John
6:22-35 “Asking the Wrong Questions” or “Seeking Jesus for the wrong reason”
What you ask reveals what is in your
heart. If you ask the doctor who tells
you that you need surgery “will it hurt?” he knows you are concerned about
pain. If you ask “will I be off work
very long?” he
knows you are concerned about your job and your income. If you ask “have you ever done this kind of
surgery before?” he
knows your concerned about his competency.
If you ask “will it leave a permanent scar?” he will know you are
concerned about your looks. Let us
examine the questions raised by this multitude of people and what these
questions reveal about what is in their hearts.
The four questions they ask are
these:
1. When
did you come here?
2. What
shall we do that we might work the works of God?
3. What
sign will you perform that we may see it and believe you?
4. What
work will you do?
(John 6:22) 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
The
people had seen the disciples get into the boat and leave without Jesus. At that time the boat that the disciples got
into was the only boat in the area.
Therefore, the people expected to find Jesus the next morning still
right there where the miracle had taken place or, at least, somewhere close
by. However, this morning there were a
number of boats in that area. These boats
had come from the city of
1. When
did you come here? What does this reveal
about their hearts?
A.
The concern of their heart is upon things that have no lasting benefit
to the souls of men. They were concerned
about the logistics of Jesus’ travel.
What did it matter when Jesus arrived?
This concern over trivial things is
apparent in our nature even today. We
tend to “Major on the Minor.” Concern
over trivial things causes us to lose our focus on what is truly
important. The color of the carpet in
the church house or concern over how we are treated by others may well keep one
from focusing on the spreading of the Gospel message to the lost and our need
to serve the Lord.
B.
They are concerned about not being in control for Jesus comes and goes
as He pleases without reporting to men.
These men expected Jesus to adhere to their time table. They want Jesus to go and come as they
specify. They wanted to tell Jesus when
to set on His throne and usher in His Kingdom.
2. What should they have asked?
(John 6:26) 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.
A. They should have asked “Lord where do you
want us to be?”
B. They should have asked “Lord how may we be
your disciples?” “Take up thy cross and
follow me”
C. They followed because He supplied their
physical needs.
D. They should have followed because He supplies
our spiritual needs.
E. They did not follow because they saw the
miracles. This is the reason they should
have followed Him. He did miracles to
prove that He was God in the flesh. The
miracles showed them that He was the promised Messiah who come
to save men from their sins.
F. They were working and focusing all their
efforts on material and physical things.
They should have focused their energies on Spiritual things which
concern ones relationship with God.
G. It is only through Jesus Christ that man can
be saved and have everlasting life.
3. What
shall we do that we might work the works of God? What does this reveal about their hearts?
(John 6:28) Then
said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might
work the works of God?
A. They wanted to please God.
1. This is a desirable quality for men to have.
2. They have a
misconception. Works can not save.
3. They think they can by their actions be good
enough to please God.
Without faith it is impossible to please God.
B.
They are men who are filled with pride.
1. They think that they are strong enough to
resist sin.
2. They think that they are good enough now.
3. They just want to know how not to lose what
they think they have.
4. What should they have asked? What about their hearts?
(John 6:29) Jesus
answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him
whom he hath sent.
A.
They should have asked how, can a sinner like me, be made clean.
1. The Law was not given to make men clean from
sin.
2. The Law was given to show man his sinful,
hopeless condition.
3. The Law pointed them to Christ who would pay
their sin debt.
B.
They need to realize that Salvation is in a person not a system.
1. They should have searched the scriptures for
a person who saves.
2. They need to see that righteousness is by
grace through faith.
3. You must believe in order to be saved.
5. What
sign will you perform that we may see it and believe you? Their
hearts?
(John 6:30) 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.
A. Again this is the wrong
question. Jesus had just pointed out
that they were not following Him because they had seen the miracles. They did not seem to care who Jesus was. They cared more for what Jesus could do for
them in the physical realm.
B.
God had fed the people in Moses day.
They expected God to feed them in their day. They deemed this a sign that Moses was the
man of God. Now Jesus has fed them and
they think that He should hold the same position as did Moses that of being a
Man of God and not God Himself in human flesh.
Their misunderstanding can best be put forth this way: They think that the feeding of the people is
His proof but Jesus has told them that this is the wrong reason for following
and accepting Him. They are now confused
if they are not to follow for this reason then what sign or work will Jesus due
to prove that He is of God. Thus they
ask Him for a sign or a miraculous work to prove that He is from God.
6. What
should they have asked? What should have
been in their hearts?
(John 6:32) 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.
A.
Jesus sets them strait. Moses had
nothing to do with giving them the bread from Heaven. God gave them that bread. That bread was to serve as a spiritual
picture. It represented the true bread
from Heaven. That true bread is Jesus
who would come to earth to die for man’s sin and to give life to those who were
spiritually dead because of sin.
B.
They should have asked for Jesus to forgive their sins and save their
souls. They should have accepted the
fact that they are spiritually dead and separated from the Holy God of
Heaven. They should have asked for that
spiritual bread which could give them eternal life. That bread is eaten by faith and given by
grace.
7. What
work will you do? What does this reveal
about the heart?
(John 6:34) Then said
they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
A.
They expected Jesus to perform some sign for them but the sign He
performs will be rejected by most. He
will die and be raised from the dead in three days. This is their sign and if they will believe
He will save their souls.
B.
They expected real bread to eat and they expected that the physical body
and its work could change their spiritual condition. It can not and will not. The spirit is not changed by the actions of
the body. Faith is the victory that
overcomes the world. We can not eat,
drink, or do anything that will effect the soul. Our souls are lost in sin and our actions can
not change this fact. We can only be
saved by admitting our sinful, helpless condition to ourselves and to God and
seek His forgiveness. Those who come to
Him believing that He can and will save will not be disappointed.
8. What should they have asked? What should have been in the heart?
(John 6:35) 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.
A.
They should have asked Jesus to do for them what they could not do for
themselves. Their need was not physical
their need was spiritual. Only Jesus can
cure spiritual hunger and thirst. Only
Jesus can quench the hungering and thirsting soul.
B.
They need to see themselves stuck in the miry clay of sin. They need to know that they are destitute
spiritually and that the only cure is faith in Jesus Christ.
Conclusion: What question do you have for Jesus? Would you ask Him “What must I do to be
saved?” He tells us plainly that if you
will repent of your sin and turn to Him seeking forgiveness, mercy, and pardon
He will forgive you and save your soul.
He will make you a new creature spiritually. This new creation can not sin and will
forever be safe in the hands of Jesus.
Will you today put your eternal destiny into the capable Hands of Jesus
Christ and be saved?