John 6:22-40 The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there… I. THE SELFISHNESS OF MEN REGARDING JESUS CHRIST (vers. 22-24). The people before us, having "come to Capernaum seeking Jesus," desired Him only for a temporal benefit. This is like many in our day. They go to church, pretend to be religious, make a show of piety, because it is fashionable, profitable for trade, or a convenient method of getting "bread" without toil. The pious fraud is a more dangerous enemy to Christianity than outspoken infidelity. II. MEN'S SELFISHNESS IN RELIGION REBUKED (vers. 25-27). 1. By having the shallowness of their pretensions exposed (ver. 26). How keen-cutting these words are! And so it is everywhere in the Bible — hypocrisy is condemned with severity. Any one who would speak for Jesus must not be afraid to rebuke the pretender. 2. Presentation of the true motive (ver 27). We must be sincere in seeking Christ as the Saviour of the soul — i.e., "everlasting life" must be with us a deeper consideration than the life of the body. To give this eternal life, or righteousness, unto the world was the purpose of Jesus' coming here: "For Him hath God the Father sealed" — i.e., set apart and given authority to perform the high office of imparting to all believers the Bread of Life. To secure this, salvation must be our only motive. III. BELIEF IN CHRIST MAN'S SUPREME WORK (vers. 28, 29). It is in the human heart to think of salvation as a matter of "works" (ver. 28). The Scriptures everywhere declare that to be saved — i.e., "to work the works of God," we must believe on the Son of God (ver. 29). Man's good works exclude this belief. But true belief or faith, includes good works (Ephesians 2:8-10; James 2:26). Both Jesus and Paul declare that faith saves the soul. James explains the kind of faith that saves. IV. MAN'S UNWILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT JESUS (vers. 30, 31). From the miracle of the loaves, the multitude would gladly have received Him as a king; but, being informed that they must believe on Him as a Saviour, they demanded more evidence (vers. 30, 31), intimating that Moses, in giving the manna for long years, was greater than Jesus, who only furnished one meal. So men are always willing to exalt Christ as a great personage, but are reluctant to receive Him as their Redeemer. Yet He must be this or nothing. V. JESUS URGES THIS HIGH CLAIM (vers. 32, 33). He admits of no comparison. Moses did not give the manna (ver. 32); manna did not secure life (ver. 49); Jesus was the Bread from heaven which conferred eternal life (vers. 35, 41, 48, 50, 51). His atonement secured the Holy Spirit, who works regeneration, to experience which is to enter into life. This is what Christ means in verse 51. VI. THE CONDITIONS OF OUR SECURING JESUS AS OUR LIFE (vers. 34-36). 1. The Divine condition. The Holy Spirit must convict, enlighten, draw (vers. 37, 45). 2. The human condition. Man must come of His own free will (vers. 35, 36, 53). VII. JESUS THE EXECUTOR OF THE FATHER'S WILL (vers. 37-40). This will was to secure eternal life to all believers. Those who do not take Jesus as the source of their life perish through unbelief. All who do are kept in perfect safety. This is God's will, and Christ is able to execute it. (A. H. Moment.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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; |
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