‘Christianity is not primarily about lifestyle change; it is about knowing God.” Michael Reeves
Just looking for bread?
John 6:26-27
[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.”
Anyone here like a good detective show? A good mystery to solve in a movie?
Remember the tv show Columbo? Peter Falk starred as a seemingly bumbling detective, looked like he slept in his trench coat and never combed his hair, but he was brilliant and picked up on things you never noticed during the episode and by the end he had solved the case typically by having everyone together in some scene at the end and they all thought he was nutty? Anyway, he always solved it and the smug perpetrator was hauled away?
Or maybe you were a Scooby Doo fan and the Gang solved the mystery by the end with clues mostly unnoticed to everyone but Velma? Same kinda deal right?
Or maybe you’re a little more cultured and Sherlock Holmes was your guy and he even noticed a type of accent and what country the person came from or where a particular type of pottery was from and even knew the century? I mean he is so brilliant it borders on super hero type of abilities.
Well…….the Book of John is not trying to do that. There is no mystery to what John is saying about Jesus. He’s laying it all out from beginning to end and clearly saying it often and to everyone. Jesus is the Messiah, He’s God in the flesh and He’s come to save the world. All you have to do is believe.
Maybe it’s that we’ve watched too many detective shows? Maybe we’re looking for something when it’s just right there in front of our faces? Sometimes we might try to be detectives too much. Maybe we are missing the forest for the trees like I preached on a few weeks ago when we’re seeking God’s Will.
Occams Razor is a scientific term and in short means - if you have a bunch of options to solve a problem, usually it’s the most simple straightforward solution that’s correct.
Isn’t that the case in life many times? Keep it simple?
Here in John, the strictest Jews are looking for gnats in the law that Jesus might break by healing someone on the Sabbath and the general populace is looking for a free meal or a circus trick. And even those who are trying to be watchful for Messiah have something in mind that’s different than how God acts so they are overlooking Jesus or unimpressed that he hasn’t yet raised an army to overthrow Rome.
Again….forest for the trees.
Let’s keep that in mind as we study the word.
Summarize John thus far
(Walk through John 1 - 5)
One word can help you with the summary of John “believe”
———————
John 6:1-40
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
[1] After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. [2] And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. [3] Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. [4] Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. [5] Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” [6] He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. [7] Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” [8] One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, [9] “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” [10] Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. [11] Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. [12] And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” [13] So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. [14] When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”
[15] Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
Jesus Walks on Water
[16] When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, [17] got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. [18] The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. [19] When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. [20] But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” [21] Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
I Am the Bread of Life
[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.”
—————-
So we can keep looking for signs, we can pray a “secret prayer” from a book that guarantees an answer, we can listen to a special preacher or read the newest greatest book written to open your eyes to the spiritual.
…….or we can look for the simple right in front of our eyes, the plain, almost too good to be true answer.
[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.”
Believe
It can’t be that simple Pastor.
If you don’t know the Lord today maybe you’re thinking one of two things.
- I’m a good person. When I die I’m going to heaven.
- I’m an awful person. No way God would forgive me.
Let me help with some scripture and a comment.
Romans 3:23
[23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
We’ve all lied or coveted or hurt someone. We’ve all sinned. No one is “good”
Romans 6:23
[23] For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
But God knows this and made a way.
Romans 10:9-13
[9] because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. [11] For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” [12] For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. [13] For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
I already believe….so what? Hunger and thirst here and throughout are metaphors for the human need to know God. If you already “believe” but everything’s a struggle then I’m asking you are you looking to Him or are you just looking for Bread? I’m not talking about all of the worldly, daily struggles we all go through. There are flat tires and broken dishwashers. I’m saying “my life’s not going right” “I’m always mad” “I’m generally a jerk” “Nobody likes me” “I don’t like anyone” Look ……Jesus is here to help us. He can save us and He can change us. Are you seeking Him and His Kingdom? Or your own? The formula is….”deeply seek and know God and He will change you”…BELIEVE
