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John 6:22-29 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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My name is Alex Kohler, if you do not know me.
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I will admit, when Nathan asked me to preach,
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he did not tell me that I would be doing so for Providence Baptist.
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So, I hope I'm in the right place, but I think we'll be alright.
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I'm really excited to get into our text today.
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Our text can be found in John chapter 6.
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We'll be in verses 23 through 29 today.
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And like I said, I'm really excited to get into it.
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We are continuing our study of the book of John,
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and we will be coming off two amazing miracles
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that Jesus had performed early in the chapter,
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both the feeding of the 5,000 and Jesus walking on the water.
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Last week, as we got to see, and as Colson put it,
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we got to see the storm as a red carpet for the king to declare
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and demonstrate his authority.
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I love that phrase, and I love how Jesus' disciples
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got to see the miracle and respond to it,
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and now have been miraculously transported to the other side of the sea.
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Our text now picks back up the morning after that
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with a crowd now confused to where everyone has gone.
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Before getting into the text,
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I want to remind you of the purpose of the book of John
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and why he includes the things that he does.
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You may remember that John actually tells us directly
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in chapter 20, verses 30 through 31,
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that Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples
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which are not written in this book,
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but these, that is the works that John is writing about,
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are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ,
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the Son of God,
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and that by believing you may have life in his name.
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So, about this, consider what John is saying.
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John, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,
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is writing these specific things so that we may have life,
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meaning it is no accident that it includes
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these specific miracles and interactions.
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These were not just some cool stories
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that John thought would be entertaining,
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but these are specifically and intentionally written words of Scripture
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and sufficient for the task of proving that Jesus is the Christ
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and that by believing in him we may have life.
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John says that is the purpose of the whole book,
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it is the purpose of chapter 6,
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and it is the purpose of our passage today.
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How great it is that we get to study these intentional words.
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As Nathan and Colson have both pointed out,
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regarding the miracles,
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the signs that Jesus performed were amazing,
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but pointed to something greater.
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And much like those of Jesus' day,
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there are those who recognize this greatness
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and those who do not.
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Today we'll get the opportunity to see
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how those who are present in Jesus' day
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to witness these events,
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respond to him,
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and how that can inform our hearts as well.
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So, before we begin and get into our passage,
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let's pray for the Lord's help.
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Heavenly Father,
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thank you so much for the opportunity we have
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to open up your word
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and to study it this morning.
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I pray that you would reveal its truth to us,
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that you would speak through me,
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and that you would give me clarity of thought and mind.
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I pray that as we study the responses of the crown,
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that it would be both a warning and encouragement for us
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on how we ought to respond
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to the works and words of Jesus Christ.
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Thank you again for these people.
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I pray that you would give all of us listening ears to hear,
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and I pray this in your name.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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So, John chapter 6, starting in verse 23,
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John writes,
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Other boats from Tiberias came near the place
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where they had eaten the bread
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after the Lord had given thanks.
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So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there,
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nor his disciples,
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they themselves got into the boats
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and went to Capernaum seeking Jesus.
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When they found him on the other side of the sea,
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they said to him,
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Rabbi, when did you come here?
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Jesus answered them,
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Truly, truly, I say to you,
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you are seeking me,
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not because you saw signs,
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but because you ate your fill of the loaves.
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Do not work for the food that perishes,
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but for the food that endures to eternal life,
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which the Son of Man will give you.
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For on him God the Father has set his seal.
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Then they said to him,
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What must we do to be doing the works of God?
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Jesus answered them,
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This is the work of God,
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that you believe in him whom he has sent.
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This passage begins what is called
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the bread of life discourse,
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where Jesus will reveal himself as the true food
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that leads to eternal life,
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and by calling those who want to be his disciples
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to eat his flesh and to drink his blood.
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It will cause the crowd and the Jews around
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to grumble and dispute and take offense
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at how difficult a saying it is to accept.
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Our passage serves as a transition
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between the works that Jesus has been performing
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earlier in the chapter,
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That's the feeding of the 5,000,
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walking on water,
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and then the aforementioned of Jesus' teaching
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that come later.
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I mentioned that John likes to show us
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the response specific people had to Jesus
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and his works.
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This passage is an encouragement
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on how to respond well to the works of Jesus
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and a warning against responding wrongly.
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This idea of showing two paths
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is very common in the Gospels,
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and John is no exception.
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John warns us to look for this dichotomy
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at the beginning of his book.
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John 1, verse 9 says,
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The true light which gives life to everyone
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was coming into the world.
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He came to his own,
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and his own people did not receive him.
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But to all who did receive him,
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who believed in his name,
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he gave the right to become children of God.
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So the question to ask of anyone
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who interacts with Jesus
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is how did they respond to him?
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So let's examine this question
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as we experience this narrative
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through the eyes of those known as the crowd.
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And we will do this by examining the passage
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with three points.
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Point number one,
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the crowd seeks Jesus.
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Point number two,
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the crowd asks a question.
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And number three,
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the crowd responds,
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and then I'm putting in parentheses wrongly.
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But we don't know that yet.
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So, number one,
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the crowd seeks Jesus.
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John tells us that
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other boats from Tiberias
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came near the place
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where they had eaten the bread
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after the Lord had given thanks.
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So when the crowd saw that
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Jesus was not there,
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nor his disciples,
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they themselves got into the boats
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and went to Capernaum
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seeking Jesus.
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The news of the miracle
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of the feeding of 5,000
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spread quickly
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as it drew the attention
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of the region.
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The fact that Jesus was able
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to feed such a large number
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of people for free
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would probably not have been
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kept a secret for very long.
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John notes that boats
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from Tiberias
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were on the east side
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of the Sea of Galilee
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along with the crowd.
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This makes sense
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as Tiberias was an important city
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on the sea,
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so their boats being
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in the sea as well
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does not strike us
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as surprising.
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But it is not 100% clear
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in the passage
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why all of them are there.
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It has been suggested
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that it might be because
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of the storm that took place
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earlier.
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Just a little bit ago,
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there's that storm
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that Jesus ended up
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walking on water,
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so maybe that forced
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the boats there.
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Or perhaps these
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from Tiberias
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might have heard about
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the large crowd
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and so wanted to serve
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as some type of water taxi,
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bringing their friends
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or as a business opportunity
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people from one place
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to another.
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But another,
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and I would argue
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more probable reason,
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is this,
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simply the prospect
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for more free food.
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The text itself
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refers to the place
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where the crowds
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currently were,
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that is that east side,
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simply as the place
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where they had eaten
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the bread after the Lord
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had given thanks.
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So, as a result,
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that location would probably
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have attracted
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a lot of attention.
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Regardless of the exact reason
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for the ships being there,
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the crowd ultimately
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want to find Jesus.
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If you remember,
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we saw that in verse 15,
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there were even those there
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who wanted to come by force
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to take him
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and make him king.
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So, whether their motives
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were some kind of hunger
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or fervor,
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they ended up traveling
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to the west side
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to Capernaum
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where Jesus was.
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Stopping on Capernaum,
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why is that city significant?
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And that's because
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that would possibly be
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the best place
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to find Jesus.
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Matthew records for us
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that when Jesus
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began his ministry,
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and here's that
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John had been arrested,
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he withdrew into Galilee,
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and leaving Nazareth,
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he went and lived
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in Capernaum
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by the sea
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in the territory
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of Zebulun and Naphtali.
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This might have been
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something that was known,
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perhaps not.
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At the end of the day,
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it ended up being
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a very logical place
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to look,
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and they do end up
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finding him there.
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Providing for us
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an even more specific place
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than just Capernaum,
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John records for us
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in verse 59 of chapter 6
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that Jesus said these things,
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the things that we're
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about to read,
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in the synagogue
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as he taught at Capernaum.
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And so,
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the ensuing conversation
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most likely took place there.
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Upon finding him,
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they are eager to talk.
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John does not record for us
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how many people
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make up the crown,
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but it is reasonable to think
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that some of it
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was made up of the 5,000,
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which means it was likely
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a sizable number.
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And I will give them credit.
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A lot of effort
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and coordination
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probably went
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into getting all of them
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over to that side of the sea.
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Not only did they have to
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coordinate all the boats
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to get over,
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but then all successfully
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work together
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to find just one person.
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So,
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in a way,
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they are seeking after Jesus.
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The question is though,
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how do we know
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if they are seeking rightly or not?
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Let's find out
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if looking at
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how they greet Jesus,
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which we'll begin
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our second point,
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and that is,
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the crowd asks a question.
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The crowd asks a question.
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Because it was not clear to them
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how Jesus got
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to the other side of the sea,
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they ask him
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a decently logical question.
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They say,
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Rabbi,
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when did you come here?
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Make sense?
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This initial interaction
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reveals much about their heart
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and why they wanted
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to see Jesus.
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In a sense,
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they are seeking after him,
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but they are trying to put
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all the pieces together.
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But as Jesus himself
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will point out,
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it is not for the right reason.
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Taking a little bit of liberty
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from the other gospel accounts,
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we see that the 12 initially
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also responded
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in a confused manner.
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As Mark 6.52 says,
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that even the disciples
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did not understand
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about the loaves,
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but their hearts were hardened.
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It is not until they saw
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the work that Jesus did
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walking on the water
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that they seemed
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to begin to understand.
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John specifically notes
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that they were glad
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to take Jesus into the boat
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when they saw him,
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and they wanted to be with him.
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Matthew even records
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that those in the boat
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worshipped him,
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saying,
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truly,
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you are the Son of God.
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They had been amazed
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at the miracles
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that they had seen him perform,
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which led them to be
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in awe and worship
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of Christ himself.
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The crowd
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has a different response.
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This question they ask
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is not a response
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of worship.
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Unlike the disciples,
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it would seem
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that they do not recognize
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any true significance
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in the person of Jesus.
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Notice one other thing
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in the words that they choose.
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By using the term
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rabbi,
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which John has already told us
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means teacher.
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It's a very formal
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and respectful way
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to call someone.
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They consider him
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someone that they can learn from.
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But using this term
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in our passage
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is rather ironic
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because they will ultimately
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disagree and misunderstand
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his teaching.
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I know it's getting
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a little ahead,
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but that is what happens.
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Know earlier also
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how they wanted
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to make him king,
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but as we will find out,
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have their own idea
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of what his kingdom should be,
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and so have no clue
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what it means
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for Christ to actually reign.
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It seems that at this point
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they are at the very least
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confused,
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and it is about far more
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than how Jesus got
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to the other side.
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At this point,
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let us not respond
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with pride
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considering the actions
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and words of the crowd
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with contempt,
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or thinking that we would have been
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more faithful
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in their situation.
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Let us instead
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find ourselves
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in the crowd today
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not looking for ways
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to emulate their behavior,
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but rather finding
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regretful familiarity
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with their desire
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to seek after Jesus
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for something other
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than himself.
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So Jesus responds,
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but interestingly,
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totally ignores the question.
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He decides not to entertain
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their query
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or expound
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on how he got
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to the other side
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of the sea,
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but instead says,
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truly, truly,
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I say to you,
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you are seeking me
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not because you saw signs,
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but because you ate
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your fill of the loaves.
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So there it is.
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Jesus starts
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with his often used phrase,
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truly, truly.
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It marks that what follows
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is extremely important.
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Another way to say this
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might be,
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listen to this,
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this is important.
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It is both a call
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to the listener
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or reader
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to pay attention
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and of the authority
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of the words being spoken.
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It also means
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that what he is about to say
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is simply true.
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It can be trusted.
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There's no doubt
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that what he says
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is the case.
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Up to this point,
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we might have been confused
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about the motives
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of the crowd,
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but that ends
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with Jesus' words here.
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So what are they
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ultimately seeking after?
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Jesus confirms
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our suspicions
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and tells them
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that it is the bread.
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They ate their fill
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of the loaves
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but missed the significance
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of the sign
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and were impressed
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with the sign itself.
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I will say,
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please do not miss
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the amazing nature
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of the sign.
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I know Nathan talked about it
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a couple weeks ago,
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but that Jesus was able
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to multiply the loaves
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and display his power
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over creation
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and ability to create
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something from pretty much
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nothing is incredible.
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What Jesus is doing
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is telling the crowd
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that the danger
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is seeing what he did
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as nothing more
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than an amazing
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catering event.
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What this sign tells us
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about who Jesus is
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is far more significant
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than that.
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He tells us more
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about what he means
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as he continues
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to answer the crowd.
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He goes on.
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So he says,
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you ate your fill of loaves
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and then he goes on
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to say,
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do not work for the food
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that perishes
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but for the food
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that endures
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to eternal life
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which the Son of Man
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will give you
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for on him
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God the Father
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has set his seal.
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So there's a lot
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to unpack in that phrase
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so we're going to take it
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three at a time.
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We're going to start with
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do not work for the food
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that perishes
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but the food that endures.
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We'll talk about
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what the Son of Man
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will give them
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and then for on him
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God the Father
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has set his seal.
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So,
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what does it mean
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when he says,
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do not work for the food
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that perishes
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but for the food
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that endures
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to eternal life?
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First,
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I want you to hear
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the echo from Isaiah
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from the passage
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that we got to read
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this morning.
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It says,
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why do you spend
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your money
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for that which is not bread
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and your labor
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for that which does not satisfy?
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Listen diligently to me
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and eat what is good
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and delight yourself
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in rich food.
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Incline your ear
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and come to me.
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Hear that your soul
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may live
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and I will make you
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an everlasting covenant
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my steadfast
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sure love for David.
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The crowd is simply
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not listening diligently.
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They are spending
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their energy
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and effort
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and perhaps even
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some of their money
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seeking after that
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which ultimately
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will not satisfy.
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If they would simply
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listen.
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Jesus has talked
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this way before
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about physical nourishment
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and its fleeting nature
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during his earthly ministry.
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When he's talking
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to the woman of Samaria
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in John 4
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he says,
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everyone who drinks
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of this water
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will be thirsty again
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but whoever drinks
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of the water
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that I will give him
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will never be thirsty again.
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The water that I will give him
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will become in him
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a spring of water
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welling up
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to eternal life.
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What the crowd
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does not understand
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is that the food
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he provided for them
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is nothing but
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a mere representation
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of the true bread
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that Jesus
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can truly provide.
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Seeking after the food
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that does not perish
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puts eternity
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in our everyday lives
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and places Jesus
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at the center
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of our hearts
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as our supreme desire.
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So that's that first phrase.
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The second one.
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The son of man
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will give to you.
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This bread
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which he will ultimately
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reveal as himself
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will not satisfy
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our physical hunger
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with a full belly
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but it will fill
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a far greater need
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than that.
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The spiritual hunger
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that we have
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cannot be satisfied
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on our own.
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Our souls can only
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be satisfied
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by the only one
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who is perfectly
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righteous
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Jesus Christ himself
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and this gift
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he will give
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freely.
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There is nothing
15:15
that can be done
15:15
to earn
15:16
the free gift of God
15:17
which is eternal life
15:18
in Christ Jesus
15:19
our Lord.
15:20
Jesus is making it clear
15:21
that whatever this food
15:22
which is eternal life
15:24
will lead to
15:25
will be given to them
15:26
as a gift
15:27
and this gift
15:28
cannot be earned.
15:30
So that's what
15:30
he will give them.
15:31
And then lastly
15:32
for on him
15:33
God the Father
15:33
has set his seal.
15:35
What does that mean?
15:36
The seal
15:37
that the Father
15:37
has given Jesus
15:38
is the ability
15:39
and the approval
15:40
to dispense
15:41
of the spiritual food
15:41
to those
15:42
whom he chooses
15:43
satisfying the need
15:44
that starving sinners
15:45
like the crowd
15:46
and us
15:46
need.
15:48
It is the ability
15:48
to grant eternal life
15:49
and we find that
15:50
John has told us
15:51
about this already
15:52
in the previous chapter.
15:54
John chapter 5
15:55
starting in verse 19
15:56
says
15:56
for whatever the Father
15:57
does
15:58
that the Son
15:59
does likewise.
15:59
for as the Father
16:01
raises the dead
16:01
and gives them life
16:02
so also the Son
16:03
gives life
16:04
to whom he will.
16:06
The Father
16:06
has given all judgment
16:07
to the Son
16:08
as the Father
16:09
has life in himself
16:10
so he has granted
16:11
the Son also
16:12
to have life
16:13
in himself
16:13
and he has given him
16:15
authority to execute judgment
16:16
because he is
16:17
the Son of Man.
16:19
Jesus is reminding them
16:20
if they didn't hear it already
16:22
that he has been given
16:23
the authority
16:23
by the Father
16:24
to give eternal life
16:25
to whomever
16:26
he wills.
16:27
So,
16:29
from here
16:30
one would think
16:31
that all present
16:31
would fall down
16:32
and worship the one
16:33
who would be able
16:34
to provide
16:34
such an incredible gift
16:36
and that they recognize
16:37
that the seeking
16:38
and striving
16:38
after the physical bread
16:39
that Jesus provided
16:40
is short-sighted.
16:43
The bread he provided
16:44
earlier was only
16:44
a foretaste
16:45
but ultimately
16:46
they do not
16:47
do this.
16:49
How similar were we
16:50
before the illuminating
16:51
work of the Holy Spirit?
16:53
How often are we
16:54
tempted to miss
16:55
the true meal
16:55
as well?
16:56
I do not question
16:58
that just like the crowd
16:59
we too would follow
17:00
by responding
17:01
just as the crowd does.
17:03
Which brings us
17:04
to our third point
17:04
the crowd responds
17:06
wrongly.
17:08
So,
17:08
they say
17:09
the crowd does not
17:10
fall down to worship
17:10
instead
17:11
they ask a strange question.
17:14
They recognize
17:14
that what he says
17:15
is some kind
17:16
of spiritual insight
17:17
they hear eternal life
17:18
and know that they
17:19
should work for it
17:20
maybe that's some kind
17:20
of Old Testament
17:21
thought coming in.
17:23
Perhaps they are
17:23
confused by the term
17:24
Son of Man
17:24
even though it is
17:25
one of Jesus'
17:26
favorite terms
17:26
to refer to himself.
17:28
Perhaps they miss
17:28
the whole part
17:29
about the seal
17:30
and what that means.
17:31
Perhaps they are
17:32
like the woman
17:32
at the well
17:33
who misses the point
17:34
of what Jesus
17:34
was referring to
17:35
with living water
17:36
by asking him
17:38
to give the water
17:38
so that she won't
17:39
be thirsty again.
17:40
Again,
17:40
simply thinking
17:41
about physical sustenance.
17:43
In a crowd that big
17:44
it's probably a combination
17:45
of a bunch of that.
17:46
So what do they
17:47
ultimately ask?
17:48
They ask
17:49
what must we do
17:50
to be doing
17:51
the works of God?
17:54
They do not ask
17:55
how they can get
17:56
the bread
17:56
that Jesus talks about
17:57
even though he says
17:58
that he will give it
17:59
to them.
17:59
They hear about
18:00
the benefits of God
18:01
and wonder what work
18:02
must be done
18:03
to get it.
18:04
Much like the rich
18:05
young man asking
18:06
teacher,
18:07
what good deed
18:07
must I do
18:08
to have eternal life?
18:09
Or the lawyer
18:10
who stood up
18:11
to put Jesus
18:11
to the test
18:12
saying teacher,
18:12
what shall I do
18:13
to inherit eternal life?
18:15
The crowd thinks
18:16
that they can
18:17
can or need
18:18
to work
18:18
for this special bread.
18:21
The crowd says
18:22
they are ready
18:22
to meet any demand
18:23
that Jesus might ask
18:25
or tasks that must
18:26
be completed
18:26
and totally miss
18:27
the fact that
18:28
salvation is a gift.
18:30
Jesus just told them
18:31
that he will give him
18:32
this food
18:32
that endures
18:33
to eternal life.
18:35
God gives this gift
18:36
freely and is
18:37
through one person,
18:38
the son of man
18:39
sent from God
18:39
with the seal,
18:40
Jesus Christ.
18:41
There's one thing
18:42
that it requires
18:43
which Jesus will tell us
18:44
in just a moment.
18:46
He responds
18:46
to their question
18:47
and does so in a way
18:48
that is slightly short
18:49
and void of any metaphor
18:51
or imagery of the bread.
18:52
He speaks very plainly
18:54
and says,
18:55
this is the work of God
18:57
that you believe in him
18:58
whom he has sent.
19:01
It's rather rare
19:02
that he is this explicit
19:03
and begs just one question.
19:05
Who is the one
19:06
who has been sent?
19:07
And he has already alluded to it
19:08
and as we will find
19:09
later in the passage,
19:10
it is Christ himself.
19:12
To truly receive
19:13
this bread of life
19:14
is by grace alone
19:15
through faith alone
19:15
in the son of man
19:16
Jesus Christ alone.
19:19
John tells us
19:20
in the beginning
19:21
of his book,
19:21
but to all who did
19:22
receive him
19:23
who believed in his name,
19:24
he gave the right
19:25
to become children
19:26
of God.
19:28
Without getting
19:29
into the next passage
19:30
too much,
19:30
something eventually
19:31
does click for the crowd.
19:32
They follow Jesus' response
19:34
by asking,
19:35
then what sign do you do
19:36
that we may see?
19:37
What works do you perform?
19:38
Our fathers ate man
19:39
in the wilderness.
19:40
Which makes me think
19:41
for a moment,
19:42
were they not just there
19:43
the previous day
19:44
and saw what he did?
19:45
I guess not.
19:46
Jesus then says to them,
19:47
my father gives you
19:48
the bread from heaven
19:49
for the bread of God
19:51
is he who comes down
19:52
from heaven
19:52
and gives life
19:53
to the world.
19:54
Starts a click,
19:54
they then say,
19:55
sir, give us this bread
19:56
always.
19:58
So Jesus says to them,
19:59
I am the bread of life.
20:00
Whoever comes to me
20:01
shall not hunger
20:02
and whoever believes in me
20:03
shall never thirst.
20:04
It's a little bit later
20:05
that Jesus ultimately reveals
20:06
that he is the true bread
20:07
and that believing
20:08
that he can find life
20:10
in his name.
20:11
This work that Jesus
20:12
is talking about,
20:13
that's the work of God
20:14
is to believe,
20:15
takes the plural
20:16
out of the question
20:17
that they initially asked.
20:19
The crowd was concerned
20:19
about doing many works,
20:21
works that might help them
20:22
to earn God's favor,
20:23
but Christ's answer
20:24
is incredible.
20:25
The work of God
20:26
is to do one thing
20:27
and that is to believe.
20:29
Romans 3.28 reminds us,
20:31
for we hold that one
20:32
is justified by faith
20:33
apart from the works
20:35
of the law.
20:36
To believe in Jesus
20:37
is all that is required.
20:38
The true food
20:39
is Christ himself.
20:40
If we have the woman
20:42
at the well
20:43
and the 5,000 in mind
20:44
while reading this passage,
20:45
we see exactly
20:46
what John is doing.
20:48
We see that he's exposing
20:49
the physical need for food
20:50
to express a deeper
20:51
spiritual need in our hearts.
20:52
He presents Christ
20:53
as a solution,
20:54
the nourishment
20:54
that I so desperately need,
20:56
and all that is required
20:57
is to believe.
20:58
He also shows us
20:59
that the crowd
21:01
has missed it.
21:03
So,
21:04
what does true belief
21:05
look like then?
21:05
If we are to believe
21:06
and that is the simple work,
21:07
what does that look like?
21:08
It is receiving him
21:10
into our lives.
21:11
It is trusting him
21:12
as not only the one
21:13
who can satisfy us
21:14
in this life.
21:15
He does care about us.
21:16
He cares about the sparrows,
21:17
but ultimately preserve us
21:19
for the life to come.
21:21
It is worshiping him
21:22
for all he has done
21:23
for us in salvation,
21:24
and it is obeying him
21:26
as we now have the freedom
21:27
to glorify God
21:28
through our works.
21:30
Now,
21:30
the letter that James wrote
21:31
reminds us that
21:32
faith apart from works
21:33
is dead,
21:34
but don't be as the crowd
21:35
and think that
21:37
eternal life
21:38
is by the work.
21:39
Instead,
21:40
these works are what
21:41
result upon receiving
21:42
this free gift.
21:45
At the end of the chapter,
21:46
we see the responses
21:46
that John records for us
21:48
after the end
21:49
of the Bread of Life discourse.
21:51
It says,
21:52
After this,
21:53
many of his disciples
21:53
turned back
21:54
and no longer
21:55
walked with him.
21:56
So Jesus said to the twelve,
21:57
Do you want to go
21:58
away as well?
21:59
Simon Peter answered,
22:00
Lord,
22:00
to whom shall we go?
22:02
You have the words
22:03
of eternal life.
22:04
So,
22:05
the question is,
22:06
based on this passage,
22:06
how will you respond
22:08
to the works
22:09
and words of Jesus?
22:11
Will it be like the crowd,
22:12
confused about physical food
22:14
and works,
22:15
or,
22:15
like his true disciples,
22:17
who follow the miracles
22:18
upwards to Christ
22:19
and believe in him?
22:22
An early church document
22:23
called the Didache
22:24
was a short manual
22:25
believed by many
22:26
to be a catechism.
22:28
The intro to that document,
22:29
I think,
22:29
sums up the answer
22:30
to this question well,
22:31
or at least presents
22:32
the two options.
22:33
It says,
22:33
there are two ways,
22:35
one of life
22:36
and one of death.
22:38
To think some more
22:38
about responses
22:39
to this question,
22:40
let's take some time
22:41
to consider
22:42
some application.
22:44
So,
22:44
number one,
22:45
if you are not saved,
22:46
know that the gift
22:47
of salvation
22:47
is free.
22:49
There is nothing
22:49
that you can do
22:50
to work,
22:50
nor is there anything
22:51
that you could do
22:52
to earn eternal life.
22:54
We have a problem
22:55
so much greater
22:55
than simply being hungry
22:56
in a physical sense.
22:58
John records Jesus
22:59
performing these signs
23:00
and presenting himself
23:01
as the true bread,
23:01
ultimately to show
23:02
that greater need.
23:04
We are dead
23:05
in our trespasses
23:06
and sins
23:06
and need a savior.
23:08
So,
23:08
praise be to God
23:09
for giving himself
23:10
as the free gift
23:11
of eternal life
23:11
to all who believe.
23:13
Turn away
23:14
from your worthless bread
23:15
that will ultimately
23:16
never satisfy
23:16
nor last for eternity
23:18
and instead turn
23:19
to the true bread of life
23:20
who can save your soul.
23:22
God has put his seal
23:23
on Jesus,
23:23
granting him authority
23:24
to grant life
23:25
to those who do believe.
23:28
Paul's letter to the Titus
23:29
sums up this idea
23:30
of faith and belief
23:31
in God
23:32
not being a result
23:33
of works well.
23:34
He says,
23:35
for we ourselves
23:36
were once foolish,
23:37
disobedient,
23:38
led astray,
23:39
slaves to various passions
23:40
and pleasures,
23:41
passing our days
23:42
in malice and envy,
23:43
hated by others
23:44
and hating one another,
23:45
eating that bread
23:46
that does not satisfy.
23:48
But when the goodness
23:49
and loving kindness
23:50
of God our Savior
23:51
appeared,
23:52
in that phrase
23:52
is everything
23:53
that Christ did.
23:54
It's him coming
23:55
to this earth,
23:55
his earthly ministry,
23:57
the work he did
23:58
to die on the cross
23:58
for our sins
23:59
and raised again
24:00
on the third day,
24:01
defeating death.
24:03
All of that
24:04
is contained
24:04
in that phrase.
24:06
In that work,
24:06
he saved us,
24:08
not because of works
24:09
done by us
24:09
in righteousness
24:10
like the crowd
24:11
would say,
24:11
but according
24:12
to his own mercy
24:13
by the washing
24:14
of regeneration
24:14
and renewal
24:15
of the Holy Spirit,
24:16
whom he poured out
24:17
on us richly
24:18
through Jesus Christ
24:19
our Savior,
24:19
so that being justified
24:20
by grace,
24:21
we might become heirs
24:22
according to the hope
24:23
of eternal life.
24:24
God has given Jesus
24:25
the authority
24:25
to do that
24:26
and we can accept
24:26
this freely
24:27
as a gift.
24:29
The saying is trustworthy
24:30
and I want you
24:30
to insist on these things
24:32
so that those
24:33
who have believed
24:33
in God
24:34
may be careful
24:34
to devote themselves
24:35
to good works.
24:36
These things are excellent
24:37
and profitable
24:38
for people.
24:39
So all that faith
24:40
results ultimately
24:41
in those good works.
24:43
Notice it doesn't say
24:43
that because of the good works
24:45
we can have that eternal life.
24:47
No.
24:47
It's so that those
24:48
who have believed
24:49
in God
24:50
may be careful
24:50
to devote themselves
24:52
to good works.
24:53
There is a progression there.
24:54
So number two,
24:56
for those who are saved
24:57
and those who have
24:58
tasted this bread,
24:59
let's live as though
25:00
we have ultimately
25:01
been satisfied.
25:02
Why are we so captivated
25:04
by things that do not
25:05
satisfy us?
25:06
In regards to our salvation,
25:08
let's daily take up
25:09
this bread of life
25:10
and remember what Christ
25:12
has done for us.
25:13
Let's live as though
25:13
we are saved.
25:15
While salvation cannot
25:16
be earned by works,
25:16
our salvation ought
25:17
to result in works.
25:19
Do not think that you
25:20
can earn it by these works,
25:22
but instead know
25:23
that your life,
25:24
if your life is not
25:25
evidenced by them,
25:26
you may have not
25:27
actually tasted
25:28
the bread of life.
25:30
Practically,
25:31
the way in which we work
25:32
should look different
25:33
than those around us.
25:34
As those who have been
25:35
given the gift
25:35
of eternal life
25:36
and have Christ
25:37
as our supreme treasure,
25:38
we are working
25:39
for far more
25:40
than our boss
25:41
or for other people.
25:42
We are working
25:43
for a new master,
25:44
Jesus.
25:45
And so work
25:46
as if you are working
25:47
for him.
25:48
Jesus was not calling us
25:50
to cease working
25:50
for our physical sustenance.
25:52
We still need that.
25:53
Paul reminds us
25:55
that if anyone
25:55
is unwilling to work,
25:56
let him not eat.
25:58
We ought to instead
25:59
have the best attitude,
26:00
lead in a way
26:01
that models Christ,
26:02
follow as Christ
26:03
obeyed his Father,
26:04
build the best homes,
26:05
care for others,
26:07
or in my case,
26:08
serve the best chicken.
26:09
Not because Truett
26:10
told us,
26:11
or I feel obligated
26:12
or want to impress,
26:13
or think that it
26:14
will earn me something,
26:15
but because we are
26:16
ambassadors for Christ.
26:17
Lastly,
26:20
let us share this news
26:21
with others.
26:22
Far too many people
26:23
think that they need
26:24
to work harder
26:25
to earn their salvation.
26:27
Maybe somebody else
26:28
worked for their own salvation
26:29
and they can accept that.
26:30
Or maybe they simply
26:31
don't know
26:31
of their true spiritual need.
26:34
I would talk to them
26:35
like you've had a good meal.
26:36
I don't know
26:37
if you enjoy
26:37
going to the restaurant
26:39
and getting
26:40
an amazing steak
26:41
or whatever meal
26:42
that you like,
26:42
having fantastic service.
26:45
Maybe you end it
26:46
with a dessert and coffee
26:46
and it's just awesome.
26:48
You want to tell people
26:49
about it
26:49
or take other people
26:50
so that they can
26:51
experience it with you.
26:52
This is the idea
26:53
that we should have
26:53
with what Christ
26:54
has done for us
26:55
and the meal
26:55
that we have tasted.
26:57
We should want
26:58
to do this way more
26:59
and it should inspire us
27:00
to do it way more
27:01
than that meal.
27:02
So let's take others
27:02
to show them
27:03
the incredible
27:04
and truly satisfying
27:04
nature of the bread
27:06
of life.
27:08
With that,
27:09
I actually was going
27:10
to read a passage
27:11
from Charles Spurgeon
27:13
based on this,
27:13
but I actually like
27:14
the one in the bulletin
27:15
better.
27:15
So,
27:16
still Charles Spurgeon.
27:18
He says,
27:18
there's a tendency
27:19
to think about us
27:21
all to get away
27:22
from Jesus
27:22
and to look rather
27:23
to these dreams
27:24
than to the fountainhead.
27:26
Why are we more
27:27
taken up with the bits
27:28
of glass that sparkle
27:29
in the light
27:29
than the sun himself?
27:31
Let's pray.