By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher
Text:
John
6:22-40
John
6:35-36
And
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall
never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 36 But
I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.
(NKJV)
The election in the
United States is over with still a few races undecided. Those whose candidate lost
can fall into despair with those whose candidate won becoming complacent. The
middle ground comes from realizing Jesus Christ is still on the throne and in
control and that we must still pray for those in leadership whether we
supported them in the election or not (1
Timothy 2:1-7). From the solid foundation of Jesus Christ as the King of
Kings in control and as the bread from heaven bringing salvation to all through
the cross, do not stop praying for the salvation of all, including our leaders.
On the day after Jesus
fed the five thousand and walked on the water, the people standing on the other
side of the sea observed only the boat of the disciples, remembering that Jesus
had not gone with the disciples (John
6:22). Other boats did come in from Tiberias, but the people noticed that
neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, so they departed for Capernaum,
seeking Jesus (John
6:23-24). Seeing Jesus on the other side of the sea, the people asked him
when he had come there, not knowing about him walking on the sea (John
6:25).
Jesus replies by telling
them they were not seeking Him because of the signs they saw but because they ate
the loaves and were satisfied (John
6:26). The Lord then tells the people not to labor for food that perishes
but instead seek food that endures to everlasting life coming from the Son of
Man and God the Father who sent Him (John
6:27). The reply of the people is asking how they can do the works of God
to which Jesus replies with the work of God being to believe in the one sent
from God (John
6:28-29).
This reply from Jesus
prompts the people to ask Jesus to perform a sign so they may see it and
believe (John
6:30). They then mention how God provided manna from heaven to feed their
fathers in the wilderness (John
6:31). Jesus agrees with them that God did provide manna from heaven, but
that God has provided the true bread from heaven, one who comes down from
heaven giving life to the world (John
6:32-33). This prompts the people to ask for this bread to which Jesus
replies He is the bread of life with those coming to Him never hungering and
those believing in him never thirsting (John
6:34-35). However, these people have seen Jesus and still do not believe (John
6:36).
Jesus then tells them
that all that the Father gives Him will come to Him and that anyone coming to
Him will not be cast out (John
6:37). Jesus continues by telling them that He has come down from heaven
not to do His will but the will of the Father (John
6:38). The will of the Father is that all who come to the Son and believe
will have everlasting life and be raised up at the last day (John
6:39-40).
The miracle of feeding
the five thousand was a sign pointing to Jesus, the true bread of life but the
people fed by Jesus sought another sign and a meal before they would believe.
According to Hebrews
11:6, faith is essential if one is to please God. However, this is not
faith in something we can see, but faith in what we cannot see, God Himself (Hebrews
11:1). Those fed by Jesus could see Jesus, God Himself, and yet asked for
another sign (John
6:30). These people were not seeking intimacy with God through faith but
free goodies from God. Jesus declares He is the bread of life (John
6:35), bread that brings eternal life through belief (John
3:16, 6:40). Those speaking to Jesus who were among those fed sought their
next meal, Jesus offers eternal life.
Every believer must ask
who Jesus is to them. Is He the one they go to when in trouble and needing a
miracle, or is he the bread of life who gives them eternal life? Is He the God
of my next free goodie, or the God I am seeking a closer relationship with and
the God I want to spend eternity with? Is He just the God of my next meal or
the bread of life and my God and Savior? I encourage everyone reading this to
ponder these questions.
Repentance is making a
180-degree turn from any wickedness or sin in our lives. If after pondering the
questions above God revealed some unrepentant sin in your life, I encourage you
to repent and ask God for forgiveness (1
John 1:9). If pondering these questions has caused you to realize you have
never entered into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as your personal
savior, I encourage you to do so now. Romans
10:9-10 teaches that if one confesses with his or her mouth that Jesus
died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead, and believes this in the
heart, they will be saved. If this is what you believe in your heart, I urge
you to make the confession by praying with me,
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans
3:23)
and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans
6:23). I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse
me as you promise in your Word (1
John 1:9). I believe
you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now
declare you Lord of my life.
May the Lord challenge, convict, and bless
everyone reading this post.