Good Day Beloved,
Although the subject matter here goes form John 6:23-60 ,we will take this portion of scripture in small chunks. There are too many nuggets in here to hit in one day.
St. John 6: 23-29
6:23 (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks
6:24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.
6:25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
6:26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Verse 23 It simply appears that word spread and other people came to the place where the 5000 were fed.
Verse24 After the people discovered that Jesus nor his disciples were there they took off for Caperaum SEEKING FOR JESUS. If one were looking for Jesus today,where would we direct them to look ? We live in a desperate and hurting world. We need to be able to give directions to Jesus. 1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Key"..Sanctify your heart/ thus you will be ready to give an answer.
The ones in my life who could truly lead me to the Christ were those sanctified ones who stood apart from the rest..
Verse 25 They ask Jesus a question. Basically, "How did you get here?" He could of told them how He walked on the water but """.does not even answer their questions.
Verse 26 Jesus tells them basically you are here because you were filled with food. Many preach about all of the earthly advantages that we can get from following Christ.
"but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled;
they regarded their own bellies more than the honour and glory of Christ, and even than the good of their immortal souls, and the spiritual and eternal salvation of them: and it is to be feared that this is the case of too many who make a profession of religion; their view being their own worldly advantages, and not the spiritual and everlasting good of their souls, and the real interest of a Redeemer: hence the following advice."
Verse 27.The Lord tells us to not only labor for the bread that we physically need but .as Isaiah said in 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
55:2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
"for him hath God the Father sealed;
designated and appointed to be the Saviour, and Redeemer of his people, and has sent, authorized, and commissioned him as such; and has made him known, and approved of him, by the descent of the Spirit on him, and by a voice from heaven, declaring him his beloved Son; and has confirmed him to be the Messiah by the miraculous works he gave him to finish; for all which several uses seals are, as to distinguish one thing from another, to render anything authentic, to point it out, or to confirm it. "
Verse 28 "What must we do to work the the works of God?" " for this was the general cast and complexion of this people; they were seeking for righteousness, and life not by faith, but, as it were, by the works of the law."
Verse 29 "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."
that ye believe on him whom he hath sent;
there are other works which are well pleasing to God, when rightly performed, but faith is the chief work, and others are only acceptable when done in the faith of Christ. This, as a principle, is purely God's work; as it is an act, or as it is exercised under the influence of divine grace, it is man's act: "that ye believe"; the object of it is Christ, as sent by the Father, as the Mediator between God and men, as appointed by him to be the Saviour and Redeemer; and believing in Christ, is believing in God that sent him. The Jews reduce all the six hundred and thirteen precepts of the law, for so many they say there are, to this one, "the just shall live by his faith", (Habakkuk 2:4) . F5
In conclusion. Can we direct others to Christ ? Can they find him in us? I know I need to work in this area.The Word tells us that others can be won without a single word.For our lives speak volumns. I know this verse was exhorted to the wives ,but I think it can apply to both,male and female.
3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, THEY ALSO MAY WITHOUT A WORD BE WON BY THE CONVERSATION OF THE WIFE.
Conversation Greek word..{anastrophe} one"s behavior
Again..there are too many nuggets in this chapter to just fly over them.
God Bless all of you,
Brother Chuck
Jn.6: 23-29 Believeing...is our work
