Moments to Ponder

Episode 127: From Followers to Faith: Discovering the Bread of Life in John 6

• Betsy Marvin • Season 15 • Episode 127

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We reflect on the distinction between being a fan and being a true follower of Christ, exploring the crowd's shallow desires for miracles versus the depth of faith that Jesus calls us to. Digging into John 6, we discover the significance of Jesus as the bread of life and how our spiritual diets influence our faith journeys.

- examining the culture of fandom in entertainment and faith
- discussing Jesus' encounter with the crowd seeking more miracles
- contrasting the crowd's expectations with Jesus' spiritual teachings
- exploring the meaning behind Jesus' declaration as the bread of life
- reflecting on the nature of belief and what it means to truly follow Jesus
- considering the challenges of a spiritual diet and its impact on faith
- emphasizing the importance of engaging deeply with scripture

call to action: "As we celebrate this Advent season, may we look beyond the lights and tinsel to the manger. We can be fans of Christmas, the gifts, and Santa, but may we be true followers of the One who came, the Savior, who calls us to the most incredible meal we could ever imagine."

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Speaker 1:

Hi friends, welcome to Moments to Ponder. This is a podcast designed to help you spend a few moments in God's Word, gain fresh perspectives and find meaningful takeaways to ponder throughout your week. I'm Betsy Marvin and this is episode 127. I've never been a big fangirl. There isn't a musical group or person that I really go gaga over. If you were to visit my house on a Saturday or Sunday in the fall, you'd see Michigan or Lions jerseys abounding Just not on me. Yes, I love a good concert or a speaker, a great team or a show. I even follow a few on socials but I don't really need an autograph or a picture. It's not that it's bad to be a fan of someone or something. It's just not my jam. I think it's awesome that people enjoy certain artists or teams so much, and making an event out of seeing a concert or attending a show is actually really fun. We're a culture that loves to elevate those in big spaces, like Taylor Swift or the Lions. We celebrate the entertainer because, well, we love to be entertained and we always seem to want more. When you watch documentaries or read articles by those in our entertainment world, one thing they all seem to say is that they feel like there's so much demand on them, the pressure to supply the entertainment and make it bigger and better to feed the insatiable hunger of the fan beast. This isn't new. Just as people have sought after fame and fortune for thousands of years, there have been those that follow them, seeking what they can get from that new cultural icon. As we continue in John 6, we see a crowd that was just miraculously fed by a man that spoke of incredible things, and they want more. They have become Jesus fans. He was so great, they want to make him king, but he slipped away before they could put him on the pedestal that they were building.

Speaker 1:

We begin today with verse 22 of chapter 6 of John. The next day, the crowd that had stayed on the far shore saw that the disciples had taken the only boat and they realized Jesus had not gone with them. Several boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the Lord had blessed the bread and the people had eaten. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him. They found him on the other side of the lake and asked Rabbi, when did you get here? Jesus replied I tell you the truth. You want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don't be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life the Son of man can give you, for God, the Father, has given me the seal of his approval. They replied. We want to perform God's works too. What should we do? Jesus told them this is the only work God wants from you. Believe in the one he has sent. Work God wants from you. Believe in the one he has sent. They answered show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness. The scriptures say Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat. Gave them bread from heaven to eat.

Speaker 1:

The crowd went in search of Jesus. We know that he met the disciples on the water and was on the other side, but they didn't know that. They seemed somehow to understand that they should look in Capernaum. His disciples were fishermen. Capernaum is a fishing town. It's a natural assumption.

Speaker 1:

Jesus doesn't answer their question of when did you get here? He goes right to the heart of it. I tell you the truth, he says and calls them out on their shallow fan-seeking. They wanted bread, yes, but even more so they wanted the miraculous display of their would-be miracle king that would lead them against the Romans. Jesus calls them out, telling them to spend their energy seeking eternal life. So they ask well, what should we do? What should we do? That's a question that we all ask. What can I do? We like doing answers right. It gives us something to shoot for. We want to be able to do something to get what Jesus offers, but all it requires is belief in him.

Speaker 1:

We learn later in this chapter that the current conversation occurs in the synagogue in Capernaum. There are those in the crowd that weren't on the hillside the day before, but they've heard of the miracle bread and they want proof before they believe. We do the same, don't we? We pray just give me a sign, just help prove to me that you're real before I place my whole faith in you. Then the crowd points to Moses. Moses gave proof manna.

Speaker 1:

If you're unfamiliar with the manna story, it occurs during the exodus from Egypt, while the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness. They have no food, so they cry out to God, and he provides this incredible bread from heaven. This incredible bread from heaven every day. They would gather it daily for 40 years. We're told in the Old Testament that it tasted like honey.

Speaker 1:

This passage is a reminder of how closely the Jews held on to the Exodus story. As Jesus followers, we hold on to the resurrection story. As Jesus followers, we hold on to the resurrection story. They look to Exodus because it was their freedom story. Yet in the Exodus, one of the hardest lessons for the Israelites to learn was that God wasn't at their beck and call. And in this passage, jesus isn't either passage, jesus isn't either. So he answers them. I tell you the truth Moses didn't give you bread from heaven. My father did, and now he offers you the true bread of heaven. The true bread of God is the one who am. Statement from Jesus I am the bread of life. He'll repeat this a couple more times in the verses to come, as he pushes those who are listening to hear beyond the physical to the spiritual.

Speaker 1:

We're in verse 35. Jesus replied I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty, but you haven't even believed in me, though you have seen me. However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them, for I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me. And this is the will of God that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day, for it is my Father's will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.

Speaker 1:

Then the people began to murmur in disagreement, because he had said I am the bread that came down from heaven. They said isn't this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know his father and mother. How can he say I came down from heaven? But Jesus replied stop complaining about what I said, for no one can come to me unless the father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. As it is written in the scriptures, they will all be taught by God. Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. Not that anyone has ever seen the Father, only I, who was sent from God have seen him.

Speaker 1:

The words in verse 44 really stand out to me. The Father who sent me draws them to me. God draws us. It's a wonderful mystery that, through his love, he draws us to himself. This is an amazing truth. It's a place to live from the confidence of knowing that God draws us and he draws others. Sal, yes, I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever, and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh. Nt Wright defines eternal life as a quality of life sharing the inner life of Jesus that is offered to anyone who believes. Eternal life that begins in the present when someone believes and continues into the future, beyond death, eventually taking on the resurrection life Verse 52.

Speaker 1:

Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. How can this man give us his flesh to eat? They asked. So Jesus said again. I tell you the truth Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you, not have eternal life within you. But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise that person on the last day, for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. I live because of the living Father who sent me. In the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die, as your ancestors did, even though they ate the manna, but will live forever. He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Speaker 1:

There is a lot of repetition in this passage. As he speaks at the synagogue, jesus repeats I tell you the truth and I am the bread of life. He also says six times that he came down from heaven, making it very clear that he is of God. Yet in this section, the repetition of the flesh and blood piece confuses and even turns off some of those listening that day. And I have to admit I get it. It sounds well, it sounds weird.

Speaker 1:

John knows, as he writes this, he knows of the last supper to come and of the full circle to the Passover meal and the role bread and wine play in that meal. But this crowd doesn't. They can't see the deeper meaning. They understood Moses, but they're missing the sacrificial lamb of the Passover meal. Just as a lamb gives its life for the meal, jesus will give his life as the final Passover lamb. In my Bible footnotes I love how the writer spoke of this. He wrote To drink his blood is to take by faith all that the blood of Jesus has purchased for us. This eating and drinking is receiving the life, power and virtue of all that. Jesus is to replace all that we were. Jesus' blood and body is the tree of life which is offered to everyone who follows him.

Speaker 1:

This bread of life teaching turns out to be one of the most pivotal moments in Jesus' ministry. It leads to a defining question for his disciples, verse 60. Many of his disciples said this is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it? Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them does this offend you? Then what will you think if you see the Son of man ascend into heaven again? Then what will you think if you see the Son of man ascend into heaven again. The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing and the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But some of you don't believe me, for Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn't believe and he knew who would betray him. Then he said At this point, many of his disciples turned away and deserted him.

Speaker 1:

Then Jesus turned to the twelve and asked Are you also going to leave Simon? Peter replied Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe and we know you are the Holy One of God. Then Jesus said I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil. He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the twelve who would later betray him. The teachings of Jesus are not always easy for us to understand and we have the whole of the story. Imagine hearing this without knowing what was to come. He's pushing them. Will they continue to follow? Now that he is speaking of these things? Peter speaks for the twelve as he states their belief. Peter, their spokesman, shows such strong faith in this moment, which Jesus confirms. I chose you.

Speaker 1:

The applications of this passage could be many things. I'm just going to focus in on two. First, the crowd. When is enough enough? How much evidence does someone need to believe? The crowd reminds us that we are easily drawn into fan world and we find ourselves asking for more. When Jesus says don't be a fan, be a follower. There's a great book with the title Not a Fan, written by Kyle Eidelman, and he nails this point. It's the point in Jesus' ministry where he is beginning to separate the fans from those who will truly follow what he has to teach. Have you found yourself being more of a fan or a follower lately? Are you looking for more or is Jesus enough?

Speaker 1:

The other application is this how would you describe your spiritual diet? Junk food, microwavable meat and potatoes? I'll never forget sitting around a table with a group of church leaders when the question, what is God teaching you through your Bible currently was asked Honestly at this table. It should have been a no-brainer. Yet as we went around the circle, most of these spiritual church leaders weren't in their bibles at all. There were a few that were reading devotionals, one reading a book by a church leader and another just taking a break from the bible because it had become a textbook for curriculum, and at that moment in my life I was one of those devotional ones. I love a good Devo. I mean, this podcast is part devotional. Yet I was convicted that day that I need to stay in the actual Bible too. It's one of the main reasons this podcast focuses directly on scripture and not just my thoughts.

Speaker 1:

We need the living water and the bread of life, dear one, have you become more of a fan, seeking him when you want to and just asking for more? Are you asking for proof or are you a follower, seeking him through faith? What does your spiritual diet consist of? Is it all cookies and milk, or are you making sure that you're taking in the bread and meat that sustain life? Do you find yourself quoting others, resting on their teaching more than you do on the scripture, more than you do on the scripture? Jesus asked his disciples Are you also going to leave? As we answer, may we sound like Peter. Lord, we believe you are the Holy One of God. As we celebrate this Advent season, may we look beyond the lights and tinsel to the manger. We can be fans of Christmas, the gifts and Santa, but may we be true followers of the One who came, the Savior, who calls us to the most incredible meal we could ever imagine. May you have a blessed Christmas. Amen.