John 6:22-40 | The Bread of Life pt.1
22 On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:22-40)
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Pre-story:
24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
These people are looking for Jesus, but they’re really seeking something else. I think we would do well to ask this question of ourselves, “Am I seeking other than Jesus?” It would be a good time to take a personal inventory of our hearts and really try too discover what it is that we are truly seeking. When Jesus makes the statement, “I Am the Bread of Life”, He’s speaking to three groups of people. Today, let’s be real with ourselves and with God. Let’s ask ourselves if we fit into any of these three groups of people.
The first group Jesus was talking to is the welfare seekers.
1. The welfare seekers.
25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. (John 6:25-26)
As a pastor I’ve seen this numerous times – people looking to fill their own personal appetites. Several years ago, Noah and I took some time to help a husband and wife who were homeless travelers. They said they were christians and would be more than willing to work for food and lodging. I knew of a produce farm that needed help and would pay them to weed strawberries and even pay for their lodging at the local hotel. At first, the couple gladly agreed, but after taking them out to the farm they decided they didn’t want to do any work and asked to be taken back to town. We took them back and dropped them off where they requested. Before letting them go, I had Noah put together a sack containing bananas, apples, granola bars and Gatorade. Noah handed the bag to them and after looking inside they handed it back and said, “We can eat this stuff; we’re junk food junkies”. They went on to explain that they only eat gas station food like chips, soda and packaged pastries.
Lot’s of Americans have an entitlement mentality. We feel like we’re entitled to something for nothing. We develop expectations that our wants and needs should be met without putting any skin in the game. We seek food that perishes.
27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” (John 6:27)
There’s danger in seeking to fill your own personal appetite. What is your personal appetite? For a lot of years I used tobacco. That was my “junk food” that never really satisfied. For some, it’s pornography, for others it’s new clothing or new technology. You just have to have the latest device. It never truly satisfies and it all perishes!
Do you find yourself in the role of the welfare seeker? Are you seeking something physical that will bring you satisfaction? Then, Jesus is speaking to you.
Secondly, Jesus is speaking to the rule seekers.
2. The rule seekers.
28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” (John 6:28)
What are the rules? People are always looking for a formula, a strategy to discover and meet God’s “requirements”.
Story: James and his questions about rules…
Are you seeking Jesus or a formula? Are you seeking the Bread of Life or a set of rules in hopes of attaining worthiness? The bible teaches that if I break one law, or fall short in one way, I am guilty of breaking all the laws (James 2:10). The more rules you make, the more rules you break. The people wanted to know what the rules were and asked, “What are the works God requires.” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” (John 6:29) Trust him! Believe him; put your hope in him; discover a relationship with him. It’s not about rules, it’s about trust in Jesus.
Jesus spoke to the welfare seekers, the rule seekers and the lastly he spoke to the experience seekers.
3. The experience seekers.
30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” (John 6:30-31)
They were seeking a sign. They were looking for the next spiritual experience. Didn’t Jesus just feed these people with five loaves and two fish? He had just performed a miracle the day before and the “wow factor” of that miracle has already worn off. We aren’t that much different. We’ll search and search for the next experience, the next sign, the next “God moment” to confirm or validate our faith.
What experiences are you seeking?
- The next religious experience
- The next “God moment”
- The next great Christian Book
- The next 40 Days of something
- The next touching sermon
- The next big conference
32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” (John 6:32-34)
Is Jesus enough? Have you tasted the Bread of Life? Or, are you continually unsatisfied, seeking your own welfare? Maybe you’re attempting a religious structure; a set of rules or expectations that you think, somehow, will bring that contentment, that satisfaction, that approval that you’re seeking. You will come up short every time. Are you satisfied with Christ or are you seeking the next religious experience? Maybe you feel like you just need some sort of sign to validate your faith, to confirm your testimony. If Jesus is enough then he is our testimony. We don’t need experiences or signs, we only need Jesus. Is Jesus enough?
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:35-40)
Look to the Son and believe. Look the Jesus and Jesus alone and receive eternal life. Believe in Jesus and be forever satisfied with the his bread, because only he satisfies.
