Love17

Love Lesson 17

Lesson 17: by turtle

Once this passage of scripture is fairly long I will break it into sections. If you wish read it all at once on my online Bible or take time and read it in your
Bible this passage John 6:23-71

John 6:23-71 KJV
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 Labour 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.

Christ had feed the five thousand in the previous verses or two lessons back. The people cam hunt Christ because what He was able to give them
physically and not spiritually. Not untypical today. Often people will go to a church for help but not spiritual help but physical help. Though the church
does it for the Lord and does it to help win others to Jesus it can also bring in those who wish to use the church. No difference here. Christ recognized
who this group was seeking Him. Let us see how He handles it.

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.
30 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.

Crowd wants to see signs of who Christ is though they already of witness a miracle by feasting on the five loaves and two fishes. What more proof did
they need. The were not interested in believing in God but believing in what man could do for them. They wanted to use the miracles and not believe.
They asked Jesus, what shall we do, that we might work the works of God. Jesus told them to believe. Simple fact is if you want to see miracles in your
life you must believe. You can have the sign and wonders without it.

32 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.

Jesus goes on to explain that they had they had signs and wonders of Moses but believed what Moses did but did not look to God. This is key. Do we
look to our ministers or other Christians for our faith or do we look to God to feed us to help us to grow in Him? Faith in Jesus is true life and faith in
man leads to death.

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.

The crowd desired the bread that Christ offers but they do not understand. He tells them He will satisfy their thirst and hunger. Christ is quick to point at
the crowd and tell them they believe Him not. Not only this but God the Father will give Him all those that will believe on Him and would not be cast
out. Christ also promises eternal life to all that will believe and hope of the resurrection. Do we believe or are we like the crowd searching and looking
to see who Christ is and really only desiring the miracles?

41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.
42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?

The crowd murmurs at who Christ claims to be. They knew he was the son of Joseph and Mary and was from Galilee. They did not know there
scriptures. They were looking so hard at physical evidence they were missing the truth of who He was. Do we dig into historical data trying to discover
if Jesus is the Messiah instead of taking Him on faith? Either you accept the gospel message of who Jesus is or you say well he could be but not enough
evidence. What really would it take to convince you? What is going to convince this crowd?

43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.

Christ is quick to point out what the prophets say about Him. The historical scriptures. Christ repeats that only those that are drawn to Him will be
saved and that the Father draws them. Only God can teach man who He is. Often teachers and preachers give the gospel message but often hears hear
without hearing. Unless God is working on that person's heart they will not hear. But I do believe if they are there listening then it is not necessarily falling
on deaf ears. It may take time for the listener to believe. God draws each man, woman, boy and girl to Him. Christ was of God because He had seen
the Father. He is God.

47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
48 I am that bread of life.
49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I
will give for the life of the world.
52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

Christ then repeats that their fathers eat manna in the wilderness and died. Christ repeats he Is the bread of life. That anyone that eats their will not die.
Crowd ask are we to eat your flesh? The crowd is still looking at physical things and not spiritual things. Christ is not saying literally to eat his flesh but
to believe it what He says and who He is. Believing is the manna that will give eternal life. But the crowd continues to look physically at the situation not
perceiving the spiritual truth. Are we like this. Do we see physical needs or spiritual needs?

I wants sought physical strength from God and though my body continue to feel week God gave me spiritual strength. I failed to see that what I really
needed but God still in His wisdom gave me what I needed. Sometimes what we search for is physical and spiritual. What we need in our soul is often
the spiritual. Even though I lacked physical strength God seem to provide that has well for each task I needed it for. It was probably one of the greatest
lesson in my life I ever learned about asking and receiving.

60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

How hard to realize your own disciples whispered among themselves at the meaning of Christ words. Christ goes on to explain that His words are
Spirit and life. That they would see him rise again and ascend into heaven. More confusion or bewilderment for them to figure out at this time for they
yet were still not grasping all of Christ words. Christ then still questions the others will you to go away? Will you to believe not??

68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

Simon Peter is quick to answer Christ question. He clearly states that Jesus is the Christ and that He has the word of eternal life. Do you believe who
Christ is. Do you believe that Jesus is eternal life? Christ knew who would betray Him even at this time and he is quick to point it out. Remember Christ
knows our hearts because He is God, He is the Messiah. Christ knows your heart. Are you saying yes with your mouth but have doubt? Take time to
examine scripture and see who Christ is. From Old Testament prophets to the New testament where we read of Christ compassion for mankind and all
the miracles He did while he walked among the people. The answers are there for those who will accept it.