With Dale Ratzlaff
John 6:22-40
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?” 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.” 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 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 give us this bread.” 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. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
As we pick up the story after the storm on the lake, we find that the crowd is somewhat confused. As evening approached they had watched the disciples get into the one boat and leave without Jesus. After that, Jesus dismissed them and went up the mountain to pray. They must have known that Jesus and the disciples were headed for Capernaum, which was “His own town” during His ministry (Mt. 9:1). Some of the crowd who had experienced Jesus’ feeding of the 5000 men took other boats—not associated with Jesus or His disciples. When they arrived at Capernaum, they found that Jesus was there, and they did not understand how or when Jesus had arrived. So they asked, “Rabbi, when did You get here?” By asking this question, they recognize something miraculous had taken place and wanted to know what it was. But Jesus was not to get sidetracked. He would give them the information they needed, not what they wanted.
The day before, after they had eaten of the loaves and fish, some were ready to accept Jesus as the Prophet foretold in Deuteronomy 18. Now, they simply address Him as “Rabbi” (teacher). As in the case with Nicodemus who also addressed him as “Rabbi”, Jesus does not answer their question but immediately moves to show them the condition of their hearts and selfish motives. If He had told them that He crossed the lake walking on water they would have been impressed, but faith based on miracles alone is misplaced and short-lived.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
Jesus mentions “signs” (plural), yet in John 6:14, John records when the people saw the “sign” (singular) at the conclusion of the miraculous meal. Again, we note that Jesus did many signs which are not recorded. The people saw the miracles but did not perceive the signs to which the miracles pointed. Jesus now sets about explaining to them the symbolic nature of the miracle directing their minds to the truth of the Gospel.
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 people of the day were very conscious of “work”, not only in regard to their daily work to provide food for the family, but many understood work in relation to keeping all the laws of Torah. At face value, this statement must have been confusing. Are we not to work for food? Are we just to sit around and let God provide us food? Jesus immediately moves on, telling them to work for food which endures to eternal life which the Son of Man will give them.
Christ never referred to himself by the title of Messiah. He did, however reveal that He was the Messiah to the woman at Jacob’s well (Jn. 4:25). Rather, He chose to be known as “the Son of Man”, a title used over 80 times in the four Gospels. At the time the Jews understood their coming Messiah to be primarily one who would deliver them from the Romans. “The Son of Man” did not carry this political baggage. Rather, “the Son of Man” title was taken from Daniel 7.
One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations, and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed (Dan 7:13-14).
Jesus clarifies what this verse in Daniel teaches. In Daniel The Son of Man is pictured as a heavenly being. Jesus will soon say,
For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.
Now Jesus states:
for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.
The concept of “seal” was familiar to the Hebrew mind. The item—here the Person—who was sealed is thereby to be recognized as receiving all the authority of the Sealer, in this case Father God. This is another way of expressing the truth of the primacy and authority of Jesus mentioned later in this gospel, and also in the proclamation of the early church.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (Jn. 14:6).
And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12)
The listening Jews were still thinking on the literal, physical plain, still thinking of “working” for this special food that does not spoil. At times the Rabbis used “food” in relation to learning the law of Torah. As we speak of “devouring” a good book, the Jews spoke of “eating”, or “feeding” on the Law.
Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”
The Jews want to know which of the many law-works of Torah Jesus has in mind. Not only did they have 613 biblical laws, but also they had a plethora of rabbinical laws which were designed to keep them from violating the biblical laws. They seem to be willing and able to do whatever law-works Jesus would assign. Jesus quickly points them to Himself and the required faith.
“This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
The “work” the Jews of the day were to do, and the “work” required of us today, is to believe. This belief is more than belief based on miracles; it is more than belief in what we can or will do, it is belief—true, trusting faith—in Jesus whom the Father has sent.
Belief based on miracles is short lived. Witnessing a miracle, or what appears to be a miracle, excites our emotions. After a few days a miraculous event soon becomes just a memory. Like an addicting drug, we need another miracle to keep us believing. We don’t know how many of the people then listening to Jesus in this dialogue were present at the feeding of the five thousand men plus women and children, but it is safe to say that a large part of the crowd had eaten from the five loves and two fish.
Rather than accepting the very words of Jesus, they ask for another sign.
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.’”
The history of the of the journey of Israelites from Egypt to Canaan was deeply ingrained in their minds. The Jews knew that the manna that Moses gave them spoiled.
Moses said to them, “Let no man leave any of it until morning.” But they did not listen to Moses, and some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul; and Moses was angry with them (Ex. 16:19-20),
Just the day before, some of the Jews in the crowd had been willing to entertain the idea that Jesus was “the Prophet” predicted by Moses. Now they wanted to see greater signs than Moses gave the ancient Israelites. They wanted to see Jesus give them manna that did not spoil.
Later rabbis argued that Messiah, the ‘latter Redeemer’, would call down manna from heaven, as did the ‘first redeemer’, Moses (See D.A. Carson, The Gospel According to John, p. 286.).
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.”
The listeners still do not fully understand.
Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”
Their answer is reminiscent of the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well,
The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw” (Jn. 4:15).
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.”
The book of John is filled with metaphors of the gospel. To the woman of Samaria, He Said:
…whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life (Jn. 4:14).
Here in John 6, “comes” and “believes” are parallel ideas. So are “hunger” and “thirst”. Both hunger and thirst are attached to double negatives meaning, “never, no never!” Here are the results of the true miracle of faith. The moment we believe our spiritual hunger is forever satisfied, and our soul’s thirst is quenched once and for all. It is the same lesson the disciples learned on the lake the night before, the moment they received Christ into their “boat” it immediately was at the shore to which they were going.
But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.
This verse has been variously understood. Some good scholars see this through the lens of election and predestination ( D.A. Carson, The Gospel According to John, p. 290). Other equally accepted scholars understand this verse as expressing both a degree of divine predestination and human responsibility ( D.A. Carson, The Gospel According to John, p. 290.). Yet others do not see election and predestination here at all. I currently feel most comfortable in the statement below.
But in these expressions, “all that the Father gives,” and, “all that he has given” Jesus speaks of all believers of all ages as already being present to the eyes of God, he also thus is giving them to Jesus … There, however, is not a fixed number, in some mysterious way chosen by an absolute decree of God to be such a gift to Jesus. Such an exegesis is wholly dogmatic and carries into what Jesus says a thought that is not contained in his words. On the other hand, equally dogmatic is the view that those who constitute God’s gift to Jesus are not those who in the first place are morally better than the rest, or who at least act better than the rest when the gospel is brought to them. These words of Jesus are without a trace of either predestinarian of synergism. God’s grace is universal. He would give all men to Jesus. The only reason he does not do so is because so many men obdurately refuse to be part of that gift. On the other hand, God’s grace is alone efficacious…” Do they want to be part of this gift, or do they mean to exclude themselves?” (R.C.H. Lenski, Commentary on the New Testament, The Interpretation of St. John’s Gospel, p. 464, 465.)
For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
Here we have another statement showing that Jesus and the Father are always in perfect agreement. We can accept the fact of the security of the believer. It is the Father’s will that Jesus lose none who do come to Him. We see yet another time the wildness of God’s mercy. “Everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life.” We must “behold” or, hear the gospel of Jesus, and respond in saving faith. When we do, we have the promise that our Lord, Himself, will raise us up on the last day. Even so come, Lord Jesus!
Here is a clear statement of the Father’s will.
For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
I believe the truths taught in this lesson were foreshadowed by the prophet Isaiah.
Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost (Isa. 55:1).
Even so come, Lord Jesus!
Application
- Sometimes we wish we could see the miracles recorded in Scripture. This lesson teaches us that miracles alone often do not promote true, saving faith. They are quickly forgotten.
- The hearing of the true gospel is vital. We must not only hear with our ears but have effectual hearing of the message that reaches the heart and will.
- There is a required response to the gospel. This response is more than the acknowledgement of the facts, but a personal faith in the Lord’s mercy, grace, and promise.
- The assurance of salvation is clearly taught in this section. Jesus will never, no never, cast out any who are true believers.
- We not only have the assurance of eternal life, but we have the certainty that our Lord will raise us up to be with Him “on the last day”, the day when He returns in glory.
Prayer
Father, how thankful I am to be in the group you have given to Christ to keep! More than that, I am thankful to know that Jesus will lose not even one who has heard and responded to your gift of grace. Thank you for allowing Christ to raise me from the grave and give my spirit a new body when He comes again!
In Jesus name.
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