Bible Study - Enough (1) - Our Need for Contentment - John 6:26-27, 35-40 - March 6, 2016

Bible Study – Enough (1) – Our Need for Contentment – March 6, 2016

This is lesson one (1) in our series entitled, “More Than Enough: How JESUS 

Meets Our Deepest Needs.”

Our focus scripture is John 6:26-27, 35-40.

JESUS is the bread of life who gives us true satisfaction.

We begin a new six (6) week study and our focus scripture will be in the Gospel of John.

We just completed a six (6) week study on the “Sermon on the Mount,” which JESUS taught the attributes of the ideal Christian. As Christians walk with CHRIST, they are to be distinct from non-Christians in the world. Christians smell different. The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 2:14-17:

14 But thanks be to God, who always puts us on display in Christ, and spreads through us in every place the scent of knowing Him. 

15 For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 

16 To some we are a scent of death leading to death, but to others, a scent of life leading to life. And who is competent for this? 

17 For we are not like the many who make a trade in God's message [for profit], but as those with sincerity, we speak in Christ, as from God and before God.

How do you smell? Do you smell like a Christian as you live among those who are in need salvation? Are you distinct?

JESUS had fed five thousand men and their families with five small barley loves and two small fish. HIS disciples gathered twelve baskets of the left over barley loves.

Let’s read John 6:13-25: (Background)

13 So they collected them and filled 12 baskets with the pieces from the five barley loaves that were left over by those who had eaten. 

14 When the people saw the sign He had done, they said, "This really is the Prophet who was to come into the world!" 

15 Therefore, when Jesus knew that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He withdrew again to the mountain by Himself.

The Fifth Sign: Walking on Water

16 When evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 

17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. Darkness had already set in, but Jesus had not yet come to them. 

Where was JESUS? HE was praying and waiting for HIS Father to tell HIM what HE was to do. GOD was preparing the disciples for a teachable moment. After the feeding of the five thousand it would be easy for HIS disciple to look upon JESUS as a physical messiah. GOD wanted them to know that JESUS was the promised Messiah, Who takes away the sins of the world for all who place their faith in HIM.

The sea is the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberius or the Sea or Lake Gennesaret.

18 Then a high wind arose, and the sea began to churn. 

Being on a body of water in a boat with strong winds is not a pleasant situation to be in. It can be of great concern for the most seasoned sailors.

19 After they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea. He was coming near the boat, and they were afraid. 

In the original Greek, it implies that JESUS acted as if HE was going to walk past them.  When I first read this, years ago, I laughed. JESUS has a sense of humor. There, the disciples were rowing their hearts out and JESUS was walking on water. I can envision JESUS throwing up HIS hand and saying “Hey, guys I will see you on the other side. I will just walk.” This was a teachable moment. JESUS wanted them to know that the miracle they had witnessed pointed to HIS divinity and not to HIS humanity. JESUS was walking on water defied human logic and was designed to refocus their thinking about who JESUS really was; the true Son of GOD, the Messiah.

20 But He said to them, "It is I. Don't be afraid!" 

21 Then they were willing to take Him on board, and at once the boat was at the shore where they were heading.

Physical struggle turns to instant success when CHRIST is onboard! Are you willing to allow CHRIST to come aboard of your life during the storms of life? HE is willing but you must allow HIM.

The Bread of Life

22 The next day, the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea knew there had been only one boat. [They also knew] that Jesus had not boarded the boat with His disciples, but that His disciples had gone off alone.

The following morning the crowd was looking for JESUS. Were they looking for another meal? Where is this JESUS who can feed us physically? They knew HE had not left on a boat with HIS disciples. So how did JESUS get there? Many questions!

23 Some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they ate the bread after the Lord gave thanks. 

If you feed us, we will come. This is so true of many Christians today. We want physical food but when it comes to Spiritual food, we are often not so eager. JESUS tells Christians to take up his cross and follow HIM. Seek that which lasts and not that which is temporary.

24 When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. 

25 When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, "Rabbi, when did You get here?"

The people were more interested in someone who could meet their physical needs than their Spiritual needs. How did HE get to the other side of the lake without a boat was the larger question?

Let’s read John 6:26-27:

26 Jesus answered, "I assure you: You are looking for Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled. 

Often people look for the grandiose and not the reality of following JESUS. The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:16-17:

16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 

17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

JESUS continued HIS message in John 6.

27 Don't work for the food that perishes but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal of approval on Him."

JESUS was not telling us not to work but to get our priorities straight. GOD provides.

The seal is the Holy Spirit and every Christian has the seal of the Holy Spirit upon him or her. Again, the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:21-22:

21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us,

22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

The people were familiar with the terminology “has the seal.” When kings signed a document, they used their signet ring to make an impression in the melted wax to show that the document was authentic. The Holy Spirit is GOD’S seal placed in the hearts of every Christian to authenticate that they are HIS.

JESUS continued HIS message in John 6:32:

32 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.

This is another “I tell you statement.” JESUS is the bread of life. Bread sustains physically and JESUS sustains Spiritually and eternally. The Jews had the misconception that Moses had provided the Manna from heaven when it was the gift from GOD that sustained them when they were in the wilderness. 

Now the Jews were again faced with GOD’S gift of Manna from heaven in the presence of GOD manifested as a human, yet GOD. JESUS, GOD’S Son, in the flesh. Often, Christians get preacher religion and miss the real source of their Spiritual food and thirst quenching nourishment which comes from abiding in the true vine, JESUS.

Who is the true bread of life? Let’s continue in our scripture.

Let’s read John 6:35:

35 "I am the bread of life," Jesus told them. "No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again. 

JESUS used their focus upon their need for physical bread to emphasize their need for Spiritual bread and Living water, which HE offers to them and all who seek HIM. HE is the true bread of life and the living water Who provides the Spiritual nourishment for all Christians to grow and mature to obediently serve GOD.

Let’s read John 6: 36-40:

36 But as I told you, you've seen Me, and yet you do not believe. 

How many of us have thought “if only I had lived when JESUS was living upon earth, it would be easier to believe in HIM?” Oh no, I think we would all have struggled with trying to figure HIM out. Was HE the real McCoy or a fake? 

Take a look at the word “sees” in verse 40 and compare to “seen” in this verse. “Seen” here refers to seeing physically whereas “sees” in verse 40 means to “to discern,” “to experience,” “to acknowledge.” It is the latter that results in eternal life. We must see HIM with the eyes of our hearts through faith.

37 Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never cast out. 

The Father calls every person to salvation. The Father knows the hearts of every person and woos him or her to accept CHRIST as his or her Savior.  

Whether or not a person accepts or rejects GOD’S call to salvation is always his or her choice. GOD never overrides our freewill and right to chose.

38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 

Every person who has ever lived has been sent by GOD to do HIS will but everyone has the free will to accept or reject GOD’S calling for their lives. JESUS did HIS part, each of us has to do our part and that is accepting CHRIST as our Savior and living as led by the indwelling Holy Spirit or rejecting HIM. Oh, I will do that later is the same as rejecting HIM. Do you know you will live to make that decision later? No! Today is the time for salvation. Do not wait!

39 This is the will of Him who sent Me: that I should lose none of those He has given Me but should raise them up on the last day. 

It is the desire of the Father that all would come to salvation and live according to HIS plan and purpose so they will have the gift of eternal life through faith in JESUS as stated in our next verse.

40 For this is the will of My Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."

Look back at verse 36.

A person does not have to see JESUS physically but all can behold HIS presence Spiritually in the “eyes of their heart.” Salvation is not in the words uttered but in the expression and attitude from the heart. I have read the testimony of a person who had struggled for a long period whether or not to receive CHRIST as his Savior. He simply said “LORD, I give up!” At that instant he received salvation. It is not complicated but it is eternal. GOD places HIS seal in your heart that you are HIS Son or Daughter through the miracle of rebirth into HIS family for eternity. Once born into GOD’S family, you never become unborn. Look back at verse 37 – “Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never cast out.” To “come” to CHRIST is a calling and the result of GOD’S grace, love and truth.

Have you made this decision in your life? If not, why not? Today is the day of salvation. Ask JESUS to forgive you for your sins and ask HIM to come into your heart believing that HE gave HIS life for your sins. Experience the miracle of being born-again into the family of GOD as HIS Son or Daughter. 

Earth is not our final home. It is GOD’S desire for every person to have eternal life and live with HIM and CHRIST in heaven for eternity. Blessings!!!