Day 21-Tuesday, March 5th
John 6:22-40
The Call to Believe

The overnight crossing of the Sea of Galilee by Jesus and His disciples goes unnoticed by the crowds until the next morning when Jesus is nowhere to be found and they notice the boat is missing. It’s breakfast time and the search for Jesus is on in earnest.
The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with His disciples, but that they had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus. John 6:22-24 NIV
Realizing Jesus must have crossed over the sea in the middle of the night, the crowd piles into boats and crosses over in pursuit of Jesus-or perhaps their next meal! When the crowds, feigning concern, finally locate Him, they question Him on when He had slipped away. Jesus sees through their false motives immediately.
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for Me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.” John 6:26 NIV
The crowds are interested in another miraculous free meal far more than the One who worked the miracle to feed them. Jesus challenges the crowd to change their attitudes.
“Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.” John 6:27 NIV
In a very unexpected response, the crowds ask Jesus what they must do in order to be about doing the work of God. The response of Jesus speaks not only to the crowds but to us as well.
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent.” John 6:29 NIV

We will never be able to do enough good works to fully please God, we must simply believe that Jesus is who the Bible teaches that He is and place our trust in what He has done to being us into a right relationship with God.

The response of the crowd to this beautiful statement is honestly mind-boggling to the modern mind. The crowds who just witnessed the miraculous feeding of the 5000 the night before, immediately ask for another sign citing the miracle of the daily manna in the wilderness.

So they asked Him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” John 6:31-32 NIV
Jesus, seizing the opportunity, makes it clear that neither the bread He broke the night before nor the manna their ancestors broke in the wilderness is the true bread that will satisfy and bring life. He alone is the true bread of heaven, and He alone can give life to the whole world.

Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

“Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty. John 6:32-35 NIV

If the crowds will believe in Jesus as the One who has “come down from heaven”, then this true Bread of Life will grant eternal life to all who come to Him in faith.
“For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:40 NIV

Why is it so hard for people to humble themselves and just believe in Jesus and trust in Him? Somehow in our minds, it just doesn’t make rational sense that some honorable work isn’t required to please God and restore our relationship with Him. Yet, faith isn’t rational-that’s why it’s called faith!

Questions to consider:
When do you ever fall into thinking that you must DO something good for God for Him to love you?
In what areas of your life do you need to simply believe and trust Him more fully?

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