What’s Your Motive for Following Jesus
October 17, 2021
Commentary
The sixth chapter of the Gospel of John is the setting for one of the great discourses of our Lord, “bread of life.” This discourse takes place in the synagogue at Capernaum. The people demanded that Jesus perform a greater sign than Moses (vv. 30-35). They must have felt that the feeding of the 5000 did not compare with the manna that fed the whole nation for 40 years. They did not realize that it was the Father, not Moses, who gave the manna. Jesus tries to explain to them that the manna, which Moses offered, was different from the “Bread of Life,” which can give eternal life. The crowd had the wrong motive, as they wanted the bread so they would not have to work to maintain life. People today also only want Jesus for the benefits He gives.
This whole episode stresses man’s cluelessness when it comes to God. The people questioning Jesus had been miraculously fed by him just a few days before. They asked for a sign similar to Moses feeding Israel with manna. It seems that they were asking for an ongoing free lunch, just as the manna continued for forty years. Jesus tried to turn their thinking to spiritual issues (v. 32). Jesus stressed the once for all nature of his spiritual meal (v. 35). Once someone is saved, they have no need of further salvations. And yet people find it difficult to accept this wonderful gift, maybe because it does not allow for them to contribute towards their own salvation.
Jesus rebuked the crowd for their lack of faith (v.36). They had the great privilege of seeing Him, and yet they refused to believe. Seeing does not necessarily lead to believing. Jesus explained that salvation involves both divine sovereignty and human responsibility (vv. 37-40). He assured them that anyone who comes to Him will never be lost but will be raised at the last day (v. 39). Those who put their trust in Christ will be resurrected from physical death to everlasting life with God when Christ comes again (v. 40).
Application
People in Jesus day wanted to receive physical bread so that they would not need to work. As stated above, many people in our churches today want the Lord for the benefits they can receive from Him. I need to ask myself - What was my motive in coming to the Lord and what are my motives now for following Him?
John 6:28– 40 (NET)
28 So then they said to him, “What must we do to accomplish the deeds God requires?” 29 Jesus replied, “This is the deed God requires —to believe in the one whom he sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what miraculous sign will you perform, so that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
32 Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the solemn truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but my Father is giving you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 So they said to him, “Sir, give us this bread all the time!”
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. The one who comes to me will never go hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But I told you that you have seen me and still do not believe. 37 Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never send away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. 39 Now this is the will of the one who sent me—that I should not lose one person of every one he has given me, but raise them all up at the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father—for everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him to have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”