Food That Cannot Satisfy Series

 200404.ser

“Food That Cannot Satisfy”

CLBC Jan. 25/04 a.m.

Subject: Faith

Theme: Learning to walk by faith

Passage: John 6: 22 - 27,

Learning to walk by faith is one of the most difficult and yet one of the most

rewarding concepts of the Christian life. But that was the principle which Jesus had to teach

the huge crowds that were following him everywhere, that is what he had to teach his 12

disciples, and that is what he is still teaching us every day of our lives.

The crowd was puzzled. They couldn’t find Jesus.

They had followed him around the lake. They had listened to him all day. And then he had

fed them all. They had no idea where he got the food. It was as though he could just create food,

good food, the best bread and fish they had ever eaten. This Jesus was totally impressive.

Somebody started saying that this must be the promised king of Israel, and they all agreed.

Perhaps this was the one who could lead them against the Roman armies.

But then he had sent his disciples away in the boat, and he told the crowd to go home.

They saw him walk up the hill all by himself, and night fell. It was too late to walk home around

the lake, so they slept out in the open. This morning, they searched for him, but he was not to be

found. Then boats came and took many of them back to Capernaum. Others walked back around

the lake, and when they got back, there he was, talking to people.

How did he get there, they asked him, but he didn’t answer. Instead, Jesus said to them,

"Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you

ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 "Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the

food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the

Father has set His seal on Him."

What on earth did he mean? That is what we want to find out today.

1. He meant that they were following him for all the wrong reasons.

The disciples may have been fooled into thinking that all these people were following

Jesus because they believed in Him and wanted Him as their Saviour and Master, but did they?

Jesus knew better. Jesus knew that they weren’t thinking about their souls; they were only

thinking about their stomachs. They were not seeking heavenly things; they were perfectly content

with earthly things.

Did they understand that all the miracles he performed were signs of his deity, and his

power to forgive sins and to change lives? Or were they just excitement junkies - waiting for the

latest thing to ooh and ahh over?

Of course they were. They hadn’t learned to trust Jesus as the true Messiah or as Saviour

and Lord. They were just normal human beings full of carnal, fleshly ideas and motivations. Hey,

Jesus was an exciting guy! After all, if he could feed over 5,000 people from nothing, if he could

cast out demons, and if he could heal people, he could do anything!

They were walking by sight, not by faith. That’s what normal human beings do.

See how well Jesus knew their true motivation.

"Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because

you ate of the loaves and were filled.” They couldn’t deceive Jesus, even if they could fool

others.

In John 2: 25 we read that “Jesus knew all men, and had no need for anyone to tell him

about man for he knew what was in man.”

In 1 Samuel 16:7 we are told, “The Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks at the

outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Conclusion:

There is a message there for all of us, isn’t there? Jesus know all about us. He knows us

through and through. He not only knows our words and our actions; he knows our thoughts and

our motivations. There is no use of trying to hide from God. Frankly as a Christian, I find

that knowledge freeing. Since He knows all about me, I can be open and honest with him, even

about my weaknesses and failures. I can confess all my sins and shortcomings to Him.”If we

confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all

iniquities.” 1 John 1:9

If there is anyone who has not yet trusted Jesus for salvation, that knowledge can free you

also. If he already knows all about you, and if Jesus gave his life for you, he did it in full