Gospel of John 6:22-59
Notes
Transcript
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.
joh 6:22-24
Where is Jesus now? (vs. 22)
Where is Jesus now? (vs. 22)
The boat is gone, but the disciples left alone.
The boat is gone, but the disciples left alone.
Which way did He go?
We are not told how many boats were used but we can assume there are fewer people who made it across the lake than there had been when they were given food to eat. (vs. 23)
They are at the place where Jesus had fed the people, and given thanks, only Jesus isn’t there now. (vs. 24)
A lot of people are confused.
They’re looking for the power that provided food for them.
He’s not there anymore.
They keep looking.
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.”
The crowd asks Jesus, “When did you get here?” (vs. 25)
They’re probably too afraid to ask, “How did you get here so fast?” but that is probably what they want to know.
Jesus unmasks their intentions: They wanted food that required no work on their part. (vs. 26)
They ate and were satisfied.
That seems to be the kind of satisfaction they are after - free food, and no empty stomach.
Jesus tells them not to seek food that provides temporary satisfaction, instead work for eternal life. (vs. 27)
Jesus is showing the contrast between physical and spiritual work.
The Father put His seal on Jesus at his baptism when the dove descended, and the voice of God was heard - but this is not recorded in this Gospel.
The crowd Jesus telling they need to work, but ignores His claim to be the Son of Man. (vs. 28)
What should we do to do God’s work?
Jesus stays focused on telling them about who and what He is. (vs. 29)
The “work” is believing in Him who God sent.
This defines the work of God, or the work God wants them to do.
This work is what is meant by coming to Jesus:
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
John 6:35-37
The presence of faith is the yard stick to measure a person’s works.
30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
Clearly, Jesus’ works have not led them to faith. (vs. 30)
The crowd quotes from and . (vs. 31)
Why do they bring up manna?
It’s what they’ve been talking about ever since Jesus gave the bread and fish to the people.
Jesus builds on the Biblical quotation used by the crowd. (vs. 32)
Jesus accepts that these people represent the same people that Moses was referring to.
Jesus refers to “My Father” for the fourth time. Previous times were:
16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.”
17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”
43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.
Jesus refers to the “true bread of heaven”, as if the manna wasn’t the “true bread of heaven” but there is something else that is the “true bread of heaven.”
This true bread of heaven comes down from heaven.
This true bread of heaven gives life to the world. (vs. 34)
The people say: “Sir, give us this bread always.” (vs. 34)
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
They sound desperate.
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
But do they want spiritual bread or physical bread?
They are very much like the Samaritan woman at the well, who asked Jesus for the water that He could give to her that would be like a bubbling spring within her that would cause her to never thirst again. ().
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.
37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
John 6:
Basically, Jesus says, “I’m not going to provide any more free meals. Look, I’m the bread of life. I can eliminate all of your spiritual hunger. I can satisfy your spiritual thirst. (vs. 35)
Jesus gives life to the world.
This is not so much about what Jesus can do for them, as it is about who Jesus is.
Look closely: Jesus isn’t promising these people anything.
Jesus’ promises are not for the people who are listening to Him right now. (vs. 36)
He tells them: You have seen me and do not believe.
These people just don’t get Jesus.
Those who believe are a gift from the Father to Jesus, but those people whom God has given to Jesus are not part of this crowd seeking a free lunch. (vs. 37)
Jesus says He will not drive out the people the Father has given to Him.
Sort of implying He’s going to be driving some people out, maybe these people.
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.
39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
Jesus refers to himself as “I”, not the Son of man. (vs. 38)
Jesus is saying that He didn’t come down from Heaven to play games.
Jesus says He has a job to do, He’s on an assignment given to Him by His Father.
Jesus isn’t interested in getting converts. (vs. 39)
The Father has given Him all the followers He wants.
If these people aren’t part of the people the Father has given Him, He doesn’t seem to want them.
However, He’s not worried about losing followers.
The Father will not give Him anyone and later take that person away.
If a person belongs to Jesus - that’s it - they can’t get lost later.
This is what Jesus is saying here.
The Father will raise up all the people who belong to Jesus on the last day.
That’s a guarantee from God, the Father.
There is no guarantee that is more sure.
Jesus gives the Father all the credit (vs. 40)
This is all according to God’s will - it’s all part of His big plan for creation.
Everyone who believes in Jesus will have eternal life.
Jesus Himself will raise them up on the last day.
In verse 39 He said the Father would raise them up.
He Jesus says He will raise them up.
They are the same person, the Father and the Son are one God.
41 So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”
42 They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”
43 Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves.
44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
45 It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—
46 not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father.
Now it is the “Jews” who murmur against Jesus, not the “crowd”. (vs. 41)
They aren’t comfortable with Jesus’ claim that He is the “bread that came down from heaven.
They also probably don’t like the fact that he said they won’t receive eternal life.
That couldn’t have made them happy to hear him say that.
They say, “Wait a minute. We know this guy. He’s just the son of a carpenter. Where did He get these big ideas?” (vs. 42)
Jesus answers: (vs. 43)
Only certain people can come to Jesus. (v.s 44)
And you sure aren’t one of these special people.
Only those who are drawn to Jesus by the Father can come to Jesus.
Jesus will raise them up on the last day.
Not new information.
Yet, it clarifies, yes, Jesus is saying you aren’t one of the heaven bound people.
The prophets foretold this (vs. 45):
If someone really has been following God, they will also follow me.
Take note: If a person really has been taught by God, they will follow Jesus.
Jesus is saying these people haven’t been taught by God.
A big insult: Jews who don’t know about God -
like a fish out of water,
A banana without a peel
A car without tires
And by the way, “I’m the only one who has actually seen God.” (vs. 46)
None of you have seen God, but I have.
I know what I’m talking about, but you are ignorant of such things.
Doesn’t Jesus realize that talk like this can get a person into trouble?
47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.
48 I am the bread of life.
49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.
50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.
51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
If you believe in me you will have eternal life (vs. 47).
I am the bread of life (vs. 48).
Your ancestors ate manna and died (vs. 49).
Manna wasn’t the true bread that came down from heaven, Jesus is.
Manna was a prefigurement of Jesus, the true bread that came down from heaven.
This bread, the true bread, that is me, gives life that doesn’t pass away (vs. 50).
It is more “true” than manna, which you ate and later died.
In case you missed it: I am the living bread that came down from heaven. (vs. 51)
Eat my flesh - like in communion - believe in me - and live forever.
Oh, but wait, that doesn’t apply to you because you don’t really believe in me because all you want is a free meal that you didn’t have to life a finger to get.
Does Jesus realize how dangerous it is for Him to talk like this?
52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.
57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.
58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”
59 Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.
The people are confused - how can we eat this guy? (vs. 52)
Jesus says: “You’ve got to eat my flesh or you will die” (vs. 53)
Eat my flesh and drink my blood - and you will receive eternal life - then I will raise you up on the last day (vs. 54).
My flesh is true food. (vs. 55)
What is true food?
He means spiritual, eternal sustenance.
My blood is true drink .
Eternal sustenance.
But why is this food more true than the fish and the loaves of bread?
You’ll still die someday if you eat that food.
The true food and true drink will enable you to live forever.
Eat my flesh, drink my blood - then you will be abiding in me. (vs. 56)
Put your faith in him and find your source of life is actually in Him and in Him alone.
There is more to this life that you are about to receive than just living much longer.
I am here because the Father sent me, life comes from Him, I have the source of life, draw your strength, draw your life from me, and live a life based on me alone (vs. 57).
This is the bread, the true bread from heaven, eat this bread and live forever (vs. 58).
Jesus said these things in the synagogue in Capernaum.
A very dangerous thing to do.
Jesus was taunting the powers of Satan that were at work within the religious structures in Israel.
He wanted them angry, so they would crucify HIm and He could save us.
Jesus draws some to Himself while others He pushes away.
Jesus divides the people into believes and non-believers.
He categorizes them as those who have life and those who don’t.
Will you receive Him now, under those conditions?