For Now We See Through A Glass Darkly But Then Face To Face - Part 1760

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 where into His disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with His disciples into the boat, but that His disciples were gone away alone; (howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)

When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither His disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. And when they had found Him on the other side of the sea, they said unto Him, "Rabbi, when came Thou hither?" 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. Labour not for the meat which perishes, but for that meat which endures unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him hath God the Father sealed."

Then said they unto Him, "What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?"

Jesus answered and said unto them, "This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent." They said therefore unto Him, "What sign shewest Thou then, that we may see, and believe Thee? what dost Thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat." Then Jesus said unto them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He which comes down from heaven, and gives life unto the world."

Before continuing on, let's examine a couple of the points introduced.

First, Jesus has just traveled over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias, and has a great multitude following Him. Indeed, they followed Him "because they saw His miracles which He did on them that were diseased." (John 6:1-2) A short while later, Jesus uses five barley loaves and two small fishes to feed the five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves and when He had given thanks, He distributed to the disciples and the disciples to them that were set down: and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they gathered the leftovers that remained, they gathered together and filled twelve baskets of the left over barley bread. (John 6:3-13) Jesus even walked upon the sea, for His disciples to witness, and yet these people still asked Jesus for a miracle, saying "What sign shewest Thou then, that we may see, and believe Thee?"

Second, within the text wherein Jesus is speaking, Jesus once again refers to the work of God -- "that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent." (John 6:29) "And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the Name of the His Son Jesus Christ and love one another as He gave us commandment." (I John 3:23; Matthew 22:39) Another example of the "hear ye Him," that remains evident throughout the scriptures. "Lo, behold, the volume of the book is written of Me!"

Continuing on, these said unto Jesus, "Lord, evermore give us this bread." Jesus said unto them, "I am the bread of life: he that comes to Me shall never hunger; and he that believes on Me shall never thirst ... but I said unto you, that ye also have seen Me, and believe not." (John 6:36)

Jesus is telling them that He is the bread from heaven, but their hearts are not believing, and Jesus calls them on it. But Jesus does not stop there. He wants us to know that He is the bread from heaven, so that when we come to Him in our hearts, He will in no wise cast out. 

Jesus continues, "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me; and him that comes to Me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent Me, that of all which he hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which sees the Son, and believes on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:37-40)

The Jews then murmured at Him, because He said, "I am the bread which came down from heaven." These did not want to accept that Jesus was the Christ, the Lord of glory made flesh and dwelling among them. After all, the miracles that Jesus performed to heal the sick and diseased, and in feeding the five thousand should have been sufficient -- if their hearts were right. But instead, they said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that He saith, "I came down from heaven?"

Jesus then begins to clarify what He meant, In fact, Jesus refers to prophecy from the old to confirm His identity -- "I am that bread of life." 

Therefore, Jesus says unto them, "Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, comes unto Me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save He which is of God, he hath seen the Father.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes on Me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us His flesh to eat?" Then Jesus said unto them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed ... he that eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, dwells in Me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father: so he that eats Me, even he shall live by Me.

This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever." (John 6:22-58)

Behold, the Lamb of God. "I the Lord, the first and with the last, I am He." (Isaiah 41:4)

"Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God." (Revelation 21:3)

Stand in the offering plate.