My name is Alex Kohler, if you do not know me.
I will admit, when Nathan asked me to preach,
he did not tell me that I would be doing so for Providence Baptist.
So, I hope I'm in the right place, but I think we'll be alright.
I'm really excited to get into our text today.
Our text can be found in John chapter 6.
We'll be in verses 23 through 29 today.
And like I said, I'm really excited to get into it.
We are continuing our study of the book of John,
and we will be coming off two amazing miracles
that Jesus had performed early in the chapter,
both the feeding of the 5,000 and Jesus walking on the water.
Last week, as we got to see, and as Colson put it,
we got to see the storm as a red carpet for the king to declare
and demonstrate his authority.
I love that phrase, and I love how Jesus' disciples
got to see the miracle and respond to it,
and now have been miraculously transported to the other side of the sea.
Our text now picks back up the morning after that
with a crowd now confused to where everyone has gone.
Before getting into the text,
I want to remind you of the purpose of the book of John
and why he includes the things that he does.
You may remember that John actually tells us directly
in chapter 20, verses 30 through 31,
that Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples
which are not written in this book,
but these, that is the works that John is writing about,
are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God,
and that by believing you may have life in his name.
So, about this, consider what John is saying.
John, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,
is writing these specific things so that we may have life,
meaning it is no accident that it includes
these specific miracles and interactions.
These were not just some cool stories
that John thought would be entertaining,
but these are specifically and intentionally written words of Scripture
and sufficient for the task of proving that Jesus is the Christ
and that by believing in him we may have life.
John says that is the purpose of the whole book,
it is the purpose of chapter 6,
and it is the purpose of our passage today.
How great it is that we get to study these intentional words.
As Nathan and Colson have both pointed out,
regarding the miracles,
the signs that Jesus performed were amazing,
but pointed to something greater.
And much like those of Jesus' day,
there are those who recognize this greatness
and those who do not.
Today we'll get the opportunity to see
how those who are present in Jesus' day
to witness these events,
respond to him,
and how that can inform our hearts as well.
So, before we begin and get into our passage,
let's pray for the Lord's help.
Heavenly Father,
thank you so much for the opportunity we have
to open up your word
and to study it this morning.
I pray that you would reveal its truth to us,
that you would speak through me,
and that you would give me clarity of thought and mind.
I pray that as we study the responses of the crown,
that it would be both a warning and encouragement for us
on how we ought to respond
to the works and words of Jesus Christ.
Thank you again for these people.
I pray that you would give all of us listening ears to hear,
and I pray this in your name.
Amen.
So, John chapter 6, starting in verse 23,
John writes,
Other boats from Tiberias came near the place
where they had eaten 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 boats
and went to Capernaum seeking Jesus.
When they found him on the other side of the sea,
they said to him,
Rabbi, when did you come here?
Jesus answered them,
Truly, truly, I say to you,
you are seeking me,
not because you saw signs,
but because you ate your fill of the loaves.
Do not work for the food that perishes,
but for the food that endures to eternal life,
which the Son of Man will give you.
For on him God the Father has set his seal.
Then they said to him,
What must we do to be doing the works of God?
Jesus answered them,
This is the work of God,
that you believe in him whom he has sent.
This passage begins what is called
the bread of life discourse,
where Jesus will reveal himself as the true food
that leads to eternal life,
and by calling those who want to be his disciples
to eat his flesh and to drink his blood.
It will cause the crowd and the Jews around
to grumble and dispute and take offense
at how difficult a saying it is to accept.
Our passage serves as a transition
between the works that Jesus has been performing
earlier in the chapter,
That's the feeding of the 5,000,
walking on water,
and then the aforementioned of Jesus' teaching
that come later.
I mentioned that John likes to show us
the response specific people had to Jesus
and his works.
This passage is an encouragement
on how to respond well to the works of Jesus
and a warning against responding wrongly.
This idea of showing two paths
is very common in the Gospels,
and John is no exception.
John warns us to look for this dichotomy
at the beginning of his book.
John 1, verse 9 says,
The true light which gives life to everyone
was coming into the world.
He came to his own,
and his own people did not receive him.
But to all who did receive him,
who believed in his name,
he gave the right to become children of God.
So the question to ask of anyone
who interacts with Jesus
is how did they respond to him?
So let's examine this question
as we experience this narrative
through the eyes of those known as the crowd.
And we will do this by examining the passage
with three points.
Point number one,
the crowd seeks Jesus.
Point number two,
the crowd asks a question.
And number three,
the crowd responds,
and then I'm putting in parentheses wrongly.
But we don't know that yet.
So, number one,
the crowd seeks Jesus.
John tells us that
other boats from Tiberias
came near the place
where they had eaten 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 boats
and went to Capernaum
seeking Jesus.
The news of the miracle
of the feeding of 5,000
spread quickly
as it drew the attention
of the region.
The fact that Jesus was able
to feed such a large number
of people for free
would probably not have been
kept a secret for very long.
John notes that boats
from Tiberias
were on the east side
of the Sea of Galilee
along with the crowd.
This makes sense
as Tiberias was an important city
on the sea,
so their boats being
in the sea as well
does not strike us
as surprising.
But it is not 100% clear
in the passage
why all of them are there.
It has been suggested
that it might be because
of the storm that took place
earlier.
Just a little bit ago,
there's that storm
that Jesus ended up
walking on water,
so maybe that forced
the boats there.
Or perhaps these
from Tiberias
might have heard about
the large crowd
and so wanted to serve
as some type of water taxi,
bringing their friends
or as a business opportunity
people from one place
to another.
But another,
and I would argue
more probable reason,
is this,
simply the prospect
for more free food.
The text itself
refers to the place
where the crowds
currently were,
that is that east side,
simply as the place
where they had eaten
the bread after the Lord
had given thanks.
So, as a result,
that location would probably
have attracted
a lot of attention.
Regardless of the exact reason
for the ships being there,
the crowd ultimately
want to find Jesus.
If you remember,
we saw that in verse 15,
there were even those there
who wanted to come by force
to take him
and make him king.
So, whether their motives
were some kind of hunger
or fervor,
they ended up traveling
to the west side
to Capernaum
where Jesus was.
Stopping on Capernaum,
why is that city significant?
And that's because
that would possibly be
the best place
to find Jesus.
Matthew records for us
that when Jesus
began his ministry,
and here's that
John had been arrested,
he withdrew into Galilee,
and leaving Nazareth,
he went and lived
in Capernaum
by the sea
in the territory
of Zebulun and Naphtali.
This might have been
something that was known,
perhaps not.
At the end of the day,
it ended up being
a very logical place
to look,
and they do end up
finding him there.
Providing for us
an even more specific place
than just Capernaum,
John records for us
in verse 59 of chapter 6
that Jesus said these things,
the things that we're
about to read,
in the synagogue
as he taught at Capernaum.
And so,
the ensuing conversation
most likely took place there.
Upon finding him,
they are eager to talk.
John does not record for us
how many people
make up the crown,
but it is reasonable to think
that some of it
was made up of the 5,000,
which means it was likely
a sizable number.
And I will give them credit.
A lot of effort
and coordination
probably went
into getting all of them
over to that side of the sea.
Not only did they have to
coordinate all the boats
to get over,
but then all successfully
work together
to find just one person.
So,
in a way,
they are seeking after Jesus.
The question is though,
how do we know
if they are seeking rightly or not?
Let's find out
if looking at
how they greet Jesus,
which we'll begin
our second point,
and that is,
the crowd asks a question.
The crowd asks a question.
Because it was not clear to them
how Jesus got
to the other side of the sea,
they ask him
a decently logical question.
They say,
Rabbi,
when did you come here?
Make sense?
This initial interaction
reveals much about their heart
and why they wanted
to see Jesus.
In a sense,
they are seeking after him,
but they are trying to put
all the pieces together.
But as Jesus himself
will point out,
it is not for the right reason.
Taking a little bit of liberty
from the other gospel accounts,
we see that the 12 initially
also responded
in a confused manner.
As Mark 6.52 says,
that even the disciples
did not understand
about the loaves,
but their hearts were hardened.
It is not until they saw
the work that Jesus did
walking on the water
that they seemed
to begin to understand.
John specifically notes
that they were glad
to take Jesus into the boat
when they saw him,
and they wanted to be with him.
Matthew even records
that those in the boat
worshipped him,
saying,
truly,
you are the Son of God.
They had been amazed
at the miracles
that they had seen him perform,
which led them to be
in awe and worship
of Christ himself.
The crowd
has a different response.
This question they ask
is not a response
of worship.
Unlike the disciples,
it would seem
that they do not recognize
any true significance
in the person of Jesus.
Notice one other thing
in the words that they choose.
By using the term
rabbi,
which John has already told us
means teacher.
It's a very formal
and respectful way
to call someone.
They consider him
someone that they can learn from.
But using this term
in our passage
is rather ironic
because they will ultimately
disagree and misunderstand
his teaching.
I know it's getting
a little ahead,
but that is what happens.
Know earlier also
how they wanted
to make him king,
but as we will find out,
have their own idea
of what his kingdom should be,
and so have no clue
what it means
for Christ to actually reign.
It seems that at this point
they are at the very least
confused,
and it is about far more
than how Jesus got
to the other side.
At this point,
let us not respond
with pride
considering the actions
and words of the crowd
with contempt,
or thinking that we would have been
more faithful
in their situation.
Let us instead
find ourselves
in the crowd today
not looking for ways
to emulate their behavior,
but rather finding
regretful familiarity
with their desire
to seek after Jesus
for something other
than himself.
So Jesus responds,
but interestingly,
totally ignores the question.
He decides not to entertain
their query
or expound
on how he got
to the other side
of the sea,
but instead says,
truly, truly,
I say to you,
you are seeking me
not because you saw signs,
but because you ate
your fill of the loaves.
So there it is.
Jesus starts
with his often used phrase,
truly, truly.
It marks that what follows
is extremely important.
Another way to say this
might be,
listen to this,
this is important.
It is both a call
to the listener
or reader
to pay attention
and of the authority
of the words being spoken.
It also means
that what he is about to say
is simply true.
It can be trusted.
There's no doubt
that what he says
is the case.
Up to this point,
we might have been confused
about the motives
of the crowd,
but that ends
with Jesus' words here.
So what are they
ultimately seeking after?
Jesus confirms
our suspicions
and tells them
that it is the bread.
They ate their fill
of the loaves
but missed the significance
of the sign
and were impressed
with the sign itself.
I will say,
please do not miss
the amazing nature
of the sign.
I know Nathan talked about it
a couple weeks ago,
but that Jesus was able
to multiply the loaves
and display his power
over creation
and ability to create
something from pretty much
nothing is incredible.
What Jesus is doing
is telling the crowd
that the danger
is seeing what he did
as nothing more
than an amazing
catering event.
What this sign tells us
about who Jesus is
is far more significant
than that.
He tells us more
about what he means
as he continues
to answer the crowd.
He goes on.
So he says,
you ate your fill of loaves
and then he goes on
to say,
do not work for the food
that perishes
but for the food
that endures
to eternal life
which the Son of Man
will give you
for on him
God the Father
has set his seal.
So there's a lot
to unpack in that phrase
so we're going to take it
three at a time.
We're going to start with
do not work for the food
that perishes
but the food that endures.
We'll talk about
what the Son of Man
will give them
and then for on him
God the Father
has set his seal.
So,
what does it mean
when he says,
do not work for the food
that perishes
but for the food
that endures
to eternal life?
First,
I want you to hear
the echo from Isaiah
from the passage
that we got to read
this morning.
It says,
why do you spend
your money
for that which is not bread
and your labor
for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me
and eat what is good
and delight yourself
in rich food.
Incline your ear
and come to me.
Hear that your soul
may live
and I will make you
an everlasting covenant
my steadfast
sure love for David.
The crowd is simply
not listening diligently.
They are spending
their energy
and effort
and perhaps even
some of their money
seeking after that
which ultimately
will not satisfy.
If they would simply
listen.
Jesus has talked
this way before
about physical nourishment
and its fleeting nature
during his earthly ministry.
When he's talking
to the woman of Samaria
in John 4
he says,
everyone who drinks
of this water
will be thirsty again
but whoever drinks
of the water
that I will give him
will never be thirsty again.
The water that I will give him
will become in him
a spring of water
welling up
to eternal life.
What the crowd
does not understand
is that the food
he provided for them
is nothing but
a mere representation
of the true bread
that Jesus
can truly provide.
Seeking after the food
that does not perish
puts eternity
in our everyday lives
and places Jesus
at the center
of our hearts
as our supreme desire.
So that's that first phrase.
The second one.
The son of man
will give to you.
This bread
which he will ultimately
reveal as himself
will not satisfy
our physical hunger
with a full belly
but it will fill
a far greater need
than that.
The spiritual hunger
that we have
cannot be satisfied
on our own.
Our souls can only
be satisfied
by the only one
who is perfectly
righteous
Jesus Christ himself
and this gift
he will give
freely.
There is nothing
that can be done
to earn
the free gift of God
which is eternal life
in Christ Jesus
our Lord.
Jesus is making it clear
that whatever this food
which is eternal life
will lead to
will be given to them
as a gift
and this gift
cannot be earned.
So that's what
he will give them.
And then lastly
for on him
God the Father
has set his seal.
What does that mean?
The seal
that the Father
has given Jesus
is the ability
and the approval
to dispense
of the spiritual food
to those
whom he chooses
satisfying the need
that starving sinners
like the crowd
and us
need.
It is the ability
to grant eternal life
and we find that
John has told us
about this already
in the previous chapter.
John chapter 5
starting in verse 19
says
for whatever the Father
does
that the Son
does likewise.
for as the Father
raises the dead
and gives them life
so also the Son
gives life
to whom he will.
The Father
has given all judgment
to the Son
as the Father
has life in himself
so he has granted
the Son also
to have life
in himself
and he has given him
authority to execute judgment
because he is
the Son of Man.
Jesus is reminding them
if they didn't hear it already
that he has been given
the authority
by the Father
to give eternal life
to whomever
he wills.
So,
from here
one would think
that all present
would fall down
and worship the one
who would be able
to provide
such an incredible gift
and that they recognize
that the seeking
and striving
after the physical bread
that Jesus provided
is short-sighted.
The bread he provided
earlier was only
a foretaste
but ultimately
they do not
do this.
How similar were we
before the illuminating
work of the Holy Spirit?
How often are we
tempted to miss
the true meal
as well?
I do not question
that just like the crowd
we too would follow
by responding
just as the crowd does.
Which brings us
to our third point
the crowd responds
wrongly.
So,
they say
the crowd does not
fall down to worship
instead
they ask a strange question.
They recognize
that what he says
is some kind
of spiritual insight
they hear eternal life
and know that they
should work for it
maybe that's some kind
of Old Testament
thought coming in.
Perhaps they are
confused by the term
Son of Man
even though it is
one of Jesus'
favorite terms
to refer to himself.
Perhaps they miss
the whole part
about the seal
and what that means.
Perhaps they are
like the woman
at the well
who misses the point
of what Jesus
was referring to
with living water
by asking him
to give the water
so that she won't
be thirsty again.
Again,
simply thinking
about physical sustenance.
In a crowd that big
it's probably a combination
of a bunch of that.
So what do they
ultimately ask?
They ask
what must we do
to be doing
the works of God?
They do not ask
how they can get
the bread
that Jesus talks about
even though he says
that he will give it
to them.
They hear about
the benefits of God
and wonder what work
must be done
to get it.
Much like the rich
young man asking
teacher,
what good deed
must I do
to have eternal life?
Or the lawyer
who stood up
to put Jesus
to the test
saying teacher,
what shall I do
to inherit eternal life?
The crowd thinks
that they can
can or need
to work
for this special bread.
The crowd says
they are ready
to meet any demand
that Jesus might ask
or tasks that must
be completed
and totally miss
the fact that
salvation is a gift.
Jesus just told them
that he will give him
this food
that endures
to eternal life.
God gives this gift
freely and is
through one person,
the son of man
sent from God
with the seal,
Jesus Christ.
There's one thing
that it requires
which Jesus will tell us
in just a moment.
He responds
to their question
and does so in a way
that is slightly short
and void of any metaphor
or imagery of the bread.
He speaks very plainly
and says,
this is the work of God
that you believe in him
whom he has sent.
It's rather rare
that he is this explicit
and begs just one question.
Who is the one
who has been sent?
And he has already alluded to it
and as we will find
later in the passage,
it is Christ himself.
To truly receive
this bread of life
is by grace alone
through faith alone
in the son of man
Jesus Christ alone.
John tells us
in the beginning
of his book,
but to all who did
receive him
who believed in his name,
he gave the right
to become children
of God.
Without getting
into the next passage
too much,
something eventually
does click for the crowd.
They follow Jesus' response
by asking,
then what sign do you do
that we may see?
What works do you perform?
Our fathers ate man
in the wilderness.
Which makes me think
for a moment,
were they not just there
the previous day
and saw what he did?
I guess not.
Jesus then says to them,
my father gives you
the bread from heaven
for the bread of God
is he who comes down
from heaven
and gives life
to the world.
Starts a click,
they then say,
sir, give us this bread
always.
So Jesus says to them,
I am the bread of life.
Whoever comes to me
shall not hunger
and whoever believes in me
shall never thirst.
It's a little bit later
that Jesus ultimately reveals
that he is the true bread
and that believing
that he can find life
in his name.
This work that Jesus
is talking about,
that's the work of God
is to believe,
takes the plural
out of the question
that they initially asked.
The crowd was concerned
about doing many works,
works that might help them
to earn God's favor,
but Christ's answer
is incredible.
The work of God
is to do one thing
and that is to believe.
Romans 3.28 reminds us,
for we hold that one
is justified by faith
apart from the works
of the law.
To believe in Jesus
is all that is required.
The true food
is Christ himself.
If we have the woman
at the well
and the 5,000 in mind
while reading this passage,
we see exactly
what John is doing.
We see that he's exposing
the physical need for food
to express a deeper
spiritual need in our hearts.
He presents Christ
as a solution,
the nourishment
that I so desperately need,
and all that is required
is to believe.
He also shows us
that the crowd
has missed it.
So,
what does true belief
look like then?
If we are to believe
and that is the simple work,
what does that look like?
It is receiving him
into our lives.
It is trusting him
as not only the one
who can satisfy us
in this life.
He does care about us.
He cares about the sparrows,
but ultimately preserve us
for the life to come.
It is worshiping him
for all he has done
for us in salvation,
and it is obeying him
as we now have the freedom
to glorify God
through our works.
Now,
the letter that James wrote
reminds us that
faith apart from works
is dead,
but don't be as the crowd
and think that
eternal life
is by the work.
Instead,
these works are what
result upon receiving
this free gift.
At the end of the chapter,
we see the responses
that John records for us
after the end
of the Bread of Life discourse.
It says,
After this,
many of his disciples
turned back
and no longer
walked with him.
So Jesus said to the twelve,
Do you want to go
away as well?
Simon Peter answered,
Lord,
to whom shall we go?
You have the words
of eternal life.
So,
the question is,
based on this passage,
how will you respond
to the works
and words of Jesus?
Will it be like the crowd,
confused about physical food
and works,
or,
like his true disciples,
who follow the miracles
upwards to Christ
and believe in him?
An early church document
called the Didache
was a short manual
believed by many
to be a catechism.
The intro to that document,
I think,
sums up the answer
to this question well,
or at least presents
the two options.
It says,
there are two ways,
one of life
and one of death.
To think some more
about responses
to this question,
let's take some time
to consider
some application.
So,
number one,
if you are not saved,
know that the gift
of salvation
is free.
There is nothing
that you can do
to work,
nor is there anything
that you could do
to earn eternal life.
We have a problem
so much greater
than simply being hungry
in a physical sense.
John records Jesus
performing these signs
and presenting himself
as the true bread,
ultimately to show
that greater need.
We are dead
in our trespasses
and sins
and need a savior.
So,
praise be to God
for giving himself
as the free gift
of eternal life
to all who believe.
Turn away
from your worthless bread
that will ultimately
never satisfy
nor last for eternity
and instead turn
to the true bread of life
who can save your soul.
God has put his seal
on Jesus,
granting him authority
to grant life
to those who do believe.
Paul's letter to the Titus
sums up this idea
of faith and belief
in God
not being a result
of works well.
He says,
for we ourselves
were once foolish,
disobedient,
led astray,
slaves to various passions
and pleasures,
passing our days
in malice and envy,
hated by others
and hating one another,
eating that bread
that does not satisfy.
But when the goodness
and loving kindness
of God our Savior
appeared,
in that phrase
is everything
that Christ did.
It's him coming
to this earth,
his earthly ministry,
the work he did
to die on the cross
for our sins
and raised again
on the third day,
defeating death.
All of that
is contained
in that phrase.
In that work,
he saved us,
not because of works
done by us
in righteousness
like the crowd
would say,
but according
to his own mercy
by the washing
of regeneration
and renewal
of the Holy Spirit,
whom he poured out
on us richly
through Jesus Christ
our Savior,
so that being justified
by grace,
we might become heirs
according to the hope
of eternal life.
God has given Jesus
the authority
to do that
and we can accept
this freely
as a gift.
The saying is trustworthy
and I want you
to insist on these things
so that those
who have believed
in God
may be careful
to devote themselves
to good works.
These things are excellent
and profitable
for people.
So all that faith
results ultimately
in those good works.
Notice it doesn't say
that because of the good works
we can have that eternal life.
No.
It's so that those
who have believed
in God
may be careful
to devote themselves
to good works.
There is a progression there.
So number two,
for those who are saved
and those who have
tasted this bread,
let's live as though
we have ultimately
been satisfied.
Why are we so captivated
by things that do not
satisfy us?
In regards to our salvation,
let's daily take up
this bread of life
and remember what Christ
has done for us.
Let's live as though
we are saved.
While salvation cannot
be earned by works,
our salvation ought
to result in works.
Do not think that you
can earn it by these works,
but instead know
that your life,
if your life is not
evidenced by them,
you may have not
actually tasted
the bread of life.
Practically,
the way in which we work
should look different
than those around us.
As those who have been
given the gift
of eternal life
and have Christ
as our supreme treasure,
we are working
for far more
than our boss
or for other people.
We are working
for a new master,
Jesus.
And so work
as if you are working
for him.
Jesus was not calling us
to cease working
for our physical sustenance.
We still need that.
Paul reminds us
that if anyone
is unwilling to work,
let him not eat.
We ought to instead
have the best attitude,
lead in a way
that models Christ,
follow as Christ
obeyed his Father,
build the best homes,
care for others,
or in my case,
serve the best chicken.
Not because Truett
told us,
or I feel obligated
or want to impress,
or think that it
will earn me something,
but because we are
ambassadors for Christ.
Lastly,
let us share this news
with others.
Far too many people
think that they need
to work harder
to earn their salvation.
Maybe somebody else
worked for their own salvation
and they can accept that.
Or maybe they simply
don't know
of their true spiritual need.
I would talk to them
like you've had a good meal.
I don't know
if you enjoy
going to the restaurant
and getting
an amazing steak
or whatever meal
that you like,
having fantastic service.
Maybe you end it
with a dessert and coffee
and it's just awesome.
You want to tell people
about it
or take other people
so that they can
experience it with you.
This is the idea
that we should have
with what Christ
has done for us
and the meal
that we have tasted.
We should want
to do this way more
and it should inspire us
to do it way more
than that meal.
So let's take others
to show them
the incredible
and truly satisfying
nature of the bread
of life.
With that,
I actually was going
to read a passage
from Charles Spurgeon
based on this,
but I actually like
the one in the bulletin
better.
So,
still Charles Spurgeon.
He says,
there's a tendency
to think about us
all to get away
from Jesus
and to look rather
to these dreams
than to the fountainhead.
Why are we more
taken up with the bits
of glass that sparkle
in the light
than the sun himself?
Let's pray.