So we've made it. The final part of our Chapter 6 dissection. Since Part B I've taken some serious time off from posting. Maybe I got lazy, odds are good, or maybe I just needed to process some more chapters in John's Story before returning to finish it up.
This is gritty stuff. Belief in Christ really tugs on all strings. It puts pressure on all of life's compartments and challenges me to be both introspective and active. To examine my own belief, my belief system and then make changes where necessary and when necessary.
In all honesty, I hate how divisive my heart can be. My tendency is to sit on my understanding of belief and draw a line in the sand. While I don't need to question all elements of my faith, I can't help but engage Jesus' simple and profound call the 'believe in Him, period.' and not wrestle my version of this truth.
I hope you do the same.
THREE / 30-33
'Give us a sign, like the one Moses gave our ancestors...and then we'll believe you.'
Signs are a huge part of John's Gospel. He highlights key signs, key miracles, key divine interactions so that the reader, you and I, can catch a glimpse of a few of the wildly miraculous acts of Jesus and be amazed, convinced even that Jesus is who He claims to be.
YET Jesus never meant signs to be the defining factor in who would come to a saving trust in Him.
Here the audience demands a sign in order to accept Jesus' claim that 'belief' is the only work God desires from those who come to Him for salvation.
It's ironic that right after Jesus proclaims that belief: an internal, spiritual melding of the heart and mind and soul into a trusting response of Jesus' claims and actions - it's ironic that the crowd wants a physical act, an external sign to prove that internal reality He's teaching here.
Look back to :26b and it makes their demand for a sign a bit moot. They didn't seek out Jesus because of the miracle of the bread and the fish (:1-15) but because their physical needs were met and they want more!
This whole interaction is based on hunger, desire, physical needs mixed and confused with theological desires.
'Moses didn't give you bread, My Father sent you the true bread from heaven, that is, He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.'
There it is. Straight to the point.
The audience came for breakfast,
then wanted religious confirmation of their historical traditions and expectations,
eventually wanted nothing to do with either breakfast or the Bread of Life.
First, what's this manna? See interaction SIX for a little more background.
I love the simple, contextual, spiritual response of Jesus - God sent bread that now gives eternal life to the world, the old has passed, the new has come, the temporary is played out, the eternal is here to stay.
TWO / 28-29
'What work does God want us to perform?'
- There's no vocation that earns anyone salvation, not even the role of pastor or priest!
- There is no calendar religious cycle that offers salvation
- There is no deed good enough
- No self-sacrificial lifestyle, social justice catalyzer, theology doctorates...
- There is no daily ritual
- No tangible activity...
The Jews are going to point to Moses' work in producing miracles as a signs of Gods favor and salvation. But Jesus redirects them to God's work in faith, not Moses' response in obedience.
'Believe in the Sent One.'
Work? Oh, yeah...when the Holy Spirit opens your ears, heart and mind to the truth of Jesus' words, then you'll be in the midst of the act of belief...and that belief is the work you ought to be engaged in.
'Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.' Genesis 15:6 (Rom 4:3)
Salvation First: Faith that Christ is The ONE.
Obedience Second: Faithful response actively displayed in the renewed rhythms and practices of a life devoted to Him.
If Christ hasn't overhauled our spirit, filled us with His Spirit, then works are nothing but a temporary and impersonal business transaction. Obedience is impossible to a God you don't actually trust. Trust first, become second.
ONE / 25-27
'When did you get here Teacher?'
This is the start of one the most studied, discussed and divisive passages in Scripture. This is the first question. Seriously? It's like meeting your hero and then asking them what kind of gas-mileage they got on the way over.
This first question does three things right off the bat:
- They're aware of the possible miracle that took place in the night (:16-24).
- They were in the midst of missing the point of this divine interaction with their Messiah.
- This gives Jesus a conversational opportunity to get right to the heart of the matter.
Not so long ago this group tried to force Jesus to lead a Jewish rebellion. A king. Here He's still respected but downgraded to Rabbi...soon He'll be too hard to follow.
On a side note, think about the reality that Jesus refused to His death the role of rebel leader, revolutionary dictator. He didn't leave absolute perfection and beauty to (Philippians 2) to come and start a cultural riot. Jesus didn't come to trap, brainwash, demand, become a cult-leader, social leader, human rights activist against Rome etc. He didn't even come to be a mighty religious leader of the people.
Jesus came to reconcile anyone who will believe with His Father, Creator, King.
'You're not interested in the 'how' I got here, you want food. Listen, don't waste your time seeking food that rots, it's temporary. Work for food that lasts forever, that's eternal. Only I can give you this food. Come and get this food from the One Sealed with God's approval.'
Quite the paraphrase eh?
It's wild how this 'seal' of God set on Jesus during His ministry has been transferred to all believers. That the God of the Universe who approved of the life of Christ and set Him apart for His glory has now set this seal on those who also approve (believe) in the life of Christ and now get to engage in a life lived for His glory too!
Paul said, 'we don't write you anything you cannot read or understand...He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.' 2 Cor 1:13, 21-22
Catch that? Not only are the letters in the Bible designed for all to read (without a mediator) and understand...but they teach us about the Source of the seal of God on our lives. Jesus. And that followers of Christ are set apart with an eternally-divine deposit of eternal life.
The Jews open this entire dialogue with a trivial question about travel.
Jesus ends it all with those who truly are faithful in traveling with Him, the Twelve.
Challenge /
I write a lot. I don't always get to the point right away and sometimes I never actually do. To be honest, I'm a bit lazy when it comes to quoting other authors and sources. I get technical only when I feel like it and this series of posts on Chapter 6 is proof of all of that. But it's a good chapter isn't it.
This dialogue is worth spending weeks on. It's worth punching out some thoughts. It's worth engaging directly and personally and technically and spiritually. I'm sure I benefit more than anyone with my pile of notes, stacks of books and time spent hitting these keys and posting these thoughts.
But that's part of the challenge of being a disciple isn't it? If I take the time to write out what the Lord is doing in my heart and mind regarding this Text, and then share it with you, whether you agree or disagree you may very well go and do the same in your own medium, your own context, your own rhythm and time and space.
So what do we do about all this? Well, since it's my blog I'll tell you.
Do the work God requires: believe.
Stop. Seriously, just stop right now and spend some time in prayer. Ask the Lord to put Himself on display for you. Ask Him to place on your heart and in your mind the very sign of His Spirit at work in you. To seal you over for the Day of the Lord.
And to those who believe, obey. Read 8:31-32. Go and demonstrate your faith in Christ through faithfulness in a way that honors Him and fits your culture and season of life.
- Are you believing more in the fruit of your works, actions and deeds than in the One who set you apart for works, deeds and faithful living?
- With all this talk on belief, what good are works without this faith? Are they spiritually profitable according to Jesus? Why, why not?
- More importantly, are your works and deeds the cause of salvation? The sustaining work for your salvation? Or the response of salvation gifted to you? Your answer means all the difference in engaging Jesus.