A Study of John's Gospel. Pt. 31 Seek Christ Now for the Right Reasons!

Good morning to all of you on this Lord's Day. 

Our loving Father in heaven has granted us a day to worship, rest and reflect upon our God.

Searching for Christ but He was gone. 

John 6:22-24  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. 

The multitude that Jesus fed were still on the eastern shore of the Sea of Tiberias. They had seen Jesus instruct His disciples to get into the boat to go back to the other side of the Sea. The people also noted that Jesus did not go with His disciples in the boat and they mistakenly assumed that Jesus was still on the eastern shore somewhere. 

Eventually, the multitude realized that Jesus was not present where they were. There were some other boats available so the people sailed to Capernaum seeking Jesus. 

Before we continue let us consider this group of people. Jesus had fed them and satisfied a necessary but temporary need. What they really needed was a new heart through the new birth. In John's words, this group needed to be born again. 

The fact that they sought for Jesus and did not immediately find Him should serve as a reminder to all who are not born again. Seek Christ now, while He may be found. If you harden your heart too many times by saying "No" to His invitation, God's Spirit may stop calling you! (Genesis 6:1-3).

Isaiah 55:6-7  Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Christ tells them their true need.

John 6:25-27  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. 

The people asked Jesus about how He came to the opposite side of the Sea of Tiberias but He gave them no reply. The miracle of Jesus walking on the water was a private sign to strengthen the faith of Jesus' disciples. 

Jesus answered their question with solemn words because He was going to hone in on the issue of their lack of concern about their spiritual condition. "Verily, verily"is an expression that means "I tell you the truth" and Jesus the Holy Son of God is going to tell them truth that they need to hear and understand. The word also means so be it or amen. Jesus used this solemn expression four times from verse 26 to the end of this chapter. This alerts us to the fact that Christ spoke soberly, earnestly and with Divine Authority to this people. 

Jesus got right to the main issue. They came seeking Jesus because they ate food when He fed the 5,000. They ate until they were all satisfied. "You came seeking me because you ate until you were full" is what Jesus said to them. He pointed out that they had a materialistic approach to life and then He rebuked them for lacking spiritual perception. 

Matthew 6:25  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 

When Jesus told them not to labor for meat that perishes, He was speaking of expending your energies for producing food or material things. While we do need food, clothing and shelter, those necessary things should not be the sole focus of our lives. There is much more to life than food or clothing. 

Instead, Jesus told them to seek for the meat that endures to everlasting life that only Christ, the Son of God can give. Physical food last only a short while and it can spoil in a matter of a few days. Spiritual food from Christ leads to everlasting life. 

This analogy is similar to the one Jesus shared with the woman at the well. Both have a temporary, physical need.  One for water and one for food.  And Jesus turns both examples to eternal life. (John 4:14).

Jesus was not condoning laziness but rather He was encouraging them to give a good effort to seek first the kingdom of God and He showed them that they must seek this everlasting supply from Him. 

Jesus also disclosed more of His relationship with the Father. He told them that He was sealed by His Father in heaven. This is the same word used when Paul writes to tell us about the born again believer having the seal of the Spirit of God (2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30). 

The work of God is to believe on Christ. 

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. 

These people then asked Jesus how they could work the works of God. They recognized that Jesus taught them that God has requirement for them and they would do what was required if Jesus would tell them what it was. These Jews still believed that they could earn God's favor by doing good works. 

Romans 10:1-3  Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2) For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3) For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 

Paul was a Pharisee, a Jew converted by Christ on the road to Damascus. He had many unpleasant encounters with the same religious leaders that sought to kill Christ. The apostle aptly sums up what these people were saying to Jesus. 

They had a zeal for God but not according to the scriptures. Christ is the sum of the righteousness of God but they were ignorant of God's righteousness in and through the work and person of Jesus Christ. By doing works, they sought to create their own righteousness instead of seeking the righteousness of God which is by faith in Christ.

The Lord Jesus Christ made it very clear. The only work that any unsaved person can do for God is to believe on the Son of God, Jesus Christ. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Some people seek Christ for the wrong reasons. Some want wealth, some want health, some want the good life and some want fame. These are all wrong reasons for seeking Christ. Jesus came to die for all those who turn to Him in repentant faith. He intends to change us day by day until He calls us home to Himself. 

Seek Jesus for the right reason-salvation!

Some people put off seeking Christ because they are too busy with worldly things. Then, when they do decide to seek Jesus, the Spirit of God is no longer calling on them. This is why when we hear the gospel, the scripture says we must respond with faith now, not later.

Seek Christ now, do not put it off. You could die tonight and go into eternity. Heaven is yours if you are born again. Otherwise, you will awake and find yourself in a most horrible place. 

2 Corinthians 6:2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Some people seek Christ by trying to establish their own righteousness. They want to work their way into God's favor and earn their way into heaven. Jesus tells us all that we must believe on the One that God sent, Jesus Christ. 

Seek Christ by faith. God's Son has done everything necessary for salvation. 

Bob

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved (Acts 16:29-33).