking about something other than what they could see… so they ask Him ‘what must we do that we may work the works of God?’
How often do we, as preachers and as a congregation, forget that the gospel is the declaration of what God does…problem is…people see this as a religious question asking: What can I do to make God happy? …How can I please God by what I do?
This question is frequently asked by those who do realize that life is more than just the physical…that there is a spiritual dimension to life as well.
BUT is frequently asked in error because this question is usually asked by a person who has not yet learned to understand what God really wants…as a result…they usually answer their own question in one of two ways, ‘Everything,’ or ‘Nothing.’
Those who say I have ‘everything’ needed to do the works of God …are saying that God is lucky to have them on his side…they have all the resources…no help needed here…I got the money… the brains…the technical ability and the know-how to make God’s cause flourish…and they’re ready to show the world what they can do for God.
Then there are those who say you don’t need to do ‘nothing’ for God…these people have a spectator spirit…stand back and let God do it all because they believe there’s nothing they can do…these are the people who say, ‘God will do it…don’t need my help’ …they even mis-quote Jesus’ words to validate that… ‘Without me you can do nothing,’ (John 15:5) so I’ll just do nothing until He tells me to.
They say, ‘We don’t have to do anything. Just wait and watch…sit quietly until the Spirit moves…don’t get involved…don’t initiate anything…don’t try to better the problem or condition…don’t do anything…just wait…God will work it all out.’
Jesus indicates that both of these answers are wrong…they are extremes…they are both of the flesh…He says there is something we can do:
Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” (John 6:27-29)
How simple is that…that means FIRST…to recognize that He is present in your life…that He died and rose again and ascended into heaven…and SECONDLY that He sent His Spirit into the world in order to make Himself available to us… believing in Jesus is more than merely a way to get into heaven when you die. So they said to him,
What then do you do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do you perform? (John 6:30)
Again…their question is misguided…what signs do you do that we may see and believe…really…after the miracle of feeding the five thousand you have to ask…what work do you perform?
They’re not satisfied with the sign of the loaves and the fishes…they don’t believe that’s a sign that Jesus is the Messiah, so they’re asking for another sign.
So they begin to talk about what Moses did…talking about what Moses did in the wilderness for forty years…now that’s a sign.
He (Moses) gave them bread from heaven to eat…what then do you do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do you perform? (John 6:30)
Even their answer is misguided…so Jesus says you’re wrong again in two ways FIRST…let me explain to you who it really was that gave the manna from heaven:
It is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven (John 6:32).
SECONDLY… and the real meaning on why it was given…what came in the wilderness was not the true bread…it was only a symbol of it…a shadow of the real thing…the real bread that came down from heaven:
it is My father… who gives you the true bread out of heaven. (John 6:32).
and it’s Me! …I came down from heaven sent from the Father…giving life meaning …fulfillment…and satisfaction…giving life to the world.
They were comparing Jesus’ miracle to the miracle of God giving manna in the wilderness…but Jesus contrasts Himself with that manna pointing out that the true bread of heaven isn’t something they can just pick up off the ground and eat…it’s nothing less than Himself.
He is the bread of heaven that came down to give life, and it is only from this bread that men can obtain the satisfaction we desire…which is eternal life.
Last week I shared with you the importance of knowing God’s personal name… it is I AM…and the importance of knowing what that means in Hebrew…Jesus here defines who He is by once again using that name.
I AM the bread of life (6:35)
Jesus uses many different descriptions when identifying Himself…each one of them includes His true name ‘I AM’ …Jesus or Yeshua in Hebrew…is His earthly name …the name I AM is His Divine name…meaning He is the only means of salvation.
Reading verses 35 through 40…this whole exchange with these people is nothing more than one big invitation… Jesus is giving them the opportunity to accept Him and receive Him as Lord and Saviour.
Jesus enters into this dialog to explain the miracle of feeding the 5,000…being able to feed them physically for one evening is proof that He is able and willing to feed their souls forever.
He attempts to explain to the multitude and give them understanding by speaking in blazing clarity:
I AM the bread of life; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger and Whoever believes in Me shall never thirst. (6:35)
This was the first of seven titles that Christ used about Himself that start with the sentence, “I AM..” …Here’s the salient verse in this whole dialogue;
You have seen Me, and yet do not believe (6:36)
They still do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah…the person they have been waiting for…for generations, is standing right in front of them.
It’s possible to see Jesus…hear His teaching and still see nothing of value or worth …people have been doing it for hundreds of years.
We all know people who go to Christmas and Easter—Resurrection Sunday service …but still see Christianity as having little value or worth.
Here’s the difficulty with Christianity… [v.35] it’s an abstract reality that we cannot grab ahold of…let me explain…the difficulty with Christianity is with such questions as: is there a God, because I’ve never seen Him…can He be known, because I’ve never met Him.
So, in what ways has He made himself known…what is His nature…His character?
In order for the Scriptures to take hold in people they need to hear something that is relative…talk to me about something that’s functional and useable…provide me something that’s challenging…give me some information that has some relevance to it…see on the surface Jesus’ next statement: ‘he who comes to Me will not hunger …he who believes in Me will never thirst’ …on the surface that makes no sense.
BUT…with this statement Jesus announces the most earth-shattering truth to these people…it is relevant…but they misunderstood it because of their unbelief…He did not say he HAD the bread of life but He WAS the Bread of Life.
Said earlier… [v 35–40] this whole conversation is an invitation…it’s an offer extended by God through Christ…failure to embrace this offer is the example of sheer foolishness…to go through life and be near to God’s people…having a church on every street corner…seeing all the social programs that are a result of Christianity…and yet miss seeing who He is…is a horrific tragedy.
You do not want to be part of [v.36] …to have seen Him and yet do not believe…
because everyone has seen Him…people are looking for signs…but God said I have made Myself more than evident.
HOW… since the creation of the world His invisible attributes…His eternal power…and divine nature have been clearly seen…so there is no excuse [Rom 1:20].
You do not want to be part of [v.36] you want to be found in [v.35] …it’s the offer …he who comes to Me…he who believes in Me…will never hunger or thirst… then…[v39] is the invitation:
And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those He has given Me,
This statement is referring to all those who respond to the offer of salvation…here’s what’s important to know: God may will a thing to happen…without it happening sound confusing…explanation.
God willed that Judas should continue in the faith…and have a resurrection unto eternal life like the rest of the disciples…but Judas sinned and perished…it’s evident that God willed that Judas might be saved…but it didn’t happen.
It’s God’s desire that all would be saved…here’s where the confusion comes in… it’s not going to happen…the word ‘desire’ in the Greek is the key in that statement.
The words God’s desire must be looked at very carefully…it’s God’s desire that all should be saved…but…if that were His sovereign will all would be saved… everyone would accept Jesus as their Savior.
It is through the sacrifice and the death of Jesus that all are rendered capable of salvation…that’s God’s will that…that would happen…BUT as in the case of Judas it was Judas’s decision to do otherwise
Redemption is universal…but conditional —all may be saved…but…all will not be saved because all will not conform to God’s appointed condition…this whole message comes down to this:
[v.35] is the OFFER…he who comes to Me…he who believes in Me…will never hunger or thirst.
[v39] is the INVITATION…this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those He has given Me.
[40] is the PROMISE. That everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life.
These words indicate that only those who place their faith in Christ will be saved.
This does not mean that they are sinless, but it does mean that they sin less…they mourn over their sin…they fight against it…when they do sin they turn from it and turn back to following Christ as Lord.
Here’s what’s especially uplifting about [v40] …the previous verses are the offer… and the invitation…but in in this verse is both the promise and the GUARANTEE of what Jesus will do…I Myself will raise him up on the last day.
Those who are truly saved in Christ can never lose their salvation…these verses are Christ’s unconditional…offer / invitation / promise / and guarantee of eternal security to anyone who comes to [Him]…but God’s eternal purpose depends on how sinners choose to respond.