John 6:22-29 Labor For The Food That Endures

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Labor for the Food that Endures

John 6:22–29

Introduction: In the first 21 verses of this chapter, Jesus reenacted the whole Exodus story. Lest you think that this is an odd way to reach the Jews or to reach anyone who was seeking God, this was a well-known and predictable way that God communicated. It is not just “words” of scripture that are prophetic. Fulfillment of prophecy is also a result of echoing events in Israel’s history in order to illustrate God’s ultimate salvation. And, it isn’t that God was not clear about this. Moses spoke of another Moses like himself. And Isaiah foretold of a new Exodus and a greater, restored nation. 

Therefore, when the time of the Passover came and Jesus brought the people into the wilderness, went up on a mountain, and fed them, then came down the mountain and walked across the sea, it was quite obvious Jesus was proclaiming himself not only the new Moses, but Yahweh of old who led his people to the Promised Land.

Thus the “story” itself is a sign. It is a proclamation of a new and greater Exodus and a call to the people to turn and follow the Lord out of bondage. 

The question before us is the same as it was for them: Will you recognize the new deliverer and follow him? The answer to that question may seem obvious, but as we will see, it is not as simple as we might think.

1. Feeling the Movement of the Text
   1. In 6:11-12, John makes an amazing observation: food was distributed to the people “as much as they wanted.” And again, “…when they had eaten their fill…” We are all aware of what it feels like to be on a camping trip and eat food at the end of the day, especially eating your fill. It seems to taste better than any food cooked at home. I think of the satisfied feeling 5000 men plus women and children had after finishing the meal Jesus provided. “Wow,” they must of been thinking, “Did you just see what happened! This Jesus just set a table for us in the wilderness!” Yes, another says, “I am just stuffed. So good, so good.”
   2. A little later, the multitude was disappointed to see Jesus send his disciples away and go up on the mountain. With that, they took their rest until morning while others went to their homes and returned at daylight. But Jesus was not there. Recognizing this, they got in their boats and went to Capernaum. Verse 59 tells us that Jesus was teaching in the synagogue.
   3. Can you just see their perplexity and wonder when they found Jesus? “Rabbi, when did you come here?” After the meal the night before, they were tracking his every movement. This triggered a conversation that does not end well for the multitude.
      1. Jesus immediately challenged their intent in seeking him. It was not about the “sign.” In fact, they didn’t even see the “sign.” It was about their stomach. It’s breakfast time!
      2. For a moment the people seem to connect with what Jesus is saying: “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus replied, “The work of God is to believe in him whom he sent.” 
      3. Their reply is incredibly funny if it were not so sad: “What sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform?” What! 12 hours ago you were sitting fat and happy in the middle of a desolate wilderness. You ate a feast from five barley loaves and two fish. And you are asking for a sign? You didn’t even see the first sign.
      4. If that reply is not incredible enough, John is inviting us to compare a previous incident with the Samaritan woman at the well and the Samaritans in the village from which she came. Jesus did not create water for her or give her a lifetime supply. Jesus told her to ask and he would give her living water. She went and told the city and the whole city believed without seeing one sign! 
      5. The conversation really took a turn when Jesus said that “the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (vs. 33). And again, “I am the bread of life” (vs. 35).
      6. With that, verse 41: “So the Jews grumbled about him…” 
   4. Did you see the progression? Filled to the brim, content and satisfied just 12 hours before. Now, they are not happy with this Jesus fellow at all! For one thing, where’s breakfast! And for another, this guy thinks he’s God just because he fed us. After all, he is certainly no Moses who gave us bread in the wilderness for 40 years! Be the Jesus we want you to be or we will dump you.
2. Why Do You Seek Jesus?
   1. “You are seeking me, not because you saw the signs…” Your first thought might be, of course they saw the sign. Why else would they have wanted to make him king? No, you must differentiate between miracle and sign. It is the same difference between being amazed at the stories in the Bible but never seeing the glory of God.
   2. The last part of the sentence identifies the problem: “you are seeking me…because you ate your fill of the loaves.” Here’s the problem: “It isn’t me that you seek, you seek what I can give you concerning your physical desires.” 
      1. Remember that the day before Jesus had reenacted the story of Moses and Israel in the Exodus. And now we see the crowd reacting to the sign in the same way Israel reacted to God giving them manna. All they saw was “food.” They did not see or believe in the God who produced the food. They did not trust and love the God who delivered them and provided for them.
      2. The multitude saw the miracle and are following him because they want to be fed. They are acting just like Israel in the wilderness. They will follow God when it is beneficial for them, but when God didn’t immediately feed them or give them drink, they wanted to go back to Egypt. If you are going to give me something, then I will follow you. Their enthusiasm is not for who he is, but for what he gives.
      3. Now contrast this with the disciples in the boat. Jesus commanded them to go to the other side. They rowed all night and still was only halfway when Jesus came walking on the water. I’m impressed with what was not said. They did not say, “Where have you been! We have been rowing all night. Why didn’t you deliver us earlier? Why did you tell us to go across the sea in this big storm? What kind of Savior are you? No, when they knew it was him, “they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.” 
      4. Are we like the disciples or like the multitude? The disciples just want Jesus. No matter the circumstances, they are glad to have Jesus with them. The multitude? They want another free meal. Their life is about the earthly, the physical, and if Jesus can provide that, then they want Jesus. Please notice verse 36: “But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.” Cf. John 2:23-24 
      5. Jesus did not come to fulfill our desires. Jesus came to change our desires so that we will come to him for what we truly need. It may be subtle even in our own lives. Do we seek him to fulfill our desires and meet our expectations? Do you love him for his gifts? Or do we love him and seek him because he is your life, your bread? If this truth will sink into our hearts then it will end any notion of asking how much we must do in God’s service. if we have to assemble at all services, if we have to worship, if we have to serve, if we have to give, and so forth. The multitude represents a heart that is not in love with who Jesus is but merely in love with what Jesus gives.
   3. Application: 
      1. it is truly amazing that this same narrative is being reproduced in the typical church today. Churches have commercialized the gospel message to fit the same desires that these Jews clamored for – “Dinner was great! What’s for breakfast?”
      2. Notice further that Jesus did not feed them again the following day. Feeding them was not the mission. To continue to feed them would have confirmed their desire for an earthly king and an earthly kingdom and an earthly gospel message.
3. For What Are You Laboring?
   1. Note Jesus’ followup admonition: “Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life.” Jesus uses comparative statements, Do not work for…but work for… He is not saying to quit your job. He is saying that your true, primary labor is for the food that endures to eternal life. Note the obvious reason: laboring for food that perishes has no lasting effect. It lasts for a few hours. Laboring for the food that endures into eternal life is forever food. Which food is worth our primary efforts?
      1. Can you imagine someone telling you that they are starving, and then explaining that the reason they are starving is because they had been so busy in the last month that they didn’t have time to go to work. And then said, “I’m sure you understand.” 
      2. We would be appalled at the utter foolishness. “Isn’t being able to eat and stay strong more important than whatever you were busy with?” 
      3. Listen to Isaiah: “Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but bruises and sores and raw wounds; they are not pressed out or bound up or softened with oil. Your country lies desolate; your cities are burned with fire; in your very presence foreigners devour your land; it is desolate, as overthrown by foreigners.” (Isaiah 1:5–7)
   2. Jesus is the only Bread. He is the true Bread. There isn’t any other. Therefore consider: there are two kinds of “bread” and our souls are eating “food” every day. Our souls continue to consume. We consume what we think we need to survive, to be comfortable, to find some rest and joy while living our brief life. But Isaiah said, “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 yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David” (Isa. 55:2-3).
4. The Work of God Is That You Believe (29)
   1. “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent” (29). How did the Jews hear these words? It is obvious by their answer. “What works would you like us to do?” Typical. They are thinking of a list of works Jesus will give them. That is the way they think, and that is the way we think.
   2. Look at it again. The work of God is to believe in him whom he has sent.” It was God’s work to send his Son. We did not do that work, and it was impossible that we could do anything. God did it and we are called to trust his work. Cf. Romans 10:5-10.
   3. Consider this “trust/belief.” Did you know that most people, even many believers, would prefer to find salvation apart from trusting in Jesus? You might think that such a thing couldn’t be. People love a belief only system. Not so. Trusting in Jesus is one of the most difficult things we Christians have to do. It is far, far easier to trust in our works, trust in ourselves. We do it with hardly any discomfort at all. Simply go to your Bible and pick out the commands in scripture that you think are the most important – the ones you believe truly demonstrate your dedication to God! Perfect! Now you have an exact way of measuring your faith and assuring yourself of salvation. Congratulations! You have just become a first century Jew, and you are condemned (Romans 9:30-33).
   4. Verses 31-35 “The bread of God is he who comes down from heaven…” 
      1. Verse 31: Do you see their response? Oh, oh, do something like what Moses did!
      2. Verse 32: Jesus tries again so they will get the point. “Moses didn’t give you the bread from heaven!” The bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.
      3. Do you see their response? Sounds good, doesn’t it? “Sir, give us this bread always.” Ha! They still don’t get it. Then Jesus says it plainly: I AM the Bread of Life. 
   5. What do we do with bread? What do we do with food? Do we make it all perfect and pretty and set it on the counter and admire it? One of those food channels is something I love to hate! Oh my it looks good, but I can’t pull it out of the TV and eat it! Is that what we do with Jesus? We prop him up in worship and admire him. He’s so beautiful! That’s not why he came! He came to be consumed! That’s why he called himself bread. Don’t admire the Bread of Life, consume him.

Berry Kercheville