In The Word
Read: John 6:22-40
22 The next day the crowd that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other small boat there, except one, and that Jesus had not entered with His disciples into the boat, but that His disciples had gone away alone. 23 There came other small boats from Tiberias near to the place where they ate 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 small boats, and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus. 25 When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?”
Words to the People
26 Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.27 Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” 28 Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” 30 So they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so 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 out of heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven.33 For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” 34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will 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 the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Some of the most powerful words spoken by Jesus are found in our reading today. Salvation and eternal life are laid out for us in the most elementary terms. You cannot work for it. Man just needs to accept the free gift of grace and mercy from a heavenly Father. Paul shares with us in Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace you are saved through faith; that not of yourselves, it is a gift from God; not as a result of work, so that no man may boast.” The Pharisees believed their salvation came from being a Jew with the sign of circumcision. Jesus, on the other hand, began to teach a new way to salvation: believing in His name and believing that He is who He says He is, the Son of God.
You have to love the simplicity of John’s gospel. When people ask me, “Which gospel should a new believer read?” I always answer, “John!” Luke shares with us what Jesus did, but John shares with us who Jesus is! In verse 33, Jesus told them that the bread of God comes from heaven and will light the world. The people replied, “Lord give us this bread.” Jesus said, “I am the bread. I am right here.” Verse 40 says, “Everyone who believes in Jesus Christ will have eternal life.” This is the will of the Father, and it is as simple as that!