We covered a lot of ground yesterday. John 6:22-71. We read, and then commented on the highlights of each verse. It might’ve sounded a bit like a speed-reading course.
It was a lot to swallow. Now, I see, that was the point.
John 6:22-24.
On the following day…
At first, it was curiosity that caused you to follow the signs. But after
spending a day with Him, you fell asleep with a full stomach and full heart; the
dream of all dreams, was finally coming true.
You woke wondering if the day before was actually a dream. But you saw it
with your own eyes; the food, from a poor little boy’s lunch, multiplied to
feed a multitude. You ate until you were stuffed, and there was still a lot
left over.
He’s the Real Deal. He’s the One we’ve waited for. The Prophet. The Messiah.
The Christ. The King.
By the way where’d He go? I’m hungry, again.
Now, the question we all must answer.
Is this hunger for, The Bread of Life, or, Fast Food Jesus?
John 6:25-26.
Curiosity may have caused them to
follow at first. But now, they’ve seen and heard and tasted the Goodness of God.
Now their curiosity has turned to something more. Now, they follow for what
they can get.
The questions aren’t for information,
but manipulation.
“Rabbi, when did You come here?” They didn’t really
care about the answer, they just wanted to break the ice. “Hey Buddy, we must’ve
missed You leaving back there. You know, yesterday, when we did lunch. That was
great. So, yeah, umm, hey speaking of lunch, look at the time, how about we—”
Jesus, The Word, sharper
than any two-edged sword, discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart,
and knows the reason they (and we) follow. It doesn’t say He interrupted, but it doesn’t
say He doesn’t, and He doesn’t answer their question or engage in small talk.
He clearly tells them, you followed Me, –because you ate of the loaves and were filled. John 6:26.
Seeking to satisfy the flesh, only leads
to hunger.
John 6:27-28.
Jesus tells them about the Real Food, that
will nourish both body and soul, and lead to everlasting life.
They’re too busy listening to their
growling stomachs to hear. But they can see Jesus isn’t making breakfast; so, they
ask Him if they can. “Jesus, how do we make a ton of food out of nothing, like You
did yesterday? Aren’t You hungry?”
Well, they didn’t use those exact
words, but that was exactly what they meant. They tried to sound a bit more
pious: “What shalt we doeth, that we mightiest worketh the works of God?”
John 6:28.
John 6:29.
Jesus makes it real simple. Uses small
words. Talks real slow. (Maybe?). “This is the work of God, that you
believe in Him whom He sent.” Perhaps He smiles real big and points
at Himself.
John 6:30-31.
They might be thinking, Oh boy, He’s
not getting it. Looks like we’ll have to spell it out. You said
something about us not following signs? Okay, show us a sign. Let’s see, I
know, how about that manna from heaven sign? That’s a good one. Let’s do that. Show
us that. Aren’t You hungry?
John 6:32-33.
Jesus might be thinking, Oh boy,
they’re not getting it. Looks like I’ll have to spell it out. Number one: Moses
didn’t give you that bread. But My Father gives you True Bread from heaven, this
Bread gives life to the world. (Maybe He does that point and smile thing again).
What you consume, becomes part of you.
John 6:34.
They said, “Lord, give us this
bread always.”
John 6:35-40.
They really don’t get it. I AM
THE BREAD OF LIFE!
This sounds like the conversation
Jesus had with the woman at the well who asked for “Living Water” so she’d no
longer need to go to the well. But He
wasn’t talking about well water, He was talking about Himself, Living Water.
Here, He’s not talking about natural bread.
Later, at the Last Supper, He will show them, at the table, and then, hours
later, on the cross.
He took the bread, broke it and said, this is My body broken for you, He took the cup, this is My blood, shed for the remission of sins. 1 Corinthians 11:24-25, Matthew 26:26-28.
Man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God; Matthew 4:4.
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us; John 1:14.
Then, He shares His heart, bares the
bottom line of His Father’s will. John 6:39, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing.
Lord, we pray, of all You’ve given us,
not one soul will be left behind.
John 6:41-59.
He continues to tell them again, He’s
the True Bread from heaven, the Living Bread. He drives it home in a way they
cannot ignore by saying, unless you eat the flesh, and drink the blood of
the Son of Man, you have no life in you.
NOTE: The Word of God, must be Spiritually
discerned. The Bible is the best commentary, on the Bible. It interprets
itself. Perhaps the following passage will add some clarity:
Therefore, whoever eats this bread or
drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body
and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man
examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and
drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not
discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many
are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would
judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are
judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the
world. 1 Corinthians 11:27-32.
John 6:60-65.
For many this was a bit too much to
swallow. Jesus knew it and asked if they were offended. (A great verse to
memorize regarding offense is this: Great peace have they who love
Thy law and nothing by any means shall offend them. Psalm 119:165)
Jesus explains that He’ talking about Spirit,
not flesh. The Spirit gives life, the flesh profits nothing. John 6:63.
All hear.
Few listen.
John 6:66
From that time many of His disciples
went back and walked with Him no more. That’s it, this is too much; they turned
from Him and walked with Him no more… no more, forever.
Notice the address, the chapter and
verse: 6:66. An eerie omen of a coming day, when many will say, that’s it, this
is too much, they’ll take the mark, and walk with Him no more, forever.
It doesn’t only apply to someday when
the mark of the beast is in play; it applies to today. Each time, one walks
away from His leading, the heart grows a little colder, a little more callused,
until one time, it’s too late. They walk with Him, no more…forever.
John 6:67-69
Jesus asks the twelve, “Will you
leave Me as well?”
Peter responds with powerful words
only learned by going through the storm, with Jesus.
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have
the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that You are the
Christ, the Son of the living God.” John 6:69.
They all heard, they
all ate. They all had a decision to make.
His disciples served.
The people ate.
His disciples fought
the storm all night. The people slept.
His disciples received
Him into their boat. The people woke, wondering where He went.
John 6:70-71
We all have a decision
to make.
Jesus chose the
twelve. He chose you, to be His disciple.
The Choice is yours.
Will you follow Him…
Or, Judas?
Who is He to you?
The Bread of Life
Or,
Fast food Jesus?
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