John 6 (1-31-18)

St. Joseph Missionary Baptist Church

Wed Night Bible Study

Dr. E.C. Gregory, PhD – Bible Facilitator                              1/31/18                                                Dr. H.T. Rhim, Pastor

SEEKING JESUS FOR THE WRONG REASON

(Physical food perishes)

(Spiritual food is eternal)

John 6:22-27 (NKJV)
²²  On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone–
²³  however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks–
²⁴  when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
²⁵  And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?”
²⁶  Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
²⁷  Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

6:22-25. The crowd who had been fed were still on the eastern shore of the sea. They saw Jesus compel His disciples to get into the one boat which was there. But since Jesus did not get into the boat, the crowd supposed that He had stayed in the area. After some time they realized He was no longer there. Some boats from Tiberias landed, so the people decided to seek Jesus in the Capernaum region and got into the boats. The people’s question, When did You get here? Jesus did not explain how or when He crossed the lake, for (1)His walking on the water was a private sign for the disciples only.

6:26.  (2) Jesus rebuked them for their materialistic motivation and their lack of spiritual perception. They saw miraculous signs, but to them it was only an easy meal. They failed to see what it meant. (They missed Jesus)

6:27. When Jesus said, Do not work for food that spoils, He was not condoning laziness. Rather He was saying that people should work for what will last forever. “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). (3)Physical food is short-lived but spiritual food leads to eternal life. The Son of Man (who has access to heaven [John 3:13]) will give people this spiritual food, which is ultimately Christ Himself (6:53). God the Father Himself authenticated Jesus’ claim that He is true heavenly “food.”

The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty.