John 6:22-59  - Spending Energy on Eternal Things

        The exciting truth is that God the Father wants us to grow in our understanding.  We are often quick to speak.  But this Christmas, let's desire to listen to God.  And He will teach us.  It’s one thing to be observant.  It’s another to be understanding.  All people are made in the image of God.  We have faculties and abilities, senses, and volition.  Each of us is also fallen, needing God because of our personal sins.  God's atonement is the payment for our primordial problem: sin.

        You may disagree with me - and so be it - but Scripture teaches us that God came to earth to save sinners from this evil world (Galatians 1:4).  When I became a believer in Jesus Christ I had no doubt that I was a sinner (still no doubt today).  The thing that blew my mind (still does) was that God loves me.  The Bible says, "God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.  This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins" (1 John 4:9-10).

        In John 6 Jesus is teaching us about our great need for God.  It's not a sometimes or a seasonal need (Christmas and Easter Christians).  Rather it is a daily need.  Jesus is the bread and wine of life - now and through eternity.  In this passage we hear that God draws people to Himself (6:44).  Over the last 2,000 years many people (grand understatement) have accepted God’s gift of eternal life by doing what God requires of us, believing in Jesus.

        We read this incredible verse: “For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life.  I will raise them up at the last day” (6:41).  God offers all people the gift of eternal life.  But tragically not all people accept the Gift.  Many will not believe in Jesus as many refused to trust God for healing from the venomous snake bites when Moses lifted up the bronze snake in the desert (Numbers 21:4-9 and John 3:13-14).  In this great age of church growth, each person is called by God to repent of their sins and to accept Jesus (Acts 17:30).  We get one shot.  One lifetime to make that decision to accept or reject the Gift of God.

        People have been searching for Jesus for a long time - forever really.  But what exactly are we looking for.  Do we want Jesus for what He can give us - perishable things of this world?  Nope.  We spend our energy seeking eternal life for that is our treasure.  And with God's gift of eternal life, we get full life here in this earthly life as well.

        If you are a brother or sister in Christ you are looking to God in faith for all things.  I’m praying for a rewarding place to use my gifts and abilities, for good jobs and spouses for our sons, and for good health for my wife and myself.  And I’m praying for God’s blessing and guidance for my friends, for our community, and for our country.  I’m also praying for the church to be strong and for it to be what God wants it to be.  I yearn for church to be a place and a people where we as God’s family can worship the Father in spirit and truth as a family.  I want the church to be a place where people are not only welcome but where they thrive and where they are equipped to do the will of God in their homes and in our community.  May God's glorious church be one body of deep connections, love, fellowship, grace, and spiritual maturity.  

        In this John 6 passage of Scripture, we hear that Jesus expects us to understand and grow with the right focus and priorities.  It’s an age-old question, but it is asked by people even today, "What should we do?"  John the Baptist answered the people this way: repent of your sins, turn to God and His ways, and be baptized (Mark 1:4).  At Pentecost, Peter told people to repent of sin and be baptized as followers of Jesus Christ to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).

        We hear in this passage what our Lord and Savior told the Jewish people.  These were people anticipating a Messiah.  They were an oppressed people - long-suffering.  They were people hungry for spiritual truth but also hungry for things of this world (much like people today craving power, gold, health, and perishable things).  Jesus called them out.  He said, "But you haven't believed in me even though you have seen me" (6:36).

        Jesus tells the people exactly what they should do and He tells them the truth about eternal life.  Jesus tells them to stop thinking about short-term gain, things that pass away.  Jesus says, “Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you” (6:27).  Our job - our assignment from the Father is this, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent” (6:29).

        God sent rain and sun and every good thing in creation.  He sent prophets and generations of miracles.  God patiently waited for people to turn from sin and to follow Him.  God, just as He promised, sent His only begotten Son.  And yet the people demanded more.  They did not believe in Jesus.  They rejected the prophets and they rejected the Savior.  Yet many did believe.  Like the people of Sychar, we read about in John 4 (the woman at the well).  And since Jesus ascension to heaven (Hebrews 1:3 and Psalm 110:1) billions more people have come to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior.

        This Christmas many will hear of the Messiah.  Many will see Jesus and understand that He paid the debt for our sins on the Cross and He rose again to new life by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus offers us new life, eternal life if we accept His gift and believe in Him.  We need Jesus daily.  He is our daily bread and wine - and our eternal hope.

        Dear Lord Jesus, You came down from heaven.  You are the bread and wine of life.  Please increase our understanding.  And may many people hear the Gospel and believe in You.  May we spend our energy today seeking the eternal life that You give to us as Your great Gift this Christmas.  Amen.

Christmas Tree Downtown Lynchburg, VA