uʍop-ǝpᴉsd∩ – Give up and Live!

Here is a link to last week’s series, Upside-down with Faithless Believers

Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

John 6:29 (WEB)

That sounds easy doesn’t it. But in the story of the feeding of the 5,000, the people didn’t get it. At least not at first. They believed what they saw in the moment. They saw a prophet and a miracle worker.

They didn’t see Messiah.

They saw an end to their illnesses, poverty, hunger and oppression.

They had no idea what redemption really looked like.

We tend to doggedly pursue the quickest path to satisfaction in life, seeking things like money, career success, and physical perfection.

And while those things are not necessarily bad, to misplace them ahead of Jesus leads to emptiness, not fulfillment.

I used the word misplace intentionally because it is the most accurate description of this problem. One definition of the word misplace means to put something in the wrong place.

Do you recall this verse:

 He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.

Matthew 10:39 (WEB)

So, just what caused thousands to come to Jesus in this remote place, with no provision for their physical hunger?

They followed after Jesus…

“…A great multitude followed him, because they saw his signs which he did on those who were sick.“.

John 6:2 (WEB)

Now, let’s put the story into context.

Remember, the key verse, John 6:29, is the answer Jesus gave to this question:

They said therefore to him, “What must we do, that we may work the works of God?”

John 6:28 (WEB)

But the answer must have been too simple for them. Sometimes we feel like the resolution needs to be really hard, don’t we? Or if not intellectually demanding, it must be something we must work for. It is as if we need to just do something tangible.

When Jesus told them, “believe in him whom he has sent.”, this was their reply:

 They said therefore to him, “What then do you do for a sign, that we may see and believe you? What work do you do? John 6:30 (WEB)

Can you imagine that? They put Jesus to the test.

I know we have never done that.

Right?

Unfortunately, I have.

But this is getting uncomfortable. Don’t look at me.

Back to the people.

The people reminded Jesus that Moses was the real savior for them. They told Jesus what all Moses did to save their lives. They knew Moses acted under God’s direction. But now, they didn’t believe that God’s Son was standing before them.

Let me encourage you to do something on your own. Read Exodus 33:13-23, at least. I think it will change your life in a sweet way. There will be no doubt about who the Savior is. And Moses knew Him. That is all I will explain.

So here is what Jesus told them:

Jesus therefore said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, it wasn’t Moses who gave you the bread out of heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread out of heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world.”

John 6:32 & 33 (WEB)

And they responded:

The people said, “Lord, always give us this bread.”

John 6:34 (WEB)

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will not be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But I told you that you have seen me, and yet you don’t believe.

John 6:35-36 (WEB)

Please read the remaining words of Jesus in this chapter. They will bless your life.

Here are the passages in John 6 that have the word believe in them.

John 6:29; John 6:30; John 6:35; John 6:36; John 6:40; John 6:47; John 6:64 appears twice; John 6:69;

Total number of times the word believe appears today- 9

Read this passage to be reminded of a faithless one that Jesus touched. John 20:24-27

World English Bible (WEB)

by Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.