Wednesday In The Word...2.6.19 - John 6:22-36 says...

Today's "Wednesday in the Word" covers John chapter 6 and verses 22 through 36.

v.22-25 -  The next day the crowd that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other small boat there, except one, and that Jesus had not entered with His disciples into the boat, but that His disciples had gone away alone.  There came other small boats from Tiberias near to the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks.  So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats, and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus.  When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, "Rabbi, when did You get here?"

These people around Jesus are very attentive.  They are like investigative reporters.  They saw the disciples get into the boats the previous evening but noticed that Jesus was not with them.  

"Why go where the disciples are going if Jesus is here?"

They observe how many boats were left after the disciples leave and it is the same number this morning.  Jesus apparently is still here but they couldn't find Him.  Other boats came with others who wanted to see Jesus in action but the conclusion was that Jesus was not on this side of the lake anymore.  Where could Jesus be?  His home base of ministry operations in the north was Capernaum so the decision was to start there.  They loaded up in the boat that was there and some of the boats that came and went across the sea to find Jesus.  Their "hunch" was right.  

A question comes from their mouths, "Rabbi, when did You get here?"  "We thought we had You cornered." and "You should have told us when You left." could have been some other thoughts in their minds.  Jesus had given the crowd "the slip."

v.26, 27 - Jesus answered them and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.  Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal."

The crowd's tummies were empty. It was the next day.  

"Jesus, we are ready for some breakfast now."  

Jesus knows their motives.  It is not to be filled with God but to be filled with food.  They were not interested in working at the things that matter to God but their focus was on working to what comforted them here.  Jesus is again stating the obvious that one is temporal and the other is eternal and the eternal one comes from the Son of Man who the Father has sent as the Anointed One, the Messiah.

v.28-31 - Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?"  Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."  So they said to Him, "What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You?  What work do You perform?  Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written, 'He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.'"

Jesus answers their question but they want something more.  The answer is to believe in Jesus and that God sent Him as the Messiah.  The response of the crowd to this answer is to want another similar experience that they had on the other side of the sea.  They brought up the manna event of the Exodus as a possible sign that Jesus could do again to prove that He really was someone to believe in.  

"He did it once, can He do it again?  If He does, then we will believe.  Jesus, You fill this condition of ours and then we will fill Your condition."  

The crowd wants to be in charge.  We want to be in charge.  We want it our way.  We don't like it when someone says this is the only option.  If you want eternal life with God then belief in Jesus as the Son of Man sent by God is the only way.

v.32-34 - Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven.  For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world."  Then they said to Him, "Lord, always gives us this bread."

Jesus uses their example to make a bigger point.  Something came from heaven, a physical bread called manna, and now another bread has come.  Another physical bread that has the ability to give those who believe in Him eternal life.  He is speaking of Himself but the crowd is still stuck on the next meal.  The life they are focused on is this one and not the next.  

Jesus gives the first of seven "I AM" statements in the next verse and repeats it in verses 41, 48, and 51.  

v.35, 36 - Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.  But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe."

Jesus is the physical bread sent down from heaven by the Father.  What Jesus brings not only feeds our spiritual hunger but also our spiritual thirst.  He also goes back to the crowd with the same answer as before.  They need to believe in Him but they are not, even though they are in His presence and have seen His power.  He is not interested in giving them another show, catering to their requests, but for them to bow in submission to Him.

• What is Jesus saying over and over to you and you are not listening or accepting what He is saying?  
• What conditions are you putting on Him for you to take another step?  
• Is Jesus truly, truly in charge of your life?  
• Or is Jesus truly, truly convenient at this time for your life?  
• Will we hear and respond to Jesus' simple instructions that require a total commitment from us?  
• Will we look past our next meal?  

Let us pray.

"Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus, the Son of Man, the Anointed One, the Messiah and the Savior of the world.  Help us to go back to Your instruction.  May we recognize when we are demanding something of You when we should be down on our knees before You.  Amen."

Pastor Adam