Gospel of John - Receiving God's Seal of Approval Part 1

 

The Bread of Life - Receiving God’s Seal of Approval

Part 1

John 6:23-35

In our world, most everyone desires to have the approval of their peers, some for the right reasons others for their own selfish prideful reasons. Jesus came into the world not to seek the approval of the sinful people he came to save, but to do the work of God, thus doing the work of God, he would receive the approval of God.

Let’s look at the first portion of the text, “Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.”` The people who had followed him to Bethsaida the previous day, who had their sick healed, their hunger satisfied, who had spent the night on the knolls of Bethsaida reminiscing on the words of Jesus, were now in search of Jesus the next day only to realize that Jesus was no longer there.They found boatmen from Tiberias who had seen Jesus and his disciples pull to shore in their one boat. Intrigued, they went in search of Jesus in Capernaum. Now the crowd may have hired the boatmen or walked to Capernaum which would have been a short journey. It was only a 6 mile walk by land. 

When they found Jesus on the other side of the sea, they asked “When did you get here?” For they knew he had not got into the boat with his disciples, and they too had experienced the weather from the squall and wind on shore. Again, Jesus knowing the very thought and motive of their words went to the heart of their intentions. Jesus answered their question honestly, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.” Jesus knew what they really wanted, and he went to the heart issue. They had had their human needs satisfied. They had sought him out and followed him to this side of the lake. They still wanted to make him king, and they even called him Rabbi. They had seen miracles, heard his teachings, yet they weren’t seeking Jesus for salvation, believing in Him that he is the One sent from God. They needed to yield their lives by being honest and denying themselves, and putting to death selfish and worldly desires. Jesus knew they wanted to put their seal of approval on him, to make him their worldly leader. They thought by searching for him, and following him because he provided for their human needs this would earn his approval.

Jesus knew their motives were from the flesh and not the Spirit. They were hungry for worldly satisfaction, not Spiritual. He then begins to correct them in love, “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

Application - Bread has long been the staple at meals all around the world, and as far back as the beginning of civilization. Adam had to grow crops, and from this came the first bread. So it is that mankind has longed to have his physical and fleshly needs fulfilled. In the rise of religions in the world, mankind has placed importance on meeting needs. The idols that man created all focus around the flesh and physical needs of man. Whether it is praying for good harvests, plentiful rain, victory in battle, bountiful physical pleasures and prosterity. 

We are not much different today, many come to churches to fulfill their physical, emotional, or societal needs. They sit and participate in worship with their lips, but not with their hearts and spirits. They long for God to meet their needs, and they put their seal of approval upon their churches or leaders/pastors by the outcome of their met needs. Jesus sees through the fleshly desires, and he longs to have people to come and worship God in Spirit and Truth. 

I’m not sure we comprehend that Jesus knows our hearts and thoughts, but I’m sure that he knows the secrets of every heart, “If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god, would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart?” Ps. 44:20-21 

Jesus is not wanting us to just look for him to just fill our bellies at potlucks, or bless us with physical blessings. He desires that we seek him with all our hearts, souls, and spirits, for his kingdom is a kingdom of righteousness . As the scriptures said, “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Next, the people understood the natural hunger every human experiences, and the fulfillment to satisfy the flesh. Jesus used the feeding of bread to illustrate what they truly needed, eternal life. Let’s look at the text, “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” Jesus begins with describing bread that spoils (molds or becomes hard and stale). Everyone understood that nobody wanted to eat bad, week old bread, they wanted it fresh. They also knew that everyone must work. Labor was something every Jew understood painfully. Jesus applies the fresh bread to food that endures to eternal life. Many were the days of the jewish people under tyrannical rulers where they worked for stale bread, and these memories were etched into their conscience. Jesus wanted to give them bread that endured with freshness, liken to the mercies of the steadfast love of God, that the writer of lamentations wrote, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lam. 3:22-23)

Jesus wanted them to know the true bread, the Son of Man in which God the Father placed his seal of approval, the Son of Man, the One sent from heaven. But the people only understood that the seal of approval came through good works, righteous works of obeying the law that earned one the approval of men and God.

They asked Jesus another question,  “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Approval has always been tied to requirements. It was an achievement you could only reach by working, and when it came to God, it was tied to the Laws, both oral and written. So when the question, “What must we do to do the works God requires? It was met with the answer, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

Jesus was leading them to understand the purpose and plan of God. They could not earn their salvation through fleshly means. They must believe in the One whom God the Father promised he would send through the writing of Moses, David, and the prophets. The sacrifice of man and half-heartedness was not what God desired, “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but my ears You have opened. Burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not require.” Ps. 40:6, "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams.” 1 Sa. 15:22, To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.” Prov. 21:3

Application - the writer of Hebrews said, “For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer. You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin. Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God—as is written about me in the Scriptures.’” 

Jesus is not looking for our works or offerings to earn our way into heaven, nor should we seek to place our seal of approval on Jesus. God has already placed his seal of approval on Jesus. Jesus mentioned earlier that he didn’t need man’s testimony about him,  “He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.” Jn.2:25 

Jesus knows our hearts and our thoughts. People are creatures of sinful habits, and they desire to exalt others in order to receive acceptance and blessings. Many are quick to align themselves with a person in order to attain favors or position. Like the people in this text, many people's desire to follow Jesus is in ascertaining their fleshly will and purpose. 

Jesus wants us to believe in him for salvation, to trust him in yielding ourselves to his will not ours. God the Holy Spirit has set his seal on every believer “In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, and [as a result] believed in Him, were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit [the One promised by Christ] as owned and protected [by God].” (Eph.1:13 AMP), and when we stand before Him in Heaven, and it is God’s seal of approval  we will hear, “...‘Well done, good and faithful servant…” Matt. 25:21

Last, the people still had more questions for Jesus. Let’s look at the text, “So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’”

Jesus, in desiring for them to know the truth, answers their question with a correction of their understanding of history. First, the people desired a sign, again something that they could put their approval upon. Jesus, knowing this, opened the word of God to their ears and hearts. He began with their understanding of manna from heaven. They could only understand that manna filled the physical needs of the body, and that it was Moses who gave it miraculously everyday as promised. First, Jesus explained that the manna was from God, not Moses. Moses had spoken to God about the needs of the people, and God provided, but God has done something better in their days. He has given them the true bread from heaven, bread that comes from God that gives life to the world. They didn’t understand the symbolism of scripture to Jesus being the true bread from God the Father. They asked Jesus to give them this true bread that they would never hunger again physically. Then Jesus, desiring to open their eyes to the truth of scripture, revealed who he was, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” 

Application - Jesus when tempted by the devil, responded to the devil tempting on feeding Jesus’ hunger, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Luke 4:4 

Today, God’s word reveals the symbolism and types of the bread mentioned in the scriptures. The bread of the passover, bread without yeast, was the symbol of Jesus as the sinless One. Yeast being a type for sin, Jesus was the bread without sin. The manna from heaven given to the Israelites in the desert, was again a symbolism of Jesus as the bread from heaven, the promise of true bread from God. In the Lord’s prayer, “...give us this day our daily bread.” was again symbolism of God’s faithfulness, grace, mercy, and life itself. And the bread of the communion, it is the symbolism of salvation through Jesus' broken body as the sacrifice for the sins of the World. 

Today, Jesus is still desiring to open the eyes and hearts of those who will seek him with their whole heart. Like the men of the road to Emmaus, Jesus spoke to them from scripture about all that the Messiah had to suffer then enter his glory. It wasn’t until they were breaking Bread and Jesus gave thanks, and then their spiritual eyes were opened, and they understood the true bread, the bread of life, that came from heaven was in their midst.

Today, Jesus is still speaking into the hearts and ears of those who will listen, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” 

I hope that you will believe in Jesus today, and partake of the bread of life. He is our only salvation.

 I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation (JD Farag). Please, Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second,

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

I am developing a new webpage on Spiritual warfare. Please give it a look. I’m adding answers each week to questions that pertain to our time today.  Thank you

http://uss-warfare3.webnode.com