WEBVTT 00:00:00.100 --> 00:00:06.120 Well, good morning, everyone. This morning, as Alex said, we're going to get back into John's Gospel after a break of eight or nine weeks. 00:00:07.060 --> 00:00:13.200 And of course, I want to do that by way of some revision, so as we actually pick up the big picture of the story of John. 00:00:14.040 --> 00:00:20.280 And you remember, we've cast the whole biography of John a bit like a courtroom drama. 00:00:20.280 --> 00:00:29.780 And John is the barrister. And in chapter one, he outlines his case against or for Jesus. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.980 Regarding Jesus. And he says in chapter one, several really key things. 00:00:36.100 --> 00:00:39.939 So he says that Jesus is truly and completely God. 00:00:41.500 --> 00:00:46.299 And he alleges that Jesus is truly and completely human at the same time. 00:00:47.679 --> 00:00:49.760 God and man perfectly together. 00:00:50.439 --> 00:00:56.400 And he alleges that Jesus has come into the world as the fulfiller of God's purposes and salvation. 00:00:56.399 --> 00:00:58.640 He's come to give light. 00:00:59.079 --> 00:01:00.500 He's come to give life. 00:01:00.500 --> 00:01:02.280 He's come to give family privilege. 00:01:02.820 --> 00:01:05.620 And he's come to do that for all who will receive him. 00:01:07.640 --> 00:01:09.140 On his terms. 00:01:11.299 --> 00:01:17.060 The flip side is that the rest, those who won't receive him on his terms, 00:01:17.060 --> 00:01:21.460 he then confirms in darkness. 00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:23.820 In death. 00:01:25.079 --> 00:01:27.020 In alienation from God's family. 00:01:27.299 --> 00:01:29.700 In spite of their religious lifestyle. 00:01:31.620 --> 00:01:39.820 So John's biography about Jesus plunks Jesus right into the middle of a context where people are busy being religious. 00:01:39.819 --> 00:01:43.659 And Jesus is saying that's not enough. 00:01:44.699 --> 00:01:51.239 You can be religious and still only know death and darkness and alienation from God. 00:01:53.759 --> 00:01:58.959 John's brief is to show that Jesus has come to turn that around. 00:01:59.419 --> 00:02:05.839 In chapter two onwards, then, John systematically presents the supporting evidence for these claims. 00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:12.980 And he builds his case like a good barrister does, step by step, with seven signs or miracles. 00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:17.219 And the associated teaching that goes with each of those miracles. 00:02:17.560 --> 00:02:26.120 Teaching that explains and illustrates the significance of the spiritual significance of the signs or the miracles themselves. 00:02:26.599 --> 00:02:33.360 And as we track through that, then we're actually getting, and again, the best traditions of the law courts nowadays, 00:02:33.360 --> 00:02:36.040 we're getting an identikit picture of Jesus built. 00:02:37.080 --> 00:02:45.880 Piece by piece, it's becoming clear who this Jesus is and how he wants people to respond to. 00:02:47.200 --> 00:02:52.600 And as he does that, John also introduces seven key sayings of Jesus, 00:02:53.180 --> 00:02:57.940 which spell out the nature of the life that Jesus offers. 00:02:57.939 --> 00:03:05.259 And this morning, as we jump back into John's gospel, we're jumping back into the context in which Jesus uses the first of these things. 00:03:05.900 --> 00:03:08.960 Jesus says, I am the bread of life. 00:03:09.020 --> 00:03:10.219 I am the bread from heaven. 00:03:12.460 --> 00:03:13.460 It's a profound thing. 00:03:13.520 --> 00:03:15.039 Hopefully we'll see what it means as we go through. 00:03:15.180 --> 00:03:17.180 Alex has already sort of gone before me. 00:03:17.319 --> 00:03:20.579 So just remember Alex's stuff if you've done me any sense of mine. 00:03:20.780 --> 00:03:23.020 So let's just pick up the context there. 00:03:23.079 --> 00:03:27.079 So the day before, we start verse 22 the next day, so I'm just going to the day before. 00:03:27.080 --> 00:03:29.580 So what's the day before, verses 1 to 15? 00:03:30.680 --> 00:03:40.320 Well, the day before, a massive, hungry crowd had experienced personally, not just theoretically, 00:03:41.060 --> 00:03:45.140 but personally, an astounding miracle. 00:03:46.340 --> 00:03:53.760 As Jesus not only fed the lot of them, 5,000, more than 5,000, could be twice that number if you count women and children, 00:03:53.759 --> 00:04:00.659 but at least 5,000, fed from the lunchbox of some random young boy. 00:04:04.060 --> 00:04:11.719 Not only that, but ending up with 12 baskets, ending up with far, far more than what he started with. 00:04:11.719 --> 00:04:24.339 And everything about the context of that reminded the crowd of the story of Moses feeding God's people in the wilderness. 00:04:24.339 --> 00:04:31.759 So quite correctly, if you look at verse 14, quite correctly, when the people saw the sign he had done, they said, 00:04:32.279 --> 00:04:36.219 this is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world. 00:04:36.279 --> 00:04:37.079 So they got it right. 00:04:38.699 --> 00:04:43.120 They recognized in Jesus the prophet, the Messiah. 00:04:43.120 --> 00:04:48.340 But look at verse 15. 00:04:49.160 --> 00:04:53.500 No sooner had they got it right than they'd get it wrong. 00:04:54.780 --> 00:04:57.600 Their own agenda derails them. 00:04:57.600 --> 00:05:08.460 Only thinking about the need for salvation or deliverance from the external enemy of Roman occupation, Roman oppression, 00:05:09.180 --> 00:05:17.460 and being convinced that what they've just seen of Jesus marked him out as the guy who had the credentials to lead a rebellion against the Romans, 00:05:19.800 --> 00:05:24.280 they then seized Jesus, or they then intend to seize Jesus and make him a king by force. 00:05:24.279 --> 00:05:30.079 In other words, they're imposing their agenda onto what it means for Jesus to be the prophet. 00:05:33.019 --> 00:05:33.879 The result? 00:05:35.219 --> 00:05:36.599 Jesus just slips away. 00:05:37.839 --> 00:05:47.079 It doesn't really tell us why, but I think at least we can say that Jesus wasn't remotely interested in their agenda of what it meant for him to be king. 00:05:47.079 --> 00:06:00.399 Perhaps he withdrew with deep sadness that the crowds could not see their need to be delivered from something far more fundamental, far more profound than the Romans. 00:06:00.839 --> 00:06:08.839 That is, they couldn't see the need to be delivered from their own sinful hearts, from their own alienation from relationship with God. 00:06:08.839 --> 00:06:16.739 You can just sense the sadness that these guys are still working, operating on the outside in. 00:06:19.439 --> 00:06:24.919 Well, the next day, verses 22, then we pick up the story, the crowd's still hanging around. 00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:34.099 And I presume we're meant to understand that it's sort of 16 hours later, at least, if not more, and so they're hungry again. 00:06:34.100 --> 00:06:38.080 They're hanging around, and they're looking for a repeat performance. 00:06:42.680 --> 00:06:45.480 But Jesus is nowhere to be found. 00:06:45.780 --> 00:06:53.740 Knowing that his disciples had gone to Capernaum, and probably undeterred in their plans to make him king, according to their terms, 00:06:54.600 --> 00:07:03.460 they commandeered whatever boats they could find to take as many as possible across the lake to track down Jesus. 00:07:04.100 --> 00:07:12.020 And when they drag him down in Capernaum, we know from verse 59 that in the meantime, Jesus had gone into the synagogue. 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:19.360 So presumably, it's a much smaller crowd that Jesus is dealing with in these verses. 00:07:19.620 --> 00:07:25.120 But the pattern of their thinking is revealed in their opening question. 00:07:27.060 --> 00:07:30.460 The question is, how did you get here? 00:07:30.520 --> 00:07:31.180 When did you get here? 00:07:31.180 --> 00:07:31.200 When did you get here? 00:07:34.100 --> 00:07:41.280 They were struggling to work out how Jesus could have gotten to Capernaum so quickly on foot. 00:07:42.460 --> 00:07:43.220 That was their problem. 00:07:44.460 --> 00:07:46.740 And you see what we've been told there very subtly? 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:54.200 The day before, they'd just witnessed Jesus as they'd seen and heard of him before, doing many miracles. 00:07:54.199 --> 00:08:04.659 They personally had experienced the day before, but still, it doesn't occur to them that perhaps he could have got to Capernaum in some miraculous way. 00:08:04.660 --> 00:08:05.660 They're just not thinking about Jesus. 00:08:05.660 --> 00:08:13.840 They're just not thinking about Jesus in the terms that Jesus presents. 00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:21.099 And likewise, in verse 25 through 65, then we see the pattern of Jesus' thinking. 00:08:21.479 --> 00:08:23.519 So we see their thinking pattern. 00:08:23.939 --> 00:08:26.979 And in these verses, we see the pattern of Jesus' thinking revealed. 00:08:27.620 --> 00:08:31.359 And so verse, he just ignores them, verse 26. 00:08:32.019 --> 00:08:33.059 He just ignores their question. 00:08:33.159 --> 00:08:34.799 What a dumb question he's thinking to himself. 00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:36.439 He just ignores it. 00:08:37.299 --> 00:08:44.159 And instead, exposes their crummy motives and even their willful blindness. 00:08:47.099 --> 00:08:53.279 And all of that, remember, in the context as they protest that they're seeking and following him. 00:08:53.359 --> 00:08:57.139 I think John uses the wording very carefully in verse 24. 00:08:57.679 --> 00:09:00.019 They go to Capernaum seeking Jesus. 00:09:00.199 --> 00:09:02.479 But the question is, we keep bouncing against it. 00:09:02.559 --> 00:09:03.299 What are they seeking? 00:09:03.299 --> 00:09:04.199 Who are they seeking? 00:09:04.599 --> 00:09:06.439 On what terms are they seeking? 00:09:07.159 --> 00:09:11.179 And Jesus responds, truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me. 00:09:12.679 --> 00:09:15.240 See, you get this play on this word. 00:09:15.819 --> 00:09:18.299 You're seeking me not because you saw signs. 00:09:19.199 --> 00:09:21.120 In other words, you're not seeing me as I'm presenting. 00:09:21.799 --> 00:09:25.139 You're seeing me as you think I ought to be and as you want me to be. 00:09:26.939 --> 00:09:29.179 First and foremost, the filler of a belly. 00:09:29.179 --> 00:09:34.459 A pretty handy guy to have around when you find yourself stuck in the desert. 00:09:35.099 --> 00:09:36.179 We know shops within Cooey. 00:09:40.559 --> 00:09:42.000 And so Jesus says to them, 00:09:42.500 --> 00:09:49.000 you are deliberately short-sighted in the things you think will satisfy. 00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:56.759 Jesus accused them, as I said, of being interested in him only on their own terms. 00:09:58.940 --> 00:10:01.320 Yeah, you could provide us with a free feed, Jesus. 00:10:02.659 --> 00:10:07.379 Your remarkable powers are just what we need to galvanize the nation, 00:10:07.500 --> 00:10:11.100 to rise in insurrection against these Romans and be done with them once for all. 00:10:11.100 --> 00:10:18.480 Well, you're the sort of leader we need to get the good life that we deserve as the people of Israel. 00:10:18.940 --> 00:10:22.360 And indeed, the life that God promised us. 00:10:23.899 --> 00:10:28.340 So they were more than willing to sign up as his disciples at this point, 00:10:28.340 --> 00:10:39.280 while ever he kept delivering their needs or what they imagined their needs to be. 00:10:45.860 --> 00:10:46.960 Do you see what's happened? 00:10:47.820 --> 00:10:51.480 They've taken this incredible miracle that they personally experienced. 00:10:51.920 --> 00:10:53.300 They were caught up in. 00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:55.440 They actually had a physical result. 00:10:55.440 --> 00:10:58.980 Hunger was stopped and replaced with a sense of fullness. 00:10:59.460 --> 00:11:00.460 They couldn't eat anymore. 00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:07.600 And yet they still reduced that miracle to their own small-minded agenda 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:11.220 of immediate personal benefit. 00:11:16.980 --> 00:11:22.000 We see nothing in these verses of the crowd being drawn to Jesus 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:25.200 as the Son of God. 00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:27.080 As the Savior. 00:11:29.080 --> 00:11:31.460 As someone who's altogether beautiful. 00:11:32.940 --> 00:11:34.840 Desirable or even necessary for them. 00:11:39.460 --> 00:11:40.640 We're not drawn. 00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:43.680 There's no evidence that we've been drawn into a deeper desire 00:11:43.680 --> 00:11:46.020 for a deeper relationship with Christ. 00:11:46.440 --> 00:11:48.320 More accountability to him as God. 00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:52.400 Or even a sense of rest and fulfillment in him. 00:11:55.840 --> 00:11:59.040 So friends, I want to say to you this morning as we move into this passage, 00:11:59.700 --> 00:12:03.040 that I think you and I need to see ourselves in this crowd. 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:08.439 Not just looking on dispassionately from the vantage point of history. 00:12:09.579 --> 00:12:11.419 We need to see ourselves in this crowd. 00:12:11.419 --> 00:12:22.079 These people want God as long as he delivers what they want and demand and imagine they need. 00:12:24.740 --> 00:12:25.639 Failed to deliver? 00:12:25.639 --> 00:12:30.319 Well, they'll simply move on to another source of supply. 00:12:30.419 --> 00:12:32.019 And that's what we're told at the end of this chapter. 00:12:32.799 --> 00:12:35.299 Verse whatever, 59, 60, 66 it is. 00:12:36.319 --> 00:12:38.500 Many of the disciples turned away from him. 00:12:40.019 --> 00:12:45.220 They stopped following him because they started to work out that he wasn't going to deliver the things they wanted him to deliver. 00:12:45.220 --> 00:12:51.759 And so they just packed up their swag and moved on, looking for the next source. 00:12:58.600 --> 00:13:02.759 Now, you say to yourself, well, isn't Jesus the provider of all our needs? 00:13:04.200 --> 00:13:07.019 And I have to say, yes, he is the provider of all our needs. 00:13:08.580 --> 00:13:12.220 And then you say, well, isn't it right then that we should bring our needs before him? 00:13:12.220 --> 00:13:14.899 And I say, yes, it is. 00:13:14.940 --> 00:13:16.720 It is right that we should bring our needs before him. 00:13:17.700 --> 00:13:21.240 But here's the catch, you see, because it's possible, like these people, 00:13:21.660 --> 00:13:26.120 to be so focused on what we imagine our needs to be 00:13:26.120 --> 00:13:29.100 that we actually have focused on ourselves 00:13:29.100 --> 00:13:31.639 and not focused on Jesus at all, 00:13:31.680 --> 00:13:34.960 except to see him as the agency or the conduit 00:13:34.960 --> 00:13:37.620 who will deliver what we want. 00:13:42.220 --> 00:13:47.019 And so the result is that we don't see our needs 00:13:47.019 --> 00:13:48.420 as Jesus defines them. 00:13:49.279 --> 00:13:51.920 And therefore, we never pursue the solutions 00:13:51.920 --> 00:13:53.560 that Jesus offers. 00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:56.600 In fact, we think it's quite strange. 00:13:56.680 --> 00:13:58.480 Why would Jesus push us down this track? 00:13:59.220 --> 00:14:00.840 It just doesn't seem relevant to me. 00:14:00.940 --> 00:14:03.820 And it doesn't seem relevant because we haven't identified our needs properly. 00:14:03.820 --> 00:14:10.640 As the article in the front of the bulletin suggests, 00:14:11.540 --> 00:14:14.660 young people in particular, the evidence is coming out now, 00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:18.320 young people in particular treat God like a phone app. 00:14:21.760 --> 00:14:26.340 It's a useful tool there to be used at your command 00:14:26.340 --> 00:14:27.980 to get what you want, 00:14:28.840 --> 00:14:31.280 but it's only one of a range of apps. 00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:33.860 It might be a good app, 00:14:33.939 --> 00:14:35.259 maybe even the best app you have, 00:14:35.459 --> 00:14:36.639 but it's only a range. 00:14:36.740 --> 00:14:37.879 It's only one of a range. 00:14:39.559 --> 00:14:40.759 And it will provide this 00:14:40.759 --> 00:14:42.579 where another app will provide that. 00:14:47.319 --> 00:14:49.059 Oops, now we're stuck here. 00:14:49.639 --> 00:14:51.319 That wasn't meant to be a pregnant pause, young people. 00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:57.620 We often think like that ourselves, don't we? 00:14:57.620 --> 00:15:00.779 As adults, 00:15:01.299 --> 00:15:06.200 we're shocked when we see thinking like that in our children. 00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:11.379 Where did our children get it from? 00:15:16.860 --> 00:15:18.320 Perhaps we modeled it to them. 00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:25.940 Perhaps we've been better teachers of our children than we realized. 00:15:26.660 --> 00:15:28.940 We just didn't realize what it was we were teaching them. 00:15:32.940 --> 00:15:35.600 A horrible consumerist view of God. 00:15:35.600 --> 00:15:40.100 So Jesus challenged the crowd then, 00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:42.200 and he says to you and me today as well, 00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:45.860 you're short-sighted in the things you think will satisfy. 00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:50.759 You should put your energy into pursuing real heart satisfaction. 00:15:53.259 --> 00:15:56.180 So Jesus recognizes here the efforts and energy 00:15:56.180 --> 00:15:59.779 they're using in chasing after the good life of peace 00:15:59.779 --> 00:16:01.899 and security and satisfaction. 00:16:02.940 --> 00:16:04.100 He acknowledges that. 00:16:04.100 --> 00:16:06.920 He said, yeah, I can see you guys are chasing the good life. 00:16:09.139 --> 00:16:10.720 But he exposes 00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:13.300 their pointless fixation 00:16:13.300 --> 00:16:15.220 with physical appetites, 00:16:15.340 --> 00:16:16.560 the outside-in approach 00:16:16.560 --> 00:16:18.019 to finding the good life. 00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:20.360 Looking at their desires 00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:21.500 and the material blessings, 00:16:22.019 --> 00:16:23.040 things that push them 00:16:23.040 --> 00:16:26.580 to the deeper, 00:16:27.060 --> 00:16:29.200 more urgent level of spiritual need 00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:30.560 when they understand properly 00:16:30.560 --> 00:16:31.879 the failures of these things. 00:16:31.879 --> 00:16:36.840 And Jesus wants them to look for 00:16:36.840 --> 00:16:40.500 real heart satisfaction. 00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:41.960 That's where the idea of bread comes in. 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:44.080 Just as bread is the basic staple 00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:45.820 and source of physical life, 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:47.720 nourishment and health 00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:49.019 and growth into maturity, 00:16:49.019 --> 00:16:51.100 so Jesus pushes them 00:16:51.100 --> 00:16:52.720 to desire him as their bread. 00:16:57.100 --> 00:16:59.100 Put your effort into pursuing me 00:16:59.100 --> 00:17:04.359 and you'll find the truly satisfying life 00:17:04.359 --> 00:17:06.160 which will sustain throughout eternity, 00:17:06.299 --> 00:17:06.819 says Jesus. 00:17:06.819 --> 00:17:11.960 Augustine famously said of the Lord, 00:17:12.099 --> 00:17:13.740 you have formed us for yourself 00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:15.579 and our hearts are restless 00:17:15.579 --> 00:17:18.159 until they find rest in you. 00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:21.740 He was echoing Jesus' words here. 00:17:23.980 --> 00:17:26.819 If you want that which gives you the good life, 00:17:27.059 --> 00:17:28.319 it will satisfy you. 00:17:29.019 --> 00:17:29.960 And everybody does. 00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:30.920 I recognize it, 00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:32.120 in you, 00:17:32.180 --> 00:17:32.640 says Jesus, 00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:33.579 as he speaks to the crowd. 00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:35.960 Well, 00:17:37.160 --> 00:17:38.500 the good life of 00:17:38.500 --> 00:17:39.220 rich, 00:17:39.400 --> 00:17:40.400 satisfying nourishment 00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:42.279 which every person on this earth 00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:43.420 ultimately longs for 00:17:43.420 --> 00:17:44.299 and seeks after 00:17:44.299 --> 00:17:46.660 is not just a reality, 00:17:46.840 --> 00:17:47.480 but get this, 00:17:47.600 --> 00:17:48.299 what Jesus says, 00:17:48.380 --> 00:17:49.000 he says to the crowd, 00:17:49.220 --> 00:17:50.299 it's not just a reality, 00:17:51.259 --> 00:17:53.420 but it's actually a gift, 00:17:53.819 --> 00:17:55.420 a reality that comes to you 00:17:55.420 --> 00:17:56.880 as a gift 00:17:56.880 --> 00:17:58.259 to those who will accept it. 00:17:58.259 --> 00:18:00.240 It's a reality 00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:01.680 guaranteed by God. 00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:02.220 That's what it means 00:18:02.220 --> 00:18:02.839 when it says that 00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:04.339 God has set a seal on Jesus. 00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:05.240 In those days, 00:18:05.680 --> 00:18:07.000 a seal was essentially 00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:07.799 like a signature. 00:18:08.059 --> 00:18:09.460 It authenticated a document. 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:11.839 So Jesus is saying, 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:12.000 look, 00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:13.519 I come to you 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:15.500 as the authenticated one, 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:18.259 the only accredited outlet, 00:18:18.420 --> 00:18:18.879 if you like, 00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:21.900 for the real satisfying life 00:18:21.900 --> 00:18:23.220 we are created to enjoy 00:18:23.220 --> 00:18:24.920 in relationship with God. 00:18:25.839 --> 00:18:26.720 Jesus comes, 00:18:26.779 --> 00:18:27.059 he says, 00:18:27.099 --> 00:18:27.839 with the authority 00:18:27.839 --> 00:18:28.539 and the power 00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:30.779 to deliver this life. 00:18:31.919 --> 00:18:33.220 He truly is the bread, 00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:35.220 the satisfying bread, 00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:38.740 if only they will ingest him. 00:18:43.159 --> 00:18:44.159 John's made that point 00:18:44.159 --> 00:18:45.619 repeatedly in his biography. 00:18:46.439 --> 00:18:46.980 And in the end, 00:18:47.059 --> 00:18:48.099 there only is one point. 00:18:48.159 --> 00:18:48.699 If you want to read, 00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:49.399 if you're not a Christian 00:18:49.399 --> 00:18:49.899 here this morning, 00:18:49.959 --> 00:18:50.939 there only is one point 00:18:50.939 --> 00:18:52.339 to get through John's biography. 00:18:52.679 --> 00:18:54.419 He makes it over and over 00:18:54.419 --> 00:18:55.039 and over again, 00:18:55.099 --> 00:18:55.720 like a barrister 00:18:55.720 --> 00:18:56.559 building his case. 00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:57.879 It just revolves around 00:18:57.879 --> 00:18:58.599 this one thing. 00:18:59.119 --> 00:18:59.639 Jesus says, 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:00.859 if you want life, 00:19:01.099 --> 00:19:02.220 I'm the person 00:19:02.220 --> 00:19:02.940 you're looking for. 00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:06.659 There's so many other places 00:19:06.659 --> 00:19:07.339 that offer life, 00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:09.379 but I'm the only accredited 00:19:09.379 --> 00:19:09.899 outlet 00:19:09.899 --> 00:19:12.279 for satisfying 00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:14.519 true life. 00:19:14.519 --> 00:19:18.700 Jesus says in his own words, 00:19:18.700 --> 00:19:23.740 I am the deeply satisfying 00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:24.599 life you long for. 00:19:24.660 --> 00:19:25.359 And hopefully you're seeing 00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:26.900 the progression in the text. 00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:28.740 You know, 00:19:29.400 --> 00:19:30.319 you are, 00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:31.240 you should be, 00:19:31.839 --> 00:19:32.720 and now we've got to 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:33.500 Jesus' main point, 00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:34.680 I am. 00:19:34.680 --> 00:19:38.779 I am the deeply satisfying 00:19:38.779 --> 00:19:39.799 life you long for. 00:19:42.360 --> 00:19:43.360 Recognizing that Jesus 00:19:43.360 --> 00:19:44.080 is speaking about 00:19:44.080 --> 00:19:44.920 spiritual bread, 00:19:45.080 --> 00:19:45.900 spiritual nourishment, 00:19:46.080 --> 00:19:46.720 spiritual life, 00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:47.759 the crowd now respond. 00:19:47.860 --> 00:19:48.400 Verse 28, 00:19:48.580 --> 00:19:49.759 and that's such a sad response. 00:19:49.960 --> 00:19:50.900 Sometimes commentators 00:19:50.900 --> 00:19:52.340 suggest this is the crowd 00:19:52.340 --> 00:19:53.360 searching for truth. 00:19:53.420 --> 00:19:54.019 I don't think that 00:19:54.019 --> 00:19:54.460 for a moment. 00:19:54.580 --> 00:19:55.320 I think this is just 00:19:55.320 --> 00:19:57.840 an expression of unbelief 00:19:57.840 --> 00:19:58.840 thrown back in the face 00:19:58.840 --> 00:19:59.220 of Jesus. 00:19:59.420 --> 00:19:59.880 Jesus says, 00:19:59.880 --> 00:20:00.340 look, 00:20:00.460 --> 00:20:02.220 I am the life 00:20:02.220 --> 00:20:03.360 you're looking for 00:20:03.360 --> 00:20:04.920 and I will give this life 00:20:04.920 --> 00:20:05.620 to you as a gift. 00:20:06.020 --> 00:20:06.900 What does the crowd say? 00:20:07.780 --> 00:20:08.800 Tell us what we have to do 00:20:08.800 --> 00:20:09.240 to earn it. 00:20:13.160 --> 00:20:14.200 Tell us what we have to do 00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:15.000 to make God happy. 00:20:18.540 --> 00:20:19.680 It's an expression 00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:21.580 of stubborn unbelief 00:20:21.580 --> 00:20:22.920 in which they push back 00:20:22.920 --> 00:20:24.000 Jesus. 00:20:24.200 --> 00:20:24.440 Why? 00:20:24.760 --> 00:20:25.720 I can only assume 00:20:25.720 --> 00:20:26.660 because they're determined 00:20:26.660 --> 00:20:27.820 to keep control 00:20:27.819 --> 00:20:31.980 through a typical 00:20:31.980 --> 00:20:33.079 religious response. 00:20:35.799 --> 00:20:36.839 If you tell us 00:20:36.839 --> 00:20:38.119 what we need to do 00:20:38.119 --> 00:20:39.639 so that God will be happy 00:20:39.639 --> 00:20:40.259 so that in turn 00:20:40.259 --> 00:20:40.859 he will deliver 00:20:40.859 --> 00:20:41.779 the good life we want. 00:20:43.379 --> 00:20:43.859 So my friends, 00:20:44.139 --> 00:20:45.079 the crowd are actually 00:20:45.079 --> 00:20:46.539 refusing the terms 00:20:46.539 --> 00:20:47.839 that Jesus just offered them. 00:20:51.099 --> 00:20:51.980 He's offered them 00:20:51.980 --> 00:20:53.819 deep spiritual life 00:20:53.819 --> 00:20:54.839 and heart satisfaction 00:20:54.839 --> 00:20:56.859 and they're rejecting it 00:20:56.859 --> 00:20:57.679 determined to keep 00:20:57.680 --> 00:20:58.220 salvation 00:20:58.220 --> 00:20:59.799 and the good life 00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:01.640 under their own control 00:21:01.640 --> 00:21:04.720 and in their own agenda. 00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:07.380 You see, 00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:07.940 in stating 00:21:07.940 --> 00:21:09.019 that he gives 00:21:09.019 --> 00:21:09.640 the good life 00:21:09.640 --> 00:21:10.340 of satisfaction 00:21:10.340 --> 00:21:10.980 as a gift, 00:21:11.259 --> 00:21:12.259 I take it that Jesus 00:21:12.259 --> 00:21:13.299 expects them 00:21:13.299 --> 00:21:13.940 to recognize 00:21:13.940 --> 00:21:15.259 and acknowledge 00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:16.500 the need for the gift 00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:17.779 because they've tried 00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:18.440 really hard 00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:19.380 to find the good life 00:21:19.380 --> 00:21:20.220 through religion 00:21:20.220 --> 00:21:21.100 and through other things 00:21:21.100 --> 00:21:22.120 and it's failed them. 00:21:24.060 --> 00:21:25.180 And he would expect them 00:21:25.180 --> 00:21:25.840 therefore to be more 00:21:25.840 --> 00:21:26.500 attentive to 00:21:26.500 --> 00:21:28.660 a viable alternative. 00:21:30.019 --> 00:21:30.519 But no, 00:21:31.380 --> 00:21:31.819 they're committed 00:21:31.819 --> 00:21:32.940 to the same old path. 00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:35.900 And remember back 00:21:35.900 --> 00:21:36.539 in chapter 5, 00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:37.619 Jesus has already 00:21:37.619 --> 00:21:38.619 had the similar argument 00:21:38.619 --> 00:21:39.099 with the Jewish 00:21:39.099 --> 00:21:39.859 religious leaders. 00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:42.519 They too should have 00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:43.000 realized 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:44.819 their rebellious hearts 00:21:44.819 --> 00:21:45.319 meant they were 00:21:45.319 --> 00:21:46.279 hard-wired 00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:47.680 to reject the good life 00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:48.640 of obedience to God 00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:49.540 and replace it 00:21:49.540 --> 00:21:50.140 with a cheap, 00:21:50.300 --> 00:21:51.160 unsatisfying 00:21:51.160 --> 00:21:52.080 substitute 00:21:52.080 --> 00:21:52.900 of their own making. 00:21:58.040 --> 00:21:58.820 They weren't looking 00:21:58.820 --> 00:21:59.259 for Jesus 00:21:59.259 --> 00:21:59.880 in the Old Testament. 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:00.380 Why not? 00:22:00.820 --> 00:22:01.360 That's the Jewish 00:22:01.360 --> 00:22:01.960 religious leaders. 00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:03.060 Jesus tells them, 00:22:03.120 --> 00:22:03.780 you weren't looking for me 00:22:03.780 --> 00:22:05.100 because you don't 00:22:05.100 --> 00:22:06.020 see any need for me. 00:22:06.019 --> 00:22:11.759 they thought 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:12.879 eternal life 00:22:12.879 --> 00:22:13.660 was to be gained 00:22:13.660 --> 00:22:14.460 simply by 00:22:14.460 --> 00:22:15.740 going through the motions, 00:22:15.819 --> 00:22:16.639 by reading the Bible 00:22:16.639 --> 00:22:17.879 and keeping all the 00:22:17.879 --> 00:22:18.900 religious festivals 00:22:18.900 --> 00:22:19.599 and doing all the 00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:20.220 religious things. 00:22:20.299 --> 00:22:20.779 That's what Jesus 00:22:20.779 --> 00:22:21.200 said to them. 00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:22.500 You think in doing 00:22:22.500 --> 00:22:22.920 these things 00:22:22.920 --> 00:22:23.700 you have eternal life? 00:22:23.799 --> 00:22:24.139 Well, he said, 00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:25.319 no. 00:22:28.900 --> 00:22:29.900 And Jesus pushes 00:22:29.900 --> 00:22:30.519 back again 00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:31.420 on this crowd 00:22:31.420 --> 00:22:31.680 and said, 00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:32.559 I'm offering life 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:34.059 much easier 00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:34.700 than you think. 00:22:34.879 --> 00:22:35.559 Verse 29. 00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:37.399 So Jesus comes 00:22:37.399 --> 00:22:37.779 back again. 00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:38.440 You can see this 00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:39.159 tussle, 00:22:39.259 --> 00:22:40.000 this to and fro. 00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:40.599 Jesus says, 00:22:40.639 --> 00:22:41.159 it's a gift. 00:22:42.159 --> 00:22:42.500 They say, 00:22:42.579 --> 00:22:43.379 tell me what to do. 00:22:44.639 --> 00:22:45.099 Jesus says, 00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:46.039 it's real easy. 00:22:46.139 --> 00:22:46.579 You don't have to do 00:22:46.579 --> 00:22:46.720 anything. 00:22:46.819 --> 00:22:47.779 You just have to believe. 00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:52.779 He rejects 00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:53.539 the religious 00:22:53.539 --> 00:22:55.000 determination 00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:57.339 that they will 00:22:57.339 --> 00:22:57.919 please God. 00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:01.259 He says, 00:23:01.339 --> 00:23:01.519 no, 00:23:01.579 --> 00:23:02.139 you won't do that. 00:23:02.399 --> 00:23:02.559 He says, 00:23:02.619 --> 00:23:03.159 what do you need 00:23:03.159 --> 00:23:03.639 to do to get 00:23:03.640 --> 00:23:04.140 this life? 00:23:04.220 --> 00:23:04.860 He's believing, 00:23:05.280 --> 00:23:06.040 believe in me. 00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:07.240 I'm the one sent 00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:07.820 by the Father 00:23:07.820 --> 00:23:08.660 to be your bread. 00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:12.600 Now, 00:23:12.660 --> 00:23:13.320 I take it this answer 00:23:13.320 --> 00:23:13.640 would have been 00:23:13.640 --> 00:23:15.180 shocking to the crowd 00:23:15.180 --> 00:23:17.020 because Jesus 00:23:17.020 --> 00:23:18.020 is totally at odds 00:23:18.020 --> 00:23:18.759 with their way 00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:19.160 of thinking. 00:23:21.540 --> 00:23:22.120 They're talking 00:23:22.120 --> 00:23:22.720 about this life. 00:23:22.800 --> 00:23:23.540 They want to earn it. 00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:24.180 And Jesus says, 00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:24.320 well, 00:23:24.320 --> 00:23:24.980 you can't earn it. 00:23:25.180 --> 00:23:25.620 What you have to do 00:23:25.620 --> 00:23:26.180 is accept it. 00:23:26.300 --> 00:23:27.560 And I am that life. 00:23:29.880 --> 00:23:31.380 I am God 00:23:31.380 --> 00:23:32.780 giving himself 00:23:32.780 --> 00:23:33.500 to you. 00:23:33.640 --> 00:23:34.840 to be your life, 00:23:34.920 --> 00:23:35.780 to be your nourishment, 00:23:36.400 --> 00:23:37.540 to be your future. 00:23:41.220 --> 00:23:42.460 But now they hold back 00:23:42.460 --> 00:23:43.220 and push back 00:23:43.220 --> 00:23:44.320 for a religious option 00:23:44.320 --> 00:23:45.380 of something 00:23:45.380 --> 00:23:45.880 they can do 00:23:45.880 --> 00:23:46.580 to cure 00:23:46.580 --> 00:23:47.720 God's blessing 00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:48.740 without having to accept 00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:49.640 God himself 00:23:49.640 --> 00:23:50.960 in Jesus. 00:23:52.420 --> 00:23:53.140 And my friends, 00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:54.140 it sounds so much 00:23:54.140 --> 00:23:54.640 like us, 00:23:54.680 --> 00:23:55.040 doesn't it? 00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:58.879 I've used before 00:23:58.879 --> 00:23:59.379 the notion 00:23:59.379 --> 00:24:00.379 that we run 00:24:00.379 --> 00:24:00.899 all the time 00:24:00.899 --> 00:24:02.139 and we're not alone. 00:24:02.359 --> 00:24:03.420 We commonly run 00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:03.859 it as Christians. 00:24:03.980 --> 00:24:04.259 We run 00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:05.079 what I call 00:24:05.079 --> 00:24:06.059 formulaic living. 00:24:08.659 --> 00:24:09.319 If we do 00:24:09.319 --> 00:24:10.920 A, B, and C 00:24:10.920 --> 00:24:11.440 for God, 00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:13.559 then it's only 00:24:13.559 --> 00:24:14.180 right and proper 00:24:14.180 --> 00:24:15.000 that we expect 00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:15.680 God to do 00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:16.720 X, Y, and Z 00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:17.279 for us 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:17.859 in return. 00:24:17.859 --> 00:24:22.479 And so when we have 00:24:22.479 --> 00:24:23.439 a contract like that, 00:24:23.500 --> 00:24:24.519 we get what we want 00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:26.139 but in a sense 00:24:26.139 --> 00:24:27.159 don't have to give up 00:24:27.159 --> 00:24:27.779 our independence 00:24:27.779 --> 00:24:28.359 or our sense 00:24:28.359 --> 00:24:28.959 of entitlement. 00:24:31.599 --> 00:24:32.539 And we don't have 00:24:32.539 --> 00:24:33.379 to treasure God. 00:24:34.339 --> 00:24:34.959 We don't have to 00:24:34.959 --> 00:24:35.599 delight in him 00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:36.000 generally. 00:24:37.179 --> 00:24:38.279 We just recognize 00:24:38.279 --> 00:24:39.199 that we need him 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:40.920 to complete 00:24:40.920 --> 00:24:41.400 his part 00:24:41.400 --> 00:24:41.940 of the formula. 00:24:47.420 --> 00:24:48.180 We recognize 00:24:48.180 --> 00:24:48.660 we need him 00:24:48.660 --> 00:24:49.080 to resolve 00:24:49.080 --> 00:24:49.700 the problems 00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:50.860 which block 00:24:50.860 --> 00:24:51.480 our happiness. 00:24:55.559 --> 00:24:56.140 Jesus said, 00:24:56.220 --> 00:24:56.779 I'm offering you 00:24:56.779 --> 00:24:57.299 a way, 00:24:57.920 --> 00:24:59.019 I'm offering you 00:24:59.019 --> 00:24:59.539 a life that's 00:24:59.539 --> 00:25:00.120 way better 00:25:00.120 --> 00:25:00.640 than anything 00:25:00.640 --> 00:25:01.440 you dare to think. 00:25:01.700 --> 00:25:02.400 I'm offering you 00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:03.279 the gift of God 00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:03.620 himself, 00:25:03.620 --> 00:25:04.440 verses 33, 00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:05.080 35. 00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:07.480 Again, 00:25:07.620 --> 00:25:08.000 the crowd 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:08.840 hold their line. 00:25:09.860 --> 00:25:10.400 And it's a real 00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:11.059 struggle that's 00:25:11.059 --> 00:25:11.620 happening here. 00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:12.799 They hold their 00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:13.400 line determined 00:25:13.400 --> 00:25:14.480 to keep control 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:15.860 and determined 00:25:15.860 --> 00:25:16.860 now to manipulate 00:25:16.860 --> 00:25:18.299 Jesus into doing 00:25:18.299 --> 00:25:19.000 what they want. 00:25:19.299 --> 00:25:19.799 And how do they 00:25:19.799 --> 00:25:20.180 do that? 00:25:20.539 --> 00:25:20.840 Well, 00:25:20.860 --> 00:25:21.559 the question is 00:25:21.559 --> 00:25:22.120 credentials. 00:25:22.819 --> 00:25:23.299 Remember the day 00:25:23.299 --> 00:25:23.660 before? 00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:24.740 They'd just seen 00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:26.080 him and experienced 00:25:26.080 --> 00:25:26.720 the miracle he's 00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:26.860 done. 00:25:26.940 --> 00:25:27.799 What do they do 00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:27.960 now? 00:25:28.039 --> 00:25:28.160 They say, 00:25:28.279 --> 00:25:28.319 well, 00:25:28.600 --> 00:25:29.140 I say Jesus, 00:25:29.559 --> 00:25:30.019 that was all 00:25:30.019 --> 00:25:30.559 very impressive. 00:25:31.059 --> 00:25:31.860 You fed 5,000 00:25:31.860 --> 00:25:32.620 from a schoolboy's 00:25:32.620 --> 00:25:33.100 lunchbox. 00:25:33.580 --> 00:25:34.160 Very good, 00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:35.920 but not enough. 00:25:36.940 --> 00:25:37.539 If you really 00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:38.059 are the prophet 00:25:38.059 --> 00:25:38.319 of God, 00:25:38.340 --> 00:25:38.740 if you really 00:25:38.740 --> 00:25:39.019 are, 00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:39.680 who you 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:39.980 say you 00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:40.120 are, 00:25:40.180 --> 00:25:40.420 then we 00:25:40.420 --> 00:25:40.740 want to see 00:25:40.740 --> 00:25:41.279 something bigger 00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:41.640 and better. 00:25:44.799 --> 00:25:45.460 It's pretty 00:25:45.460 --> 00:25:45.980 aggressive, 00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:46.680 demanding, 00:25:46.860 --> 00:25:47.340 manipulative 00:25:47.340 --> 00:25:47.880 stuff. 00:25:48.420 --> 00:25:48.960 They're really 00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:49.299 saying to 00:25:49.299 --> 00:25:49.559 Jesus, 00:25:49.860 --> 00:25:50.220 they're really 00:25:50.220 --> 00:25:50.700 putting pressure 00:25:50.700 --> 00:25:51.000 on Jesus 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:52.039 to do what 00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:52.799 they say 00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:53.319 needs to be 00:25:53.319 --> 00:25:54.100 done for 00:25:54.100 --> 00:25:54.539 Jesus to 00:25:54.539 --> 00:25:55.220 prove himself. 00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:00.819 Claim to be 00:26:00.819 --> 00:26:01.279 bigger and 00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:01.640 better than 00:26:01.640 --> 00:26:01.960 Moses? 00:26:02.620 --> 00:26:03.500 Then we expect 00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:04.180 bigger and 00:26:04.180 --> 00:26:04.759 better miracles. 00:26:04.860 --> 00:26:05.120 What did 00:26:05.120 --> 00:26:05.539 Moses do? 00:26:05.539 --> 00:26:06.019 He fed 00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:06.980 the people, 00:26:07.180 --> 00:26:07.700 the whole 00:26:07.700 --> 00:26:07.960 of the 00:26:07.960 --> 00:26:08.299 people of 00:26:08.299 --> 00:26:08.500 Israel, 00:26:08.599 --> 00:26:08.960 not just 00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:09.440 for one 00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:10.059 meal on 00:26:10.059 --> 00:26:10.619 one day, 00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:11.000 Jesus, 00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:13.579 but how 00:26:13.579 --> 00:26:14.059 many times a 00:26:14.059 --> 00:26:14.220 day? 00:26:14.819 --> 00:26:15.220 Twice? 00:26:15.659 --> 00:26:16.059 Is that right? 00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:16.879 All right, 00:26:17.059 --> 00:26:17.539 regularly, 00:26:17.819 --> 00:26:18.319 six days a 00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:19.299 week for 00:26:19.299 --> 00:26:19.940 40 years. 00:26:20.279 --> 00:26:20.680 I suddenly 00:26:20.680 --> 00:26:21.180 realized I 00:26:21.180 --> 00:26:21.500 didn't know 00:26:21.500 --> 00:26:22.079 myself there. 00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:22.920 No, 00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:23.240 I was actually 00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:23.879 just testing you 00:26:23.879 --> 00:26:24.079 guys. 00:26:24.139 --> 00:26:24.539 I do know. 00:26:24.539 --> 00:26:31.579 And Jesus 00:26:31.579 --> 00:26:32.119 holds his 00:26:32.119 --> 00:26:32.460 line, 00:26:33.940 --> 00:26:34.379 correcting 00:26:34.379 --> 00:26:35.339 them and 00:26:35.339 --> 00:26:35.859 pushing them 00:26:35.859 --> 00:26:36.259 back to 00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:36.899 recognize and 00:26:36.899 --> 00:26:37.399 accept him 00:26:37.399 --> 00:26:37.639 as the 00:26:37.639 --> 00:26:38.059 bread from 00:26:38.059 --> 00:26:38.319 heaven, 00:26:38.619 --> 00:26:39.319 the bread 00:26:39.319 --> 00:26:39.779 of life 00:26:39.779 --> 00:26:40.420 who alone 00:26:40.420 --> 00:26:42.240 satisfies the 00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:42.879 real hunger 00:26:42.879 --> 00:26:43.399 of the human 00:26:43.399 --> 00:26:43.759 heart. 00:26:44.599 --> 00:26:44.899 And once 00:26:44.899 --> 00:26:45.119 again, 00:26:45.180 --> 00:26:45.399 you see, 00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:46.220 this interaction 00:26:46.220 --> 00:26:47.039 shows how 00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:47.980 earthbound and 00:26:47.980 --> 00:26:48.799 full of 00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:49.480 unbelief they 00:26:49.480 --> 00:26:49.680 are. 00:26:50.859 --> 00:26:51.319 They actually 00:26:51.319 --> 00:26:53.180 ascribe manna 00:26:53.180 --> 00:26:54.139 to Moses, 00:26:54.140 --> 00:26:54.560 for goodness 00:26:54.560 --> 00:26:54.940 sake. 00:26:56.360 --> 00:26:56.759 And Jesus 00:26:56.759 --> 00:26:57.180 just in 00:26:57.180 --> 00:26:57.980 passing corrects 00:26:57.980 --> 00:26:58.080 them, 00:26:58.140 --> 00:26:58.440 but it's a 00:26:58.440 --> 00:26:59.040 pretty serious 00:26:59.040 --> 00:26:59.440 correction. 00:26:59.960 --> 00:27:00.240 Listen, 00:27:00.320 --> 00:27:00.680 you idiots, 00:27:00.940 --> 00:27:01.320 it wasn't 00:27:01.320 --> 00:27:02.160 Moses that 00:27:02.160 --> 00:27:02.580 gave you 00:27:02.580 --> 00:27:03.040 manna, 00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:03.980 it was God. 00:27:04.940 --> 00:27:05.380 And that 00:27:05.380 --> 00:27:06.520 manna was 00:27:06.520 --> 00:27:06.940 stuff that 00:27:06.940 --> 00:27:07.300 perished, 00:27:07.340 --> 00:27:07.680 it was only 00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:08.200 a temporary 00:27:08.200 --> 00:27:08.560 fix. 00:27:08.820 --> 00:27:09.480 I'm telling 00:27:09.480 --> 00:27:10.320 you that I'm 00:27:10.320 --> 00:27:10.800 giving you 00:27:10.800 --> 00:27:11.540 a bread, 00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:12.600 I am a 00:27:12.600 --> 00:27:13.020 bread that's 00:27:13.020 --> 00:27:13.360 far, 00:27:13.500 --> 00:27:13.900 far better 00:27:13.900 --> 00:27:14.500 than anything 00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:14.940 you've ever 00:27:14.940 --> 00:27:15.600 experienced in 00:27:15.600 --> 00:27:15.920 manna. 00:27:16.280 --> 00:27:17.020 That was the 00:27:17.020 --> 00:27:17.720 focus of your 00:27:17.720 --> 00:27:18.680 salvation picture 00:27:18.680 --> 00:27:19.220 for the people 00:27:19.220 --> 00:27:19.620 of Israel, 00:27:19.700 --> 00:27:20.120 this manna. 00:27:20.440 --> 00:27:20.640 Well, 00:27:20.700 --> 00:27:21.080 I'm telling 00:27:21.080 --> 00:27:21.200 you, 00:27:21.340 --> 00:27:21.880 I'm now 00:27:21.880 --> 00:27:22.180 going to be 00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:22.900 the focus of 00:27:22.900 --> 00:27:23.220 God's 00:27:23.220 --> 00:27:23.600 salvation 00:27:23.600 --> 00:27:25.339 picture with 00:27:25.339 --> 00:27:26.100 a complete 00:27:26.100 --> 00:27:26.779 permanent 00:27:26.779 --> 00:27:27.279 fix. 00:27:29.940 --> 00:27:30.759 I am 00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:31.240 the bread 00:27:31.240 --> 00:27:32.160 of heaven, 00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:32.519 the bread 00:27:32.519 --> 00:27:32.980 from heaven. 00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:35.440 I am 00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:36.059 among you, 00:27:36.420 --> 00:27:36.980 God is 00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:37.519 among you, 00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:38.539 giving you 00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:39.220 bread from 00:27:39.220 --> 00:27:39.680 heaven that's 00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:40.259 far, 00:27:40.420 --> 00:27:40.960 far better, 00:27:41.299 --> 00:27:42.019 way better 00:27:42.019 --> 00:27:42.259 than you 00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:42.600 could ever 00:27:42.600 --> 00:27:43.039 think or 00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:43.380 imagine. 00:27:44.539 --> 00:27:45.360 In me, 00:27:45.779 --> 00:27:46.559 God has 00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:47.180 given you 00:27:47.180 --> 00:27:48.200 himself as 00:27:48.200 --> 00:27:48.620 the source 00:27:48.620 --> 00:27:49.160 of true 00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:50.100 satisfying life. 00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:51.120 If only you 00:27:51.120 --> 00:27:51.880 would ingest 00:27:51.880 --> 00:27:52.240 me, 00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:52.500 he says, 00:27:52.579 --> 00:27:52.779 Jesus, 00:27:53.180 --> 00:27:53.640 take me 00:27:53.640 --> 00:27:54.279 into you 00:27:54.279 --> 00:27:54.960 like bread, 00:27:55.180 --> 00:27:55.620 I will 00:27:55.620 --> 00:27:56.400 nourish not 00:27:56.400 --> 00:27:56.839 only your 00:27:56.839 --> 00:27:57.180 body, 00:27:57.299 --> 00:27:57.579 but your 00:27:57.579 --> 00:27:58.120 soul. 00:28:01.799 --> 00:28:01.920 See, 00:28:01.980 --> 00:28:02.339 manna was 00:28:02.339 --> 00:28:02.779 only ever 00:28:02.779 --> 00:28:03.299 temporary for 00:28:03.299 --> 00:28:03.740 the physical 00:28:03.740 --> 00:28:04.099 body. 00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:04.779 Jesus says, 00:28:05.079 --> 00:28:05.940 I'm total and 00:28:05.940 --> 00:28:06.660 permanent fix 00:28:06.660 --> 00:28:07.400 to the basic 00:28:07.400 --> 00:28:08.019 and deepest 00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:08.819 longing of the 00:28:08.819 --> 00:28:09.400 human heart. 00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:10.960 As you 00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:11.880 ingest me as 00:28:11.880 --> 00:28:12.599 the basic 00:28:12.599 --> 00:28:13.400 ingredient of 00:28:13.400 --> 00:28:13.799 life, 00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:14.519 I will 00:28:14.519 --> 00:28:15.079 nourish your 00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:15.440 soul. 00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:15.980 I will 00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:16.839 reconnect you 00:28:16.839 --> 00:28:17.099 to the 00:28:17.099 --> 00:28:17.420 eternal 00:28:17.420 --> 00:28:18.240 community of 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:18.519 Father, 00:28:18.680 --> 00:28:18.819 Son, 00:28:18.819 --> 00:28:19.240 and Spirit, 00:28:19.539 --> 00:28:19.939 which was 00:28:19.939 --> 00:28:20.220 what you 00:28:20.220 --> 00:28:21.220 were made 00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:21.599 for in 00:28:21.599 --> 00:28:21.919 the first 00:28:21.919 --> 00:28:22.419 place, 00:28:23.559 --> 00:28:24.439 and the 00:28:24.439 --> 00:28:25.079 context in 00:28:25.079 --> 00:28:25.319 which you 00:28:25.319 --> 00:28:25.980 will thrive 00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:26.659 and grow 00:28:26.659 --> 00:28:27.099 and be 00:28:27.099 --> 00:28:27.460 healthy. 00:28:31.559 --> 00:28:32.139 And I 00:28:32.139 --> 00:28:32.359 am the 00:28:32.359 --> 00:28:32.720 bread for 00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:32.960 the whole 00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:33.399 world, 00:28:34.139 --> 00:28:34.799 says Jesus. 00:28:38.099 --> 00:28:39.179 Verse 34, 00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:42.019 they said, 00:28:42.139 --> 00:28:42.419 Sir, 00:28:42.879 --> 00:28:43.759 give us 00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:44.220 this bread 00:28:44.220 --> 00:28:44.700 always. 00:28:46.200 --> 00:28:46.439 Now, 00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:47.179 what do you 00:28:47.179 --> 00:28:47.379 think? 00:28:47.679 --> 00:28:48.039 Believing 00:28:48.039 --> 00:28:48.420 statement? 00:28:49.319 --> 00:28:49.960 Or another 00:28:49.960 --> 00:28:50.619 expression of 00:28:50.619 --> 00:28:51.139 unbelief, 00:28:51.399 --> 00:28:51.920 shallowness. 00:28:52.940 --> 00:28:53.079 Yeah, 00:28:53.539 --> 00:28:54.220 not much 00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:54.519 belief, 00:28:54.619 --> 00:28:54.779 I don't 00:28:54.779 --> 00:28:55.000 think. 00:28:55.079 --> 00:28:55.259 It's a 00:28:55.259 --> 00:28:55.740 shallowness. 00:28:55.859 --> 00:28:56.159 It's like 00:28:56.159 --> 00:28:56.480 the woman 00:28:56.480 --> 00:28:56.960 of the 00:28:56.960 --> 00:28:57.299 Samaria 00:28:57.299 --> 00:28:57.539 at the 00:28:57.539 --> 00:28:57.799 well. 00:28:59.639 --> 00:29:00.059 Senses 00:29:00.059 --> 00:29:00.299 there's 00:29:00.299 --> 00:29:00.720 something in 00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:00.940 it, 00:29:01.319 --> 00:29:02.240 but doesn't 00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:02.559 really have 00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:02.920 a clue. 00:29:10.339 --> 00:29:10.779 Unbelief 00:29:10.779 --> 00:29:11.159 again. 00:29:12.039 --> 00:29:12.480 Genuine 00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:13.200 but shallow. 00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:15.359 They respond 00:29:15.359 --> 00:29:15.980 as their 00:29:15.980 --> 00:29:17.079 sin-distorted 00:29:17.079 --> 00:29:17.859 selves, 00:29:18.480 --> 00:29:19.099 anticipating 00:29:19.099 --> 00:29:19.519 having 00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:20.319 something to 00:29:20.319 --> 00:29:20.759 make life 00:29:20.759 --> 00:29:21.299 better for 00:29:21.299 --> 00:29:21.539 them, 00:29:22.680 --> 00:29:23.559 rather than 00:29:23.559 --> 00:29:24.420 expressing any 00:29:24.420 --> 00:29:24.779 sort of 00:29:24.779 --> 00:29:25.480 connection with 00:29:25.480 --> 00:29:27.779 Jesus as 00:29:27.779 --> 00:29:28.240 the Savior, 00:29:28.379 --> 00:29:28.879 as a person. 00:29:30.299 --> 00:29:30.940 But none of 00:29:30.940 --> 00:29:31.599 that unsettles 00:29:31.599 --> 00:29:31.920 Jesus. 00:29:32.379 --> 00:29:32.740 And so the 00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:33.240 last point I 00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:33.639 want to point 00:29:33.639 --> 00:29:34.359 you to this 00:29:34.359 --> 00:29:34.799 morning is, 00:29:34.899 --> 00:29:35.420 Jesus says, 00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:36.059 I'm offering 00:29:36.059 --> 00:29:36.879 life which is 00:29:36.879 --> 00:29:37.339 real and 00:29:37.339 --> 00:29:38.619 secure in 00:29:38.619 --> 00:29:39.299 spite of your 00:29:39.299 --> 00:29:39.940 persistent, 00:29:40.319 --> 00:29:41.079 unreasonable 00:29:41.079 --> 00:29:42.460 unbelief. 00:29:42.899 --> 00:29:43.899 Verses 35 and 00:29:43.899 --> 00:29:44.200 40. 00:29:44.200 --> 00:29:46.319 I should say 00:29:46.319 --> 00:29:46.880 that lots of 00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:47.380 commentators 00:29:47.380 --> 00:29:48.360 launch into 00:29:48.360 --> 00:29:49.019 these verses 00:29:49.019 --> 00:29:50.039 with doctrine 00:29:50.039 --> 00:29:50.519 of election 00:29:50.519 --> 00:29:51.380 and predestination 00:29:51.380 --> 00:29:51.720 and stuff like 00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:52.580 that, which is 00:29:52.580 --> 00:29:53.180 all true, but I 00:29:53.180 --> 00:29:53.720 just don't think 00:29:53.720 --> 00:29:54.080 that's the point 00:29:54.080 --> 00:29:54.559 of the narrative. 00:29:54.640 --> 00:29:55.100 I think Jesus 00:29:55.100 --> 00:29:55.559 is just saying, 00:29:55.640 --> 00:29:56.460 look, what I'm 00:29:56.460 --> 00:29:57.100 talking about here 00:29:57.100 --> 00:29:57.900 is real and 00:29:57.900 --> 00:29:59.039 secure and it's 00:29:59.039 --> 00:30:01.620 not under threat 00:30:01.620 --> 00:30:02.319 because of your 00:30:02.319 --> 00:30:02.860 unbelief. 00:30:02.940 --> 00:30:03.680 It will happen. 00:30:04.860 --> 00:30:05.640 It's a reality 00:30:05.640 --> 00:30:06.460 that will happen. 00:30:06.460 --> 00:30:08.279 And Jesus says 00:30:08.279 --> 00:30:08.740 this to the 00:30:08.740 --> 00:30:09.660 crowd knowing 00:30:09.660 --> 00:30:11.059 that he is the 00:30:11.059 --> 00:30:11.759 one the crowd 00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:12.920 are hungering for, 00:30:13.160 --> 00:30:14.180 they just don't 00:30:14.180 --> 00:30:14.860 recognize it. 00:30:17.340 --> 00:30:17.740 You know, 00:30:17.779 --> 00:30:19.519 sometimes we 00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:20.120 experience that. 00:30:20.220 --> 00:30:21.120 We get really 00:30:21.120 --> 00:30:22.279 hungry and we're 00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:23.600 longing for really 00:30:23.600 --> 00:30:24.860 good food, but 00:30:24.860 --> 00:30:25.559 then what happens? 00:30:26.120 --> 00:30:27.259 We see Coke in 00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:28.660 the fridge and we 00:30:28.660 --> 00:30:30.319 get sidetracked by 00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:31.059 our addiction to 00:30:31.059 --> 00:30:31.340 sugar. 00:30:33.420 --> 00:30:34.620 And so we settle 00:30:34.620 --> 00:30:35.180 for something that's 00:30:35.180 --> 00:30:35.980 absolute crap. 00:30:36.460 --> 00:30:40.640 it's a bit like 00:30:40.640 --> 00:30:41.039 that here. 00:30:41.460 --> 00:30:44.039 Jesus knows that 00:30:44.039 --> 00:30:45.039 this crowd are 00:30:45.039 --> 00:30:45.980 longing for him. 00:30:46.279 --> 00:30:47.620 They need him. 00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:49.500 But their sugar 00:30:49.500 --> 00:30:51.600 addiction is just 00:30:51.600 --> 00:30:52.319 meaning they can't 00:30:52.319 --> 00:30:53.400 see him or won't 00:30:53.400 --> 00:30:53.740 see him. 00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:55.140 They just want the 00:30:55.140 --> 00:30:55.900 quick fix of 00:30:55.900 --> 00:30:56.720 something that's 00:30:56.720 --> 00:30:57.460 familiar and 00:30:57.460 --> 00:30:58.079 comfortable to 00:30:58.079 --> 00:30:58.279 them. 00:31:04.480 --> 00:31:05.539 Jesus points out 00:31:05.539 --> 00:31:06.019 something very, 00:31:06.019 --> 00:31:07.539 very clear in 00:31:07.539 --> 00:31:08.480 verse 36. 00:31:08.799 --> 00:31:09.319 The only thing 00:31:09.319 --> 00:31:10.740 between people and 00:31:10.740 --> 00:31:12.019 true satisfaction of 00:31:12.019 --> 00:31:14.039 deep longings is 00:31:14.039 --> 00:31:14.720 the response to 00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:15.000 Jesus. 00:31:15.139 --> 00:31:15.720 In this case, 00:31:16.259 --> 00:31:16.779 the response of 00:31:16.779 --> 00:31:17.279 unbelief. 00:31:20.599 --> 00:31:21.460 The question for 00:31:21.460 --> 00:31:22.099 the crowd, you see, 00:31:22.180 --> 00:31:23.200 ultimately, and this 00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:23.900 is the question for 00:31:23.900 --> 00:31:24.779 you and me today as 00:31:24.779 --> 00:31:24.980 well. 00:31:25.339 --> 00:31:26.160 The question for the 00:31:26.160 --> 00:31:26.980 crowd ultimately is 00:31:26.980 --> 00:31:28.119 not, do they 00:31:28.119 --> 00:31:28.859 understand? 00:31:28.859 --> 00:31:32.479 will they accept 00:31:32.479 --> 00:31:35.139 Jesus and the 00:31:35.139 --> 00:31:36.079 life, the eternal 00:31:36.079 --> 00:31:36.679 life, the good 00:31:36.679 --> 00:31:38.339 life that he offers 00:31:38.339 --> 00:31:39.079 on his terms? 00:31:41.259 --> 00:31:42.299 And that's exactly 00:31:42.299 --> 00:31:43.219 the question you and 00:31:43.219 --> 00:31:44.199 I will be divided on 00:31:44.199 --> 00:31:44.519 today. 00:31:44.519 --> 00:31:44.619 Okay. 00:31:44.619 --> 00:31:54.759 But Jesus says in 00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:55.519 spite of massive 00:31:55.519 --> 00:31:57.500 unbelief, he will 00:31:57.500 --> 00:31:59.299 deliver perfectly his 00:31:59.299 --> 00:32:00.319 father's salvation 00:32:00.319 --> 00:32:01.599 purpose. 00:32:01.899 --> 00:32:03.539 Every single person 00:32:03.539 --> 00:32:05.519 that the father 00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:07.000 intends to save and 00:32:07.000 --> 00:32:08.139 bring into eternal 00:32:08.139 --> 00:32:10.619 life will be saved 00:32:11.259 --> 00:32:11.839 and brought into 00:32:11.839 --> 00:32:12.519 eternal life. 00:32:16.699 --> 00:32:17.879 Every person that 00:32:17.879 --> 00:32:19.179 God intends to 00:32:19.179 --> 00:32:20.299 give life to as a 00:32:20.299 --> 00:32:21.240 gift will come to 00:32:21.240 --> 00:32:22.179 Jesus in trust 00:32:22.179 --> 00:32:24.439 because the father 00:32:24.439 --> 00:32:25.179 will powerfully 00:32:25.179 --> 00:32:25.740 draw them to 00:32:25.740 --> 00:32:26.039 Jesus. 00:32:27.059 --> 00:32:28.379 Every single person 00:32:28.379 --> 00:32:29.139 that is drawn to 00:32:29.139 --> 00:32:30.500 Jesus will be kept 00:32:30.500 --> 00:32:31.699 totally safe and 00:32:31.699 --> 00:32:33.240 secure until finally 00:32:33.240 --> 00:32:34.519 they're raised into 00:32:34.519 --> 00:32:35.659 a full experience of 00:32:35.659 --> 00:32:36.439 eternal life. 00:32:37.339 --> 00:32:38.059 And eternal life, 00:32:38.139 --> 00:32:38.559 remember, is not 00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:39.740 just life without end, 00:32:39.799 --> 00:32:40.399 which we might think 00:32:40.399 --> 00:32:41.339 about, but it's 00:32:41.339 --> 00:32:42.079 actually a life of 00:32:42.079 --> 00:32:43.079 total satisfaction, 00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:45.919 complete joy, 00:32:46.119 --> 00:32:46.959 absolute security. 00:32:47.359 --> 00:32:48.099 All of that's 00:32:48.099 --> 00:32:49.099 involved in eternal 00:32:49.099 --> 00:32:49.539 life. 00:32:49.959 --> 00:32:50.659 It's the life we 00:32:50.659 --> 00:32:52.240 were created to 00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:53.699 enjoy. 00:32:53.939 --> 00:32:54.839 We don't enjoy 00:32:54.839 --> 00:32:55.319 because of sin. 00:32:55.519 --> 00:32:56.139 It's the life we 00:32:56.139 --> 00:32:56.980 long for. 00:33:04.779 --> 00:33:05.759 What keeps you from 00:33:05.759 --> 00:33:06.220 having it this 00:33:06.220 --> 00:33:07.019 morning if you're 00:33:07.019 --> 00:33:07.519 not already a 00:33:07.519 --> 00:33:07.759 Christian? 00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:10.720 Well, your 00:33:10.720 --> 00:33:11.240 response to 00:33:11.240 --> 00:33:11.519 Jesus. 00:33:11.819 --> 00:33:12.519 Simple as that. 00:33:13.579 --> 00:33:14.140 And you get two 00:33:14.140 --> 00:33:14.500 options. 00:33:15.019 --> 00:33:15.680 You can say, well, 00:33:15.839 --> 00:33:16.420 this doesn't make 00:33:16.420 --> 00:33:16.920 any sense. 00:33:18.140 --> 00:33:19.660 Or you can come to 00:33:19.660 --> 00:33:20.460 Jesus and say, well, 00:33:20.500 --> 00:33:23.000 look, Jesus, I don't 00:33:23.000 --> 00:33:24.200 fully understand, but I 00:33:24.200 --> 00:33:25.000 want to understand. 00:33:25.660 --> 00:33:27.500 I know I'm longing 00:33:27.500 --> 00:33:29.180 for this life. 00:33:29.559 --> 00:33:30.500 You're telling me that 00:33:30.500 --> 00:33:32.100 life is to be found in 00:33:32.100 --> 00:33:33.079 you and not in some of 00:33:33.079 --> 00:33:33.940 these other places I've 00:33:33.940 --> 00:33:34.779 pursued all my life. 00:33:35.140 --> 00:33:35.819 Well, Jesus, I want to 00:33:35.819 --> 00:33:36.779 really pursue that with 00:33:36.779 --> 00:33:37.200 you now. 00:33:37.200 --> 00:33:41.720 open my eyes, break my 00:33:41.720 --> 00:33:42.980 addiction to crappy 00:33:42.980 --> 00:33:45.819 sugars, and help me to 00:33:45.819 --> 00:33:47.799 see what's really new. 00:33:53.420 --> 00:33:54.620 It's a wonderful picture 00:33:54.620 --> 00:33:55.900 of God's goodness and 00:33:55.900 --> 00:33:56.740 generosity for his 00:33:56.740 --> 00:33:56.980 people. 00:33:59.019 --> 00:33:59.779 But look at the 00:33:59.779 --> 00:34:00.759 response, verse 41. 00:34:00.880 --> 00:34:01.440 I'm just going to leave 00:34:01.440 --> 00:34:01.779 it hanging. 00:34:01.900 --> 00:34:02.460 We've got two more 00:34:02.460 --> 00:34:03.279 weeks to deal with this 00:34:03.279 --> 00:34:03.580 passage. 00:34:03.740 --> 00:34:04.279 I'm just going to leave 00:34:04.279 --> 00:34:05.100 it hanging this morning. 00:34:05.099 --> 00:34:07.339 Look at the response in 00:34:07.339 --> 00:34:08.159 verse 41. 00:34:08.400 --> 00:34:09.179 They've heard of the 00:34:09.179 --> 00:34:11.000 goodness of God in 00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:12.940 Jesus, wanting to give 00:34:12.940 --> 00:34:15.039 them this good life, that 00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:16.599 satisfying bread as a 00:34:16.599 --> 00:34:18.119 gift, not that they have 00:34:18.119 --> 00:34:19.739 to earn or work for, but 00:34:19.739 --> 00:34:21.420 just believe and take and 00:34:21.420 --> 00:34:22.360 accept as a gift. 00:34:26.539 --> 00:34:27.380 And they grumble. 00:34:27.380 --> 00:34:27.660 Nice. 00:34:27.740 --> 00:34:28.619 Thank you. 00:34:28.619 --> 00:34:58.599 Thank you.