TO BELIEVE IS TO LIVE
Jesus went to Tiberias and a great many people followed Him because of the miracles He was performing. While sitting with the disciples Jesus asked, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” John 6:5. He knew but He was testing Phillip’s faith. Phillip’s reply was there wasn’t enough money to buy the food they would need. There was a lad nearby who had five barley loaves and two fish. Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” John 6:10. He took the loaves, gave thanks to the Father and began to distribute the bread and fish to the crowd. After they finished eating He told the disciples to pick up the leftovers, which filled twelve baskets. Upon seeing this miracle the people wanted to make Him king. Jesus did not want this to happen so He withdrew from the crowd to the mountains alone.
At evening time the disciples got into a boat to cross the sea to Capernaum. Jesus did not go with them. As they were crossing the sea the winds began to increase and frighten them. All of a sudden they saw Jesus walking on the water and He sais to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” John 6:20. As soon as He stepped into the boat they were immediately transported to the other side of the sea.
The next day the crowd found Jesus. They asked Him the time He arrived. He ignored the question (obviously of no importance) and told them they were seeking Him only because He fed them. He explained they should be seeking Him to do the work of God rather than worry about food. Upon asking Him what the work of God was, He answered, “This work of God is this; to believe in the one he sent.” John 6:29.
The crowd wanted to have some proof of Jesus’ claim and they told Him that Moses gave their ancestors manna (bread) in the wilderness to eat. Jesus said: “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven. He then tried to explain that He was the bread and He was sent from Heaven and anyone who would believe in Him would never be hungry (they would be saved). John 6:35 says, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” Jesus used many metaphors to communicate, however at this time in addition to the metaphor, He told them in simple terms (“…even though see me you do not believe”) He said He receives everyone the Father gives Him and never leaves anyone out. He explains the reason He came on earth was to give eternal life to all that believe Him, which was the Father’s will. John 6:40 says, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.:
They continued to mumble about Him and their utterances of disbelief. They were asking themselves how this person, the son of Joseph, could possibly be who He says He was. Jesus then explains: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:44. Jesus reminds them of the writings of the prophets that it is written that those “…who listen to God the Father learn from Him” and will seek Jesus. He continues to elaborate on the issue of the need for people to believe that He is the Savior of the world, that salvation is the reason for His presence, that He is indeed the ‘bread of life’, (to believe this is to be saved in Jesus). The bread their ancestors ate did not give them eternal life. The disciples were having a difficult time understanding all this. So He repeated and I quote, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.” John 6:65. Many of His disciples withdrew because of this statement. It was hard for them to accept it. Jesus looked at the 12 and asked them if they were going to leave Him also and Peter said to Him that they would not leave Him because they believed Him. Jesus then reaffirms that He has chosen them, “Have I not chosen you, the twelve? Yet one of you is a devil.”
What is the teaching here? The first 21 verses assure me of God’s provision and for anyone who believes. The miracle of the feeding the crowd is a sure sign of His provision. Verses 22-40 clearly teach Jesus knows the heart of man and He certainly knows and knew my heart the instant I was conceived in my mother’s womb. I do not believe because He can perform miracles, I believe because I accept the facts of what He is saying in His Word as being the absolute, unequivocal truth. I am confident God knows my heart. The more I learn and pray, the deeper and stronger is my faith. It brings a joy and a smile to my being. It is indeed an exciting journey, especially when one knows the destination. Needless to say, God knows the phonies. Verses 41- 71 clearly demonstrate that God is not a fool, He is not going to draw anyone to Jesus who will not accept Him as the eternal Son of the eternal Father. Please remember God is omniscient. He emphasizes this point again in verse 65. Jesus never gives up trying to teach the truth even though He knows who will and who won’t. He gives everyone an equal chance. No one will ever be able to say he didn’t know or have an opportunity. He does this with a love and patience that I find difficult to understand, but He does do it. He knows the hardened heart. A metaphor can sometimes be difficult to understand its true meaning and just about impossible with a closed mind and hardened heart. The disciples (12) understood because they believed in Him and His claim to be the Savior of the world and that He was sent from God.
Verse 29 should be singled out because it is the very basis of Jesus’ sacrifice for us. The ‘work of God’ is to believe in Jesus. This is all He demands of us. No sacrifices, no rituals, no working for salvation, nothing more than accepting and believing Jesus has paid the price ‘once and for all.’ As Jesus spoke His last words on this earth, “It is finished.” He did it all on the cross. Believe this and I’ll see you in Heaven.
The meaning of this chapter is very simple for me. I believe it all and will continue my life with the assurance and confidence provided to me through my believing and accepting Jesus as my personal Savior. I know that He will provide for me, as He already has, in accordance to His will, which I accept without any reservation whatsoever. I know that I am with Him, now and forever. I accept His teaching in this chapter, which is eternal life in Him.
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