The Work of God

Read

John 6:22–29 (ESV)

22 On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 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.

25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 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. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

Opening Prayer

Setting the Stage

Jesus has just fed a crowd that could have been as large as 20,000 people.

He miraculously fed them from two fish, and five barley loaves.

Everyone in the crowd ate until they were full.

And, more was collected at the end than what was started with.

Imagine the word spreading around about that kind of miracle.

A miracle that John tells us cause the crowds to perceive that Jesus was the prophet that was foretold about in the OT.

But, they wanted to make Jesus their earthly King.

They wanted Him to rule, but for the wrong reasons.

And, so Jesus sent the disciples to Capernaum…

And, Jesus went to pray on the mountain.

Another miracle occurred that no one but the disciples and the Lord knew about.

Jesus rescuing the disciples from the storm by walking on water and getting into the boat…

Instantly making the wind and waves cease…

And, instantly making the boat arrive at its destination some three miles away.

Now, they’ve arrived in the area of Gennesaret and Capernaum…

Which actually border one another.

And from what Matthew and Mark tell us they landed in Gennesaret…

But this discourse that John records takes place in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Matthew & Mark tell us that as soon as they got out of the boat people recognize Jesus.

They’re spreading the word of Jesus’ arrival and people from all over the region are bringing the sick for Jesus to heal.

Where ever Jesus went in the region…

villages

cities

countryside

even marketplaces

Jesus could not go anywhere that people weren’t pressing upon Him to heal them.

We’re even told that as many touched the fringe of His garment they were healed.

John transitions us from the beach landing in Gennesaret to the synagogue in Capernaum.

John doesn’t tell us what took place from the shore of Gennesaret through the villages, marketplaces, etc.…like Matthew and Mark do.

John has us in the Synagogue in Capernaum for this discourse.

Now let’s read…

John 6:22–24 (ESV)

22 On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 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.

So, word of the miraculous feeding had spread.

People came to where it happened.

—> Jesus wasn’t there.

—> The boat they were in wasn’t there.

So, the people left to Capernaum to look for Jesus.

Meanwhile Jesus was teaching and healing from the time he landed all the way to Capernaum.

Now we read…

John 6:25 (ESV)

25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?”

Most likely they made their way following the trail of Jesus and His disciples and finally caught up with Him in the place He stopped.

Which John tells us later was the synagogue in Capernaum.

So, they ask Him when did you come here.

Notice the title they ascribe to Him…

Rabbi, when did you come here?

So, are we seeing legitimate respect and concern from the people for Jesus?

Or are we witnessing…

Flattery for Selfish Gain

The Bible defines flattery as insincere praise used for the intention of gaining favour with others.

Psalm 12:2 (ESV)

2 Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

This is just one example of how the Bible views flattery.

It is joined with a double heart.

Deception is behind it.

Selfish ambition is behind it.

The psalmist even goes on to request that God remove all flattering lips from the land.

Flattery is a loathsome thing.

And, we may not be able to discern it as readily as we’d like…

But Jesus can discern it perfectly…

And He calls them on it,

John 6:26–27 (ESV)

26 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. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”

He doesn’t want them to think they’ve deceived Him.

He doesn’t want their consciences soothed into believing they like Him when it is really the gifts they prefer over the Giver.

And, Jesus tells them:

You’re not concerned with me.

You don’t care that you couldn’t find me.

You don’t even truly think of me as a Rabbi.

But, you do want the gifts that I have the power to give.

If Jesus were to drop barrels of food in the city that replenished as food was taken…

And, then he walked away…they wouldn’t follow Him…

And, Jesus knows it.

And, He wants them to know it.

What Jesus is saying to them is penetrating…

He’s using the Law to convict them.

The command to love the Lord their God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength.

They’re not obeying.

They’re breaking this command.

They’re choosing the gift over the Giver.

They’re choosing the creation over the Creator.

And, He wants it to pierce their heart so that they will see their sin…

Acknowledge their selfishness…

Acknowledge their deceptive ways…

Feel the keen sting of sin upon them…

And, recognize that the miracles are for them to recognize Him.

And, desire Him over the gifts.

I want us to think about this…

What we are witnessing in what Jesus is saying is…

The Piercing, Omniscient Glare of the Lord

And, in this heart piercing statement of the Lord, we find needed correction for the people…

John 6:27 (ESV)

27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”

Let’s think about this...

Have you ever gotten caught up in the monotony of temporal things?

Have you ever caught yourself thinking…

I get up every week day and do this, then this, then this.

Work, Family, Sleep.

Work, Family, Sleep.

Meals peppered in at appropriate times.

We eat something in the morning. By midday we feel hungry again.

We eat lunch, by evening we’re hungry again.

Over, over, rinse, repeat.

And, I think it is natural to ask…

Is this all there is?

Thank God that is not all there is.

Jesus says: “Don’t spend your life pursuing that sort of thing. Don’t spend your life pursuing that which has no ultimate significance.”

Eternity awaits.

Eternity bears the ultimate significance.

This life is but a vapor.

Eternity is forever.

The Lord is drawing a line in the sand…figuratively speaking.

He’s distinguishing the temporal from the eternal.

He’s calling their attention to the truth that the eternal is of much more significance.

It deserves their ultimate attention.

It deserves their ultimate pursuit.

Will they heed the call of the Lord?

Will they actually allow Him to be Rabbi, their Teacher, as they’ve claimed Him to be?

Well, they miss the point completely.

And they respond with a question…

And I believe it is a loaded question that manifests that they are…

Blinded by Self-Righteousness

Look with me at…

John 6:28 (ESV)

28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”

I think there are two things being said…

#1 What does God require of us? We are ready and able to perform it.

#2 How can we do the things that you are doing?

The first component of the question is what blinds them.

It manifests they’re blinded by the delusion of self-righteousness.

They think they can meet the standard that God requires, which is keeping the Law with perfection.

This sort of thinking by the Nation of Israel is repeatedly confronted by God throughout the OT and the NT.

They literally think they can please God on their own.

They’re blinded to their own sinfulness...

And, the stench of it in the nostrils of God.

The second component of their question exposes their desire to keep getting the gifts of God, such as healings, feedings, etc….

The temporal gifts and comforts.

It’s like…Hey, how can we have God work in us to do these things?

Not only are they in bondage to the delusion of self-righteousness.

They are in bondage to temporal comforts over eternal needs.

Jesus knows this truth about their bondage and their need…

And once again in gracious words, with kindness towards them so that they might see and be saved...

He responds to their question…

John 6:29 (ESV)

29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

Jesus answers their loaded question with an answer that addresses both components of their double question.

First, by addressing…

Mankind’s Ultimate Concern

If you want to be right with God.

If you want to know what God requires of you to be right with Him.

Believe in Him whom He has sent.

The requirement to be right with God is faith in His Son.

Faith that His perfect life, atoning death, and victory over death is for you.

Jesus addresses the second component by showing them how God does work in us.

How does God work in us?

How can we have God working in us?

How can we know if God is working in you and through you?

The ultimate proof of God working in your life

The greatest expression of God working in you and through you…

Is faith in His Son.

Not temporal gifts or the ability to bestow them.

The greatest sign that God is at work in you is that you have Faith in Jesus Christ.

And, we have a Savior that has rescued us for eternity.

We have been placed in a covenant that He kept for us…

And, hence, we cannot break…

Nor, will God ever exile us from it.

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Closing Prayer