"THE GOSPEL OF JOHN"
Two Kinds Of Food (6:27)
INTRODUCTION
- Among the miracles of Jesus that attracted great attention was the
feeding of 5000 with five loaves of bread and two fish - Jn 6:1-13
- Many came to believe in Him as the Prophet to come - Jn 6:14; cf.
Deut 18:15
- Some wanted to take Him by force and make Him king - Jn 6:15
- People sought to follow Him - Jn 6:22,24-25
- Jesus, who knew the hearts of men (Jn 2:25), perceived their selfish
motives...
- They were interested only in the food, not what the miracle
indicated - Jn 6:26
- Prompting Jesus to warn them about the food for which they labor
- Jn 6:27
[The words of Jesus in our text (Jn 6:27) reveal there are "Two Kinds Of
Food", one that perishes and another that endures. As we seek to apply
Jesus' admonition to our own lives, let's consider...]
- THE FOOD WHICH PERISHES
- WHAT FOOD IS THIS...?
- Literally, it is the food we eat
- It quickly perishes, even with the benefit of preservatives
- It fails to satisfy for long, soon we are hungry and thirsty
again - cf. Jn 4:13
- Figuratively, there are other "foods" which soon perish
- The food of human wisdom
- The food of folly
- The food of mirth and pleasure
- The food of great wealth and industrious labor
-- Which Solomon found to provide no lasting fulfillment - cf.
Ec 1:17; 2:1-2,3-11
- DO NOT LABOR FOR SUCH FOOD...
- This does not mean we are to make no effort to supply our needs
- A Christian is to provide for his family - 1Ti 5:8
- If a man does not work, neither should he eat - 2Th 3:10-12
- But that we not do so to the neglect of food which endures
- The "food" which perishes should not be our priority in life
- cf. Mt 6:33
- A lesson that Martha needed to learn - Lk 10:38-42
[Sadly, many people expend much time, energy, and money for "food" which
soon perishes. Jesus would have people direct their life's efforts
toward...]
- THE FOOD WHICH ENDURES
- WHAT FOOD IS THIS...?
- In other texts, it is the Word of God
- By which man truly lives - cf. Mt 4:4
- Which Job treasured more than necessary food - Job 23:12
- Which David valued more than gold and fine food - Ps 19:10;
119:72,103,11
- Which Jeremiah found to be the rejoicing of his heart - Jer
15:16
- Which causes rebirth, and endures forever - 1Pe 1:22-25
- In our text, it is Jesus, the Word of God
- Jesus, the Logos (Word) of God - Jn 1:1,14,18
- He is the true bread from the Father in heaven - Jn 6:31-35
- He is the bread of life who offers everlasting life - Jn 6:47-51
- LABOR FOR THIS FOOD...
- Jesus must be the primary focus of our labors, in which we
strive:
- To believe in Him, for therein is everlasting life - Jn 6:28-29,40
- To follow Him, for He has the words of eternal life - Jn 6:66-69
- To know Him, for that is eternal life - Jn 17:1-3
- To obey Him, for to those who obey He is the author of
eternal life - He 5:9
- Are we laboring for the food which endures to everlasting life?
- Let Paul's attitude be our example - Php 3:7-15
- Seeking to know the Lord more and more
- Never content with our current understanding, always
pressing further
- Let Peter's exhortation to diligence in growing in the
knowledge of Jesus Christ set the standard - 2Pe 1:5-8;
3:18
- Seeking to become like the Lord more and more
- Always abounding, always growing in grace and knowledge
CONCLUSION
- Dear friends and brethren, for what "food" do you labor...?
- Is your focus in life on that which is temporary?
- Do you strive for that which cannot truly satisfy?
-- If so, consider what Isaiah wrote 700 years before Christ came
- Isa 55:1-4
- Jesus is the true bread of life, the living water, who truly
satisfies...
- He alone provides the hope of eternal life - Jn 6:40
- He alone offers the abundant life even now - Jn 10:11
Though written by Isaiah, these words may serve as the invitation Jesus
offers to all...
"Why do you spend money for [what is] not bread, And your wages
for [what] does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat
[what is] good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance.
Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live;
And I will make an everlasting covenant with you - The sure mercies
of David." (Isa 55:2-3)