Sermon 1: The Perishable And The Permanent Series

The Big Idea: We are all seeking something, but Jesus challenges us to stop laboring for temporary satisfaction and to seek Him for the eternal life only He can give.

Introduction: The Morning After the Miracle

1. Hook: Start with a story about a time you (or someone) got something you really wanted—a new phone, a job, a relationship—only to find that the excitement faded. We are wired to want the next thing.

2. The Scene (v. 22-24): We pick up the story "the day following" the feeding of the five thousand. Jesus has just performed one of the greatest miracles of His ministry, providing a feast for thousands from a boy's lunch.

3. The Pursuit: The crowd is energized. They saw the miracle, they ate the food, and they are impressed. When they wake up, Jesus is gone. So, what do they do? They get in boats and cross the sea, actively pursuing Him.

4. The Question: On the surface, this looks like revival! The crowd is "seeking Jesus." But their first question to Him is a simple, logistical one: "Rabbi, when camest thou hither?" (v. 25). They're focused on the how and when, but Jesus is about to expose the why.

I. The Motive Exposed (v. 26)

"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."

1. The Confrontation: Jesus doesn't even answer their question. He holds up a mirror to their hearts. He knows they aren't seeking Him for who He is (the sign-giver), but for what He gives (the bread).

2. Sign vs. Snack: The miracle (the "sign") was supposed to point to His divine identity. It was a spiritual clue. But the crowd missed the point. They weren't awestruck by the Creator; they were satisfied by the creation. They saw a caterer, not a Christ.

Application: This is the hard question for us. Why are we here today?

Do we seek Jesus for what He can do for us? (Fix our marriage, help our finances, heal our body).

Or do we seek Him for who He is?

It’s easy to be a "loaves and fishes" Christian. We follow Jesus when our basket is full and we are "filled." But what happens when the benefits stop?

II. The Command Explained (v. 27)

"Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed."

1. "Labour not...": This sounds strange. Jesus isn't promoting laziness. He's talking about priority and effort. "Stop pouring all your energy, all your 'labour,' into things that rot."

2. "The meat which perisheth": This is everything we chase for temporary fulfillment.

It's the paycheck, the promotion, the "likes" on social media, the recognition, the bigger house.

It's even "religion" itself—going through the motions to get a temporary sense of blessing.

These things are not bad in themselves, but they are perishable. They will never ultimately satisfy the deep hunger in our souls.

3. "The meat which endureth...": This is the game-changer. Jesus offers a different kind of food.

It doesn't perish. It doesn't get old. It doesn't run out.

It is "unto everlasting life." It's not just about duration (living forever), but about quality (a new kind of life, God's life, starting now).

4. The Source: Where do we get this "meat"? We can't make it. We can't earn it. It is something "which the Son of man shall give unto you." It is a gift.

5. The Authority: Why trust Him? "for him hath God the Father sealed." (v. 27). A seal in that day was a mark of ownership and authenticity. Think of a king's wax seal on a document. Jesus is God's "authorized dealer" of eternal life.

Conclusion: What Are You Working For?

The crowd came to Jesus to get more. More bread, more miracles, more of what they thought they needed. Jesus confronts them and, in turn, confronts us.

We spend our whole lives laboring. We "work" at our jobs, our relationships, our hobbies, our health. The question isn't if you will labor, but what you are laboring for.

The Challenge: Are you laboring for "the meat which perisheth"? Are you spending your one, wild, precious life chasing things that will ultimately turn to dust in your hands?

Jesus offers a different way. He offers to give us what we can never earn: "that meat which endureth unto everlasting life."

The sermon series isn't just about what they did. It's about what we will do. They were challenged to "labour not." Our first step is to recognize what "perishable meat" we are laboring for, and to ask God to turn our hunger toward the only One who can truly satisfy.