Who Will You Trust?

John 6 is all about who will you trust. We are going to start right at the beginning, I hope you have your Bibles. Open with me to John chapter 6. I am not going to read it out loud, but I want you to follow along. I will be reading and referencing the ESV, English Standard Version. John is over 3/4 of the way through the Bible, before Acts, but after Luke. John 6, let me recast the story for you.

The feeding of the 5000

Hey, you guys doing anything tonight? It’s almost 2000 years until the invention of the tv and the first televised professional Football season and I’ve got nothing going on, what about you?

We’re going to see if we can’t catch this Jesus guy. Apparaetnly, this guy’s been going around … you know your sister’s husband’s cousin’s sister said the she saw him heal a guy just the other day, it’s crazy.

He’s been going all over the place

So we’re all going to go see him, I think he’s in town.

So here we are 5000 people are out on the mall, wait, no, we’re on A - Mountain, except, it’s green like the mall. (Love Mark - sat down in groups of 50s on the green grass…) (A mountain in August 2021)

He’s been talking a little while with a couple hundred people and now the entire freshman class of uofa is all walking up the hill right now.

I think he said something about dinner, did you bring anything? No did you?

Wait, he just took that boys dinner. What’s he going to do with it?

Now we’re sitting down in family groups on the grass

Then we eat dinner. In the wilderness, no fast food, no catering, nothing readily available, I just wanted so bad to see Jesus I came here without anything to eat, I kinda figured I’d just not eat tonight, but no my stomach is full, man and we’ve got leftovers!!!

Where’s he going to be at tomorrow, if he keeps this up, I’ll follow him anywhere!

What do we see in this story? What is the point that John is telling us as he wrote this down?

He’s telling us to trust Jesus Trust Jesus

Trust Jesus to give you what you need

Trust Jesus to give you what you need because He knows (Jn 6:6 - he himself knew)

What you need

What you’re going through

Trust Jesus to give you what you need because He provides (Jn 6:11 - as much as they wanted)

Only 24 hours later and the crowds all abandoned him!

WHY? ??

Let’s keep reading to find out

After the meal Jesus and the disciples go separate ways. They leave across the sea and he goes up the mountain. He’s got to have his alone time with the Father.

The disciples left hours earlier, but it’s after dark and they still haven’t made it (Jn 6:17) because they are facing a head wind.

That’s when things go from bad to worse. The seas start to get real stormy (Jn 6:18)

Dark, wet, not making any progress and their little boat is rocking real bad.

Honestly, they’re probably going to die. At least they think so

Then? A ghost… Jesus is walking across the water and making progress. I couldn’t even imagine what it looks like. Scripture says Jesus was walking. Just walking, like No Big deal.

So what is the purpose of this passage? What is John teaching us through this passage? To trust Jesus!

Trust Jesus to comfort you in trouble

Trust Jesus to comfort you in trouble because he has the power

Miraculously feed thousands of people (we just saw)

Walked on water in a storm (John 6:19 walking on the sea, like NBD)

Trust Jesus because he cares for us (knows v. 6 AND cares v.20)

They were glad to take him in (John 6:21)

The presence of Jesus should make us feel better

So now, we made they make it across the seas. The people are like hey? Where’d that magic meal maker go? We need to follow him. Maybe he’s do eggs and bacon, Wait no bacon… we’re kosher.

They follow him around the sea by foot and catch up with him the following day. And they’re like Jesus, what’s up, how did you get here??

And Jesus pours cold water on them right away.

John 6:26 ESV

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.

From here to verse 59, is one of the longer and more difficult passages of Jesus sayings.

So what is John trying to teach us about Jesus in this passage? To Trust Jesus.

Trust Jesus for eternity

I want to walk through four reasons for trusting Jesus for eternity that we find here, This is a long passage, not going to be able to read it all, but here are four reasons to trust Jesus for eternity found here in John 6

Trust Jesus for eternity because He is forever Jn 6:27

Jesus rebuked his followers for pursuing a fleeting comfort

He said, uh-uh, this bread stuff only lasts like a few hours. Ever eat at McDonalds and feel hungry as soon as you finish? Is that just me? Do not work for the food that perishes

We will never be truly satisfied if we only pursue fleeting comfort

We do this ALL the TIME. I do this. We will always end up disappointed whenever we live for our own comfort .

Trust Jesus for eternity because What he offers is better than anything else Jn 6:35

Jesus offered his followers something better than bread v. 35 (I am the bread)

What Jesus offers us is better than material comfort

Whereas working for comfort will disappoint us, working for Jesus will satisfy and fill us. Instead of seeking comfort in relationships, or good grades, or a good career, what Jesus offers will never run out, go away, or leave us. This bread is awesome.

Trust Jesus for eternity because He is God Jn 6:45

Jesus challenged his followers to see him as more than a free meal

Only Jesus came from God (Bread of heaven that came down)

Only the one sent from God has seen God

The death and resurrection of Jesus proves his divinity

The body of Jesus was broken and the blood of Jesus was poured out at the cross

This is what eating his flesh means, it means accepting his sacrifice.

Then his resurrection proved that he was legit.

He says he is God. he says he will resurrect. He then resurrects. Boom. Divinity proven.

Trust Jesus for eternity because He is the source of a joyful life Jn 6:56

Jesus offered his followers eternal life

Jesus offers us eternal life

Eternal life is a joyful life. We are not talking wandering in the wilderness. Continuing to eat and drink. We are talking about worship and joy and peace.

Who will YOU Trust?

His “followers” left him because they only trusted for a meal Jn 6:66

His disciples remained because they trusted him for comfort Jn 6:68

One would betray him because they still didn’t trust him for eternity Jn 6:71 (but they would)

John Wesley

Fresh out of college at Oxford, the great British Methodist John Wesley was perplexed over England’s complicated social problems: slavery, economic uncertainties, corruption, drunkenness, gambling, and prostitution. This deeply religious, sensitive soul became a parish minister and, subsequently, a missionary to American Indians along the coast of Georgia. His ministries were far from successful. Disappointed and discouraged, he returned to Britain.

During the voyage, his ship was raked by a raging storm. Wesley was unashamedly frightened. In fact, the only calm persons aboard were Moravian missionaries. Noticing their behavior, Wesley asked if they were not afraid. “Why should I be afraid,” one answered, “I know Christ.” Then, with disarming directness, he asked, “Do you know Christ?” Wesley was uncomfortable, for in his heart he now realized he did not know Christ.

Back in London, on Wednesday evening, May 24, 1738, John Wesley attended a society meeting and worship at Aldersgate Street and listened to a reading of Martin Luther’s preface to the Book of Romans. The rest is history. According to Wesley, “About a quarter before nine.… I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for my salvation.”

The presence of Christ brings comfort, but John Wesley realized his fear meant he had not fully trusted in Jesus.

Who will YOU Trust?

So, where are you today? Do you know the peace of Jesus? Are you ready to trust him for eternity?

If you do then are you sharing this with others? Is your trust in Jesus evident in your life?

I’d like to encourage you to right now think of one part of your life that reveals you are not trusting Jesus. Then afterwards, I would like you to share that one thing with one other person. Ask them to pray for you to help you trust Jesus in this one area of your life.