John 6:22-29 The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone; 23 (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:) 24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. 25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? 26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 27 Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

The Mystery Of The Manna & Christ

Last week we saw Jesus feeding above 5000 people with two fish and five small biscuits. At the end of the meal, the disciples took up twelve baskets of bread that was not needed. This was God’s way of showing us that Jesus is God’s Manna from Heaven.

Just as God provided manna for Israel as they journeyed toward the Promised Land of Canaan, God provides Jesus to SAVE us, to SHEPHERD us, to FEED and PROTECT us as we head toward our Promised Land.

When God gave Manna to Israel, they were to gather it in the morning (Exodus 16:14-15) at the beginning of their day. Gathering manna required both FAITH and FEET. You were to gather what you needed for that day, and were only allowed to gather more than you needed on the day prior to the Sabbath. You could only be sustained by partaking of the mystery of the manna. When Israel found the manna, they asked “What is it?” It was incomprehensible. The Bible tells us of Jesus that He is a wonderful Mystery from God. The Apostle Paul preached:

Colossians 2:1-3 (ESV) For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Illustrate: What goes up, but never comes down? When you think about this mystery, it seems impossible to solve. God has given us gravity. No matter what goes up, eventually comes down. But there is one thing that goes up but never comes down … and that is your AGE. You get older every year. But there will come a day when you will not get any older – if you have received Jesus as Lord and Savior. Your life will be eternal because of the mystery of Christ.

“God’s mystery … is Christ”. In Jesus Christ are “hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”. Everything you need to know to live life powerfully in God is in Christ, by faith in Him. Jesus gives those who believe in Him power for living, which is why the Apostle says:

Colossians 2:6 (ESV) … as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him…

It is a Mystery that God sent His Son to give Himself for us. It is a Mystery that God would become Man (Isaiah 9:6) and dwell among us and in us. The Grace of God that so impressed Paul calls all who believe in Him into the Family of God. The Apostle wrote:

Ephesians 3:2-6 (ESV) you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

The World Is Focused On Common Grace,
But Saving Grace Is More Important

Theologians recognize that there are two types of Grace mentioned in the Bible. The first type of Grace is called “common”, for God gives it to all of His creatures. But the second type of Grace is called “efficacious” or “saving” Grace. The feeding of the 5000+ is a picture of “Common” Grace. God fed them, and God entertained them. They did not want to come to Jesus for Everlasting Life (efficacious Grace) but for more free food (common Grace). We read:

John 6:24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus…

Word Study: The words “took shipping” is the Greek ploion (pronounced ploy’-on) which means “they went into ships”. They were “seeking” (Greek zēteō) “consumed with desire, seeking desperately”. The people were fed yesterday. They want to be fed today. Their bellies are empty, they are hungry, and want Jesus to feed them once more. They wanted temporal blessings. They are like Esau. Do you remember the story of Esau? (Genesis 25). Esau was a hunter, and was me centered. He care for no one but himself. Esau came in one day from an unsuccessful hunt when he smelled some red lentil stew that his brother Jacob was cooking. When he asked for some stew, Jacob told him “sell me your birthright”. Esau’s response was:

Genesis 25:32 … “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?”

The Bible says of Esau:

Hebrews 12:14-17 (ESV) Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy {profane persons, KJV} like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

Esau sold that which was of great worth – his birthright – for a temporary blessing. Many people today do the same thing. They sell their birthright of eternal life in Jesus for lentil stew – the temporary pleasures of life. These are “Profane Persons”.

The Saving Grace of God offers true life with God to whosoever will come to Jesus. Jesus did not come to feed us temporary food, but to give us eternal manna, to give us Himself. He said:

John 5:40 … I am come that ye might have life.

He came to give us spiritual life with our Creator. He came to bring us into a saving and permanent relationship with God. I have often heard people say,

“We’re ALL God’s Children”

That sounds good – but it’s not true. The Lord Jesus told us “unless you are BORN AGAIN, you cannot see the Kingdom of God” (John 3:3). You must be born – not just of the flesh – but “born of the Spirit” (John 3:5-6) if you are to be made spiritually alive unto God. God the Father sent Jesus Christ, God the Son, to bring us into His Family, to make us Children of God. Once you believe on Jesus, the Holy Spirit causes you to be adopted into the Family of God:

Romans 8:14-17 (ESV) For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

We who are saved are Heaven bound Children of God. “if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ”. We who have received Jesus as God’s Manna are “all SONS OF GOD THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS” (Galatians 3:26). We as God’s Children share the Gospel of Jesus with others so that they, too, might receive Jesus and be saved. These people who were chasing Jesus were not seeking Him as Messiah and Lord of All, but as an Entertainer and a free Lunch Counter. Jesus told them:

John 6:26-27 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 27 Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

Everything that you see and have around you each and every day is temporal. Your bodies themselves are temporal. What is permanent, never changing? God is permanent, never changing. But also our souls never cease. If we leave this life without Jesus, then our souls go to a place where death is, a place called hell. Jesus saw hell as a place of consciousness and torment. He told us of a certain rich man who:

Luke 16:22-23 … the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments

The rich man did not cease existence. His entire life he rejected thew Manna of Christ for the temporary joy of riches and finery. The rich man enjoyed the “common grace” of God:

Psalm 145:9 The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made

Matthew 5:45 {your Father which is in Heaven} maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust …

God in His goodness provides what theologians have called “Common Grace” to all. It was Jesus Who, in “Common Grace”, provided a meal for 5000+ largely unbelievers, because He was concerned for their hunger. The same God Who gave enough fish and bread to feed 5000+ people is the same God Who daily “gives us rains from Heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying our hearts with food and gladness” (Acts 14:17). It is God’s Common Grace that withheld the Flood of Noah for 120 years (Genesis 6:3), and Who delays the punishment of the wicked today (Romans 2:4) so that they might repent and come to Christ. God tolerates us every day, and we cannot live apart from Him because “in Him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Jesus warns these “seekers”:

John 6:27 Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

Jesus Is The Only Seal And Sign Of God

Word Study: Jesus Christ is the “Son of man” Who gives eternal life to all who believe in Him. Jesus said “him hath God the Father sealed”. The word “sealed” is the Greek sphragizō (pronounced sfrag-id’-zo) which means “to place an image upon, to bind an authenticate as from a king, to authenticate”. In ancient times the King had a signet ring that he kept on his hand. When he wrote an order, he would melt wax, then press his ring into the melted wax, proof that the letter or document came from him. Jesus Christ is the only authentic way unto God. Only of Jesus did the Father say:

THIS is My BELOVED SON, in Whom I am WELL PLEASED
(Matthew 3:17), and,

THIS is My Beloved Son, in Whom I am WELL PLEASED,
HEAR YE HIM (Matthew 17:5)

The Apostles preached:

Acts 4:10-12 … by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

It is popular in our world today to be INCLUSIVE in what we believe, but salvation to God is VERY EXCLUSIVE. Jesus Christ is offered and has offered salvation and eternal life to whosoever will. BUT YOU MUST COME THROUGH CHRIST. Jesus said:

Mark 8:34-35 … Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

If you wish to be in Heaven one day, if you wish to “come after Jesus”, then you must deny yourself, turn from your appetites, take up His Cross, and follow Jesus. The world tells us to “just do you”, to maximize our own desires, to satisfy ourselves. This is what the world teaches:

No right, no wrong, no rules for me, I’m free!

Yet this is not what Jesus teaches. The Way of Christ is to follow Jesus, to do as He commands. When Jesus tells these confused people to “seek the meat with endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give to you” (John 6:27), they ask:

John 6:28-29 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

What are the “WORKS OF GOD” (plural) that WE must DO? Jesus tells them simply, “believe on him whom he hath sent”. Believe that Jesus is the Only Savior, and there is no other. Believe that faith in Jesus is the only way to peace with God. Believe the things that Jesus bids we do. Jesus told us in another place,

John 14:15 (ESV) If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

John 14:21 (ESV) Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.

John 15:10 (ESV) If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

Israel was fed manna in the wilderness. But they had to KEEP GOD’S COMMANDMENTS to be fed. They had to gather the manna in the way that God decreed. If you wish to be saved, you must come surrendered to Christ. If you wish to be blessed, you must do as He says do. These people wanted to argue with Jesus. They said:

John 6:30-31 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? 31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

They wanted Jesus to “show us a sign”. But they still didn’t understand – Jesus IS THE SIGN. He IS THE MANNA from Heaven.

John 6:32-40 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. 37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Jesus is the “BREAD OF GOD” Who came down from Heaven “TO GIVE LIFE TO THE WORLD”. Those who come to Jesus will be received as they are, and given life from death. Every person who “seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life”. Jesus promises to raise that person up from death. Those who believe in Him shall never die. Blessed be the Name of the Lord! May God move upon your lives to “take up the Cross and follow Jesus” if you are not already doing so. When you reach eternity (and your age is ALWAYS going up) the one grand question you must answer when you stand before God is, “Does Jesus KNOW you?” If not, I beg you to come to Him this very day. Amen and Amen!