"Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life."
John 6:68
Part 3
Yesterday:
The disciples learned that Jesus is not only their Provider but in the storm that night on the Sea of Galilee, they discovered that He is also their Protector. He cares for His child deeply.
Today:
The crowd has been following Jesus for days. The day before, after He fed them, they were going to forcibly make Jesus their King. He left them with the disciples and went alone into the mountain. Jesus met up with His disciples later in the Sea of Galilee in a storm during the night, and He rescued them. It is now the following day.
As the people began to find Jesus in this new location, they gathered and heard His “Bread of Life” sermon. Jesus began His teaching that day by answering their questions (John 6:22-40).
“Rabbi, when did you come here?” (v. 25). Jesus answers their first question (John 6:22-27).
They had seen the disciples get into a boat and leave without Jesus. The next morning, they found Him in Capernaum, with them. They did not know how He got there. He doesn’t waste any time on that trivial point. Instead of telling them how He got there, He told them why they were following Him.
“Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled” (John 6:26b).
Their bellies were the selfish reason for going after Jesus. They saw Him as their meal ticket. He can give them His “wonder bread”[1] whenever they get hungry! Jesus goes on to say,
“Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you…” (John 6:27a).
Don’t go after momentary bread that is only temporary and will not last! Go after the eternal, what you need for eternal life! There is only one person who can give eternal life. It cannot be earned.
The Father put His seal of approval on Jesus His Son (John 6:27b). He is the one they should follow after, not quick bread!
“What do we need to do to work God’s works?” (v. 28). Jesus answered their second question (John 6:28-29).
Jesus told them of only one “work” they could do that will please the Father.
“This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent” (John 6:29).
They were looking for something to do, but Jesus said all they could do is “believe.”
“They probably were thinking of works of the law, tithes, sacrifices,… [etc.]. Christ tells them of one work, one moral act, from which all the rest derive their value —belief in Him whom God has sent.”[2]
This is the reason that no one can “work” their way to heaven. The only “work” a lost soul can do is to “believe” in the person and work of the Savior for their sin, as the Holy Spirit enables him/her. It is all about His plan and His Work for us; it’s not our ability to “work” to be saved.
“What sign showest thou then, that we might see and believe thee? What dost thou work? (v. 30). Jesus answered their third and fourth questions (John 6:30-33).
“Jesus, what are YOU going to do so that we can believe?!” “The Jews require a sign” (1 Corinthians 1:22).
The “sign” they were phishing for is for Jesus to continue delivering their bread when they wanted it. After all, did not Moses give bread from heaven for our great-great-grandparents? Jesus was too wise to be controlled by their question. He corrected their error.
“Moses gave you not that bread from heaven” (John 6:32b).
The Father gave them that bread, just as He is now giving you “the true bread from heaven” (John 6:32c). It is this life-giving Bread that the world needs! Here is Jesus’ work, providing salvation.
“For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world” (John 6:33).
“Lord, evermore give us this bread!” (v. 34). Jesus answered their request for bread (John 6:34-40).
“Always keep giving us this bread!” Then Jesus gave them these remarkable words, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35a). It is not the bread that feeds the body, He is the Bread that feeds the soul! In fact,
“…he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst” (John 6:35b).
Their trouble is, they have seen Him and heard Him, and yet they do not believe (John 6:36).
Jesus gives at least five reasons that they should trust only Him for salvation:
He will take away their spiritual hunger and thirst (v. 35).
He “receives” everyone that the Father gives to Him. He will never cast them away (v. 37).
He always obeys His Father. His will meshes perfectly with the Father’s will (vv. 37-38).
He will keep safe all that the Father gives Him, and He will raise them up again (v. 39).
He gives all “who looks on the Son,” and “believe in Him,” “everlasting life” (v. 40).
With their questions answered, it was time for Jesus to continue teaching them. He has shown His disciples that He is their Provider, Protector, and now Jesus will layout why He is their only Savior.
What does the crowd need to hear from Him? And how will they respond to what He says? Come back tomorrow, and let’s see what the Word has for us.
Quote: Jesus Christ said, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6:51).
[1] Enduring Word Commentary, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] Cambridge Bible, the electronic version in eSword.