This time, if you'd now turn into your Bibles, we'll be reading out of John chapter six. And let me remind you that John chapter six begins with the feeding of the 5,000, and with Jesus walking on the water, coming to his disciples during the night on the sea. Today, we're gonna begin with John chapter six, verse 22, as the crowd pursues Jesus. We will be listening to this conversation between Jesus and the crowd. Please stand and come now before the Lord to hear his holy, inerrant, and inspired word. On the next day, the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats of which a Capernaum seeking Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, Rabbi, when did you come here? Jesus answered them. Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him, God the Father has set his seal. Then they said to him, What must we do to be doing the works of God? Jesus answered them, this is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent. So they said to him, then what sign do you do that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness as it is written. He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Jesus then said to them, truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. They said to him, sir, give us this bread always. Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall no longer, shall not hunger. And whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the father gives me will come to me and whoever comes to me, I will never cast out. For I've come down from heaven and not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that He has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life, and I will raise Him up on the last day. Thus says the word of the Lord. We come before the Lord in one more prayer. Almighty Father, Lord and Savior, we do not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from your mouth, knowing that the word of our God will stand forever. We ask, please sanctify us by your truth. Your word is truth. Prepare our hearts, Lord, to hear your voice. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. Please be seated. Beloved of our Lord Jesus Christ, on the following day, the day after Jesus fed the 5,000, the crowd looked for Him. The crowd saw His disciples the night before leaving a boat without Him. And after searching for Jesus, not finding Him, the crowd got into boats and headed across the sea to Capernaum. When they found Jesus on the other side of the sea, they asked him, Rabbi, when did you come here? Jesus gently reprimands them. Follow along in your Bibles, verse 26 and 27. Jesus answered them, truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him, God the Father has set his seal. Jesus, speaking to the crowd, tells the crowd, those who diligently seek after him must seek until they find, until they find the food which endures to everlasting life. This morning, we will consider two points from this passage. First, labor not for food that perishes, and second, labor for the bread of life. So beginning with labor not for food that perishes, looking again at verse 26 and 27, Jesus reprimands a crowd that traveled a great distance seeking him. They traveled across the sea and have now found him. And where did they find him? We're told later in verse 59, the crowd found Jesus in the synagogue teaching. Jesus reprimands them. This is an expression of his love, telling them their motives for searching after him were wrong. Jesus spoke to the crowd, you are seeking me not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. The crowd, they were seeking after Jesus for the wrong reasons, the wrong motives. They were seeking after Jesus to gain what their bellies desired. Life most certainly was difficult for the crowd. as it still is to this day with sickness, misery, suffering, hunger, thirst. The crowd was confused about Jesus. The crowd, they'd seen the signs, Jesus healing the sick, feeding them, the 5,000. But now their bellies hungered again. The crowd sought after Jesus for more. to see what else he might do for them. Did they even consider that those who Jesus healed may get sick again? Or the affirmed Jesus healed would someday succumb to weakness, feebleness, if for no other reason than old age. Some of the crowd, some of the crowd may have seen at least heard Jesus bring you back to life from the dead, the only son of the widow in name. And maybe some were part of the crowd gathered around Jesus as Jairus hurried to find him, to beg him to come with him to heal his daughter, only to discover after they finally arrived, Jairus' daughter had died. But Jesus, Jesus brought her back to life. Did the crowd consider that those whom Jesus brought back to life would have to face the painful process of dying a second time? The crowd had seen the signs. The miraculous feeding of the 5,000. They ate of the food. Their bellies, at least for a time, was full. And just possibly as Jesus turned the water into wine and it was the best wine, quite possibly the food provided may have been especially good. Jesus makes it clear to the crowd, they're confused about what they need. Many were seeking after Jesus for the wrong reasons, with the wrong motives. Jesus, seeking Jesus to fulfill the wrong need. So out of love, Jesus reprimands them. Because the crowd, the crowd always needs to know what they truly need. Jesus points out their desires, their needs are earthly. Their bellies were directing them. The desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, the pride of life, are directing them. They want their bellies filled again. So Jesus compassionately reprimands them in order to teach them what it is they truly need. And Jesus not only teaches what they truly need, but how to get what they truly need. Verse 27, once again, do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life. which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him, God the Father has set his seal." Jesus' concern is not with their belly, but with their soul. The crowd seeks the bread that perishes. Jesus is offering the bread of life. The crowd, upon hearing Jesus' words, then asked, verse 28, What must we do to be doing the works of God? This is a very natural response. Very natural. What must we be doing in order to get? And this crowd meeting with Jesus in the synagogue is made up of Jews who at that time were very, very used to being told what they need to do to please God. It was their life's work. All their lives, they had been taught to fulfill the ceremonial laws, keep the Ten Commandments in order to please God. Obedient to the law, obedient to the ceremonies, that was their work, their work to please God. But now Jesus speaks to the crowd, do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life. The crowd's hunger must have made them listen intently to Jesus' teaching, trying to understand what they needed to do. More than likely exhausted from traveling, from being away from home, exhausted from working diligently their whole life. following the law in order to please God, they most certainly must have humbly asked, what must we do to be doing the works of God? Verse 29, this is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent. Some are confused by this answer thinking Jesus is teaching the crowd. This is the work you need to do. That you believe in him whom he sent. That's not what Jesus is saying. We today understand the inflection of Jesus's answer by examining the original words. Jesus is saying the work that must be done. This is the work of God. In other words, this work belongs to God to be done by God. And what is the work that belongs to God? That you believe in him whom he has sent. Jesus is teaching the crowd, this is the work of God, not your work. The crowd asked, what works of God must we be doing? Jesus answered, there's one work. and that of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent. You're not going to work this work. The work of faith is the divine work of God. By grace alone, the work of faith is the work of God. That you believe, that you heartily trust This one work is the one thing that crowned Eden. This one work of God is all-encompassing. It is the one work of God necessary to the acceptance and trust of all the works of Christ. True faith is not only a sure knowledge, but a hearty trust. What's the Holy Spirit works in me by the gospel. Is all of God's work the work of the Holy Spirit? To work saving true saving faith in you by the hearing of the gospel. Is God's work to set the soul right? Jesus speaks to the crowd. The crowd. They hear the inflection in Christ voice. We know that by gauging what the crowd asked next. They started to understand. To understand there is a work, a work that belongs to God. They asked, verse 30 and 31. Then what sign do you do that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness as it is written. He gave them bread from heaven to eat. The crowd. Now in consideration what Jesus has just said, the work is of God that we may believe. Now the crowd asks Jesus to show them. Show them a sign from God. Show them a sign from God that they may believe. Jesus, do some sort of work for us that we may believe. The crowd. The crowd realized the signs they had seen up to that time had not been enough. Because they knew they did not believe. They did not believe the signs up until then. They had not been enough. The crowd tells Jesus, you fed the thousands, but Moses, He fed the tens of thousands. He gave them bread from heaven to eat. So they asked, what are you going to do now for us that we may believe? Verse 32 and 33. Jesus then said to them, truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. Jesus answering the crowd, it was not Moses who gave your fathers. Fathers long ago dead, buried. It was not Moses who gave your fathers manna. The manna that ceased on the day the fathers ate produce from the land of Canaan. The manna was but a type, a shadow, and a figure of the true bread from heaven. Manna was not everlasting bread. Your fathers, they died. The manna, it ceased. Manna is not the bread my father now gives to you. This bread, This bread is the true bread of God for the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. Jesus here calling his father God. Proclaiming himself greater than Moses. And the bread God now gives. He gives to them. And not like a manna from the lower heavens. The clouds. but from the higher heaven, the throne room of God. After that, verse 34, they said to him, sir, give us this bread always. Only 12 times the original word Jesus, the original word here is translated sir. Over 700 times in the New Testament is translated Lord. Lord, give us this bread and not just once, but always. The crowd acknowledged Jesus as Lord. And although the crowd remained ignorant, this request appears to be very honest, very humble, very sincere. Similar to the Samaritan woman at the well who said, sir, give me this water so I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water. Verse 35, Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. Our final point, labor for the bread of life. Jesus tells the crowd they are to labor for the bread of life, and they're to labor in two ways. come to me, believe in me. Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. He who comes to me shall never hunger and he who believes in me shall never thirst. We need to remember Adam, the natural head of all of humanity and the covenantal head of all humanity by by the instigation of the devil by willful disobedience depraved himself and all his descendants of the divine gifts which are to rightly know God to heartily love him and to live with him in eternal blessedness to praise and glorify him all of Adam's posterity all his descendants immediately with Adam As the natural and federal head of humanity, all are conceived and born in violation of the covenant of works. Once violated, all of humanity is born into the curse in sin. Lost, lost to all humanity is the tree of life in the middle of the garden. Lost. The reward, the tree symbolized eternal life with God in the everlasting garden in paradise. But for Jesus, the bread of life, alluding to the tree of life in the midst of the garden. Jesus speaks here to the crowd, you must come to me. Believe in me, do this and live. Christ is the bread of life, the fruit of the tree of life, giving life, spiritual life, eternal life, restoring the true life of God in the soul of a man. The manna only supported physical life and only for a time. The manna did not preserve the Israelites in death. but Christ gives life to those who are dead in sin. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. Coming to Jesus, believing in Jesus is a picture of faith. Coming to Jesus is a picture of where you find rest, where you find refuge, where you find your only comfort. Jesus is telling the crowd, faith is the work of my Father, but you, you need to come to me. Coming to me is believing me. Out of the new heart flows the issues of new life. All our thoughts, our volition, emotions, they resonate with a living, faith-filling heart. Seek for your rest. Seek for refuge. Seek your only comfort. Seek for the one, the only one who is the bread of life. You have been made to believe Christ, to trust Christ, to wholeheartedly trust the gospel message. If indeed the spirit is in you, to eat of the fruit of the tree of life, the bread of life, Jesus, the time had not come, not yet for the crowd. Jesus tells the crowd, verse 36, but I said to you that you have seen me and yet you do not believe. Jesus speaking to the crowd, proclaiming to them, I understand, I understand you have seen me, you have seen signs that I am he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. But you have not believed. You have professed to me you do not believe. You're coming to me with the wrong desires, the wrong motives. But be assured of this. Verse 37 and 38. All the father gives me will come to me. And whoever comes to me, I will never cast out. For I've come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me. The work of the Father cannot be frustrated, not by anything you say or do, not even the gates of hell can keep the Father from gathering out of the whole human race, from the beginning to the end of the world, a chosen communion in the unity of true faith, the Son of God. the bread of life, by His Holy Spirit and word gathers, defends and preserves. Whoever is drawn to me by true faith comes to me. Whoever believes me, I will never cast out. For I've come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me. Verse 39 and 40. And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that He has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life, and I will raise Him up on the last day." Jesus spoke these words because He knew. He absolutely knew the crowd was about to turn their back on him. But Jesus's words to the crowd are to be a comfort to those who the Father has given to Jesus. A comfort to those already united to Christ concerning wandering family, friends, coworkers, all who are dearly loved. This is the will of the Father who sent me, that Jesus should lose none. Not one lost wandering sheep will be lost. Brothers and sisters in Christ, what this means is an unbeliever may be on the road to all kinds of sin, unimaginable sin. Their carnal desires lead to them into all kinds of works of lawlessness. Yet God, the work of God, beginning with divine grace, the Holy Spirit circumcises the heart and planting the seed of true faith. By the power of the gospel, by the word of God, a new living heart forms out of a dead heart. A new living heart, a new nature, a nature with a new guiding principle, saving faith. Out of the heart flows the issues of a new life, guiding thoughts, volitions, emotions that now resonate with a living, faith-filling heart. By the hearing of the gospel, the issues of a new life, the living heart draws you to Jesus. You eat of the bread of life. You heartily trust and believe Jesus. You believe that Jesus, the son of God, was sent into the world in order to save sinners. You believe that Christ lived a sinless, righteous life. You believe that Christ suffered all through his life, that Christ especially suffered under Pontius Pilate. Christ died upon a cross, taken upon himself God's wrath, new sinners. God purchased sinners with his own blood. remaining just and becoming the justifier, atoning for sin. You believe that Christ truly died and was buried, that Christ suffered all the hells to all his people in their place, that Christ rose on the third day, conquering death for all who believe. That is those who are made obedient to true faith. that Christ ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father and will come again to judge the living and the dead. Nothing in the world, not anything anyone could do or say, not the gates of hell, nothing could frustrate the decrees of God. At the appointed time and place, according to God's plans and purposes, none whom the Father has given to the Son will be lost. We are to diligently seek after Jesus. Seek until you find the food which endures to everlasting life. Eat of the bread of life. Come to Jesus. Believe Jesus. Continue to eat the bread of life. You may rightly know God, your creator. Heartily love him, to live with him in eternal blessedness, to praise and glorify him. Come now before the Lord in prayer. Almighty God, graciously grant that your word which we have heard may be inscribed inwardly on our hearts. Fill our hearts with your desires, desires that are well suited for your plans and the purposes you have for our lives. As we received your word meekly with pure affection, may our hearts be filled with love emanating our awe and reverence for you, and may we glorify you in all that we do. Cause us to bear the fruit of the Spirit and to live in holiness, diligently following your commandments. Create in us that which is pleasing to your love so that we may engage in the greatest activity any human may engage in, loving you, Almighty Father, with our love. And may it please you to use us to lead those who are lost, wandering, who are confused in the way of truth, to guide them into the way of truth and to love you. All this we pray for the honor and praise of your name through Jesus Christ our Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.