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Feeding on Christ

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Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 13, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 23.

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Feeding on Christ

A Brief Study of John 6

The first fifteen verses of the chapter pertain to the feeding of five thousand on the east side of the Sea of Galilee with five barley loaves and two small fishes. That miracle revealed the creative power of Christ in His word. This is evident to every Bible believer. All the money in the apostolic treasury—two hundred shillings, about $34.00—was not sufficient to purchase food that every one might have a little; but the creative word of Christ multiplied the few farthings' worth of bread till the multitude was satisfied, and the basket of each of the twelve was filled besides.
Surely, said the materialistic multitude, this is the man to be our king. He can supply all our needs without labor. We will compel His acquiescence. It brought sadness to the Master, and He retired to the mountain to pray.
Verses sixteen to twenty-one inclusive are the story of the disciples' voyage across a tempestuous sea to the west side, and the Master's presence and help.
The next day the multitude, learning that Jesus did not embark for Capernaum with His disciples, and that there was no other boat by which He could have gone away, sought Him on the east side of the lake, but not finding Him or His disciples, took passage on other boats that came along, and crossed to Capernaum seeking Him. On their questioning as to when He came to Capernaum, Jesus pointed out the motives of their hearts: "Ye seek Me, not because ye saw signs, but because ye ate of the loaves, and were filled." Verse 26. Let us question the text.
What instruction did our Lord then give them?
"Labor 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." Verse 27.
What question did they then ask?
"Then said they unto Him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?" Verse 28.
What did our Lord reply?
"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent." Verse 29.
The pride of man ever asks: "What shall I do?" "What must I do?" He would purchase by his own efforts salvation. By his works of merit he would win the crown. Jesus here gives us the secret of holy living,—believe in Him whom the Father sent. "Whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have eternal life." "He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life." John 3: 16, 36. The man who truly believes, comes into harmony with God. His whole being is opened on the God-ward side to the inflow of divine life, and that life cleanses away the sin and implants in the heart the righteousness of God. "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness." Rom. 10: 10. "To him that . . . believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness." Rom. 4: 5. This meets "the works of God;" for it is "the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe." Rom. 3: 22. This righteousness is imputed, this life is bestowed, in order "that the righteousness ["ordinance," "requirement," A.R.V.] of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Rom. 8: 4. This is the "faith which worketh by love." Gal. 5: 6. This is the love that keeps God's commandments, and finds them "not grievous." 1 John 5: 3. In the light of these and other scriptures we may clearly see that the only power to do God's works comes by faith, and that faith ever results in implicit obedience.
By what quibbling did the people meet their clear duty?
"They said therefore unto Him, What sign showest Thou then, that we may see, and believe Thee? what dost Thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat." John 6: 30, 31.
It is evident from the next verse that they understood that Moses gave the manna, altho Psalm 78 clearly teaches that God gave it.
From whom alone could the "true bread," the bread "which abideth," be received?
"Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven." Verse 32.
In whom do all these heavenly gifts center? who is the true bread?
"For the bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world." Verse 33.
The carnal mortal, the world-lover, the formal professor, the unbeliever, look ever at the visible, not the invisible God behind it. God gave the fathers manna from heaven to eat, a truly miraculous bread. They received it as from Moses, murmured at him because it did not satisfy their perverted appetite, and said, "Our soul loatheth this light bread," "give us flesh to eat." (See Numbers 11 and 21: 5.) Of that food the fathers ate and died. They saw not beyond the mere material before them. But Moses ate of that bread and lived. At the age of thrice twoscore his eye was not dim nor his natural force abated. And had he not sinned, he would by the same faith have lived on till his days were "as the days of heaven upon the earth;" as God desired it for that whole people. Deut. 11: 21. Seeing beyond the material, they would have grasped the mighty power of God in their lives, and the creative energy which produced the manna would have regenerated them as it is God's will that His Spirit shall regenerate men now. Rom. 8: 11. They would not see beyond the seeming. The Jews looked upon Christ, the mere man, to them, and found neither righteousness nor life. But those who looked beyond, found the power of God and the wisdom of God and the love of God—found it all in His word that He spoke. The Roman ruler well exemplifies that faith: "Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed." "He sent His word, and healed them." It was just as true when the manna fell; for God wrought all that He did for them that they might "know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live." Deut. 8: 3. Our Lord teaches us in His own human experience the same lesson, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Matt. 4: 4.
We must leave the remainder of the chapter till our next study.