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Jn6a2004N.doc

The work of God

The Work of God

John 6:25-71

Key Verse 6:29

In verse 26 Jesus said, “…you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs…” What do Jesus’ words indicate about Jesus’ purpose in performing the sign (recorded in John 6:1-15)? What can we learn from Jesus’ rebuke in verse 26?

** By performing signs (such as feeding a multitude with a small amount of food), Jesus wanted to prove that He is the source of real food and real drink.

Sign  directs one to a destination. The destination is Jesus’ Christ, the source of life for all.

** We learn that we should graduate from the stupidity of a monkey which is interested in banana and nothing more than that. To some, a banana becomes a marriage partner, to another a material blessing. Still to another peace of mind.

This is called an “alpha” problem, for you seek Jesus plus alpha. This alpha hinders you from coming to know Jesus in person, so you end up forfeiting the real blessing Jesus came to offer.

Clearly their motive in coming to Jesus was not right, for the right motive should be to seek Jesus himself, nothing more or less than that.

Unless one sets aside this alpha, no matter how diligently he studies God’s word, he will never meet Jesus in person, and grow mature.

Consider Jesus’ rebuke in verse 27. What does this passage show us about Jesus? What can we learn from Jesus’ rebuke?

** Jesus wants us to give what is best for us, that is, the food which endures to eternal life. Jesus is the God of love. Love seeks what is best for others.

** We learn that instead of seeking quick and temporal benefits we must seek what is eternal, that is, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

[Note: “Do not work for food that spoils” does not mean that we should goof around doing noting. Rather we must work hard to be financially independent and become a source of blessing to others, for 2Th 3:10 says, “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." All it means is to keep the spiritual order straight. Remember that Jesus fed them first. But this should not mean that they should seek a free Big Mac all the time. If they ate, they then need to think about what is spiritual, for man is not only a fleshly being but a spiritual being.]

Compare the question in verse 28 with the answer in verse 29. What does their question show us about the crowd? What does Jesus’ answer tell us about Jesus?

What can we learn from this comparison?

** They were subject to cursed desires. (6:15) What Genesis 3 says is true of them, that is, since man lost faith in the Lord, and thereby fell from a blessed position as God’s child, man had to work, work, and work, to get something to fill his stomach, and then return to dust. In a sense they are no different than the prodigal son who after leaving his father’s house worked as a pig feeder, starving to death.

** It shows two things: 1) Jesus had in mind the things (work) of God, whereas the crowd had in mind the things (work) of man; and 2) Jesus lived by “faith” in God, whereas the crowd struggled to live by the work of their own hands.

The difference is that while Jesus focused on what God can and is going to do for us in and through Jesus, the crowd focused on what they can do with their hands for salvation.

Salvation is by God, through God, and for God. It is not by man, through man, and for man.

Further, salvation is by faith (in God), not by work (of man.)

** We can learn that instead of living according to our cursed way of life, we must live according to God’s blessed way of life, that is, living by faith in God, not by faith in our fists or the like.

Verses 30-42 indicate that there is a large disparity between what the crowd was trying to get from Jesus and what Jesus desired to give them. What did they want from Jesus? What did Jesus want to give them? What should one do to receive what Jesus came to give? (35,40) What hindered them from believing in Jesus? (42) How can we overcome such hindrance(s)?

** More free Big Macs

** The life which is truly satisfying, which is to be enjoyed in a resurrected body.

** The superficial knowledge about Jesus made them proud. Their thoughts about the “human” side of Jesus blinded them to see the “divine” aspect of Jesus.

** We need to empty ourselves of our own thoughts. The minute we think we know something about Jesus, we are in danger of not knowing as much as we are supposed to know about who Jesus is (and what he can truly do for us.)

5.In verses 43-51 Jesus explains who can come to him and receive what he came to give. Specifically verse 45 says, “They will be taught by God. Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.” What does this passage say about Jesus? How are “listening”, “learning”, and “coming” connected to one another? What does it mean to: 1) “listen”; 2) “learn”; and 3) “come” to Jesus? What does this observation tell us about the way to practically experience the “work of God”?

** Jesus is God. Jesus quoted Isaiah 54:13 where the word “LORD” refers to Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Jewish people revered the LORD so much that they refused to utter the name LORD.

** They come in a sequential order: first one must listen to God’s word, then learn of it, and then one must come to Jesus, for Jesus is the point of the whole Scriptures.

** 1) Listen - to pay attention to sound <listen to music>; to hear something with thoughtful attention : give consideration <listen to a plea>; to be alert to catch an expected sound <listen for his step>

It is mainly to figure out exactly what is being said.

2) Learn - to gain knowledge or understanding of or skill in by study, instruction, or experience <learn a trade>; to HYPERLINK "http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=memorize" memorize <learn the lines of a play>; to come to be able <learn to dance>; to come to realize <learned that honesty paid>

This is to secure the capability to do what is being required.

3) Come – this is the goal, that is, coming to Jesus for fellowship. The word “come” is a biblical idiom for the “invitation” to fellowship with Him.

Example: Isaiah 55:1

Look at verses 52-59. Jesus says that his flesh is real food and his blood real drink. What does it mean for one to consume Jesus just as one eats chicken teriyaki or drinks orange juice? What does Jesus promise to do for those who consume him?

** It means to accept Jesus fully into your life, just as one accepts food or drink into one’s body, so that the food or drink would nurture his physical body.

** He will have: 1) Jesus’ life growing inside; 2) enabling him to continue to remain in Jesus; 3) resulting in a resurrected life in Jesus.

Consider Jesus’ answer (62-63) to his disciples. What does Jesus’ “ascension” tell us about the Spirit (not flesh) that gives life to men? Of the Twelve, Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus but the rest remained. What does Simon Peter’s answer in verse 68 teach us about the secret to see God’s work fulfilled within us?

** It is the living example of the life which is a spirit-dominated physical body, which is made perfect for the life in the new heavens and new earth.

** It is to retain Jesus’ words of eternal life.

The end