As we continue into this chapter, we will find that Jesus’ words were shocking and revolting to the crowds that had gathered. However, to gain the spiritual realities underlying their reaction, it is important to be alerted to some important and relative details concerning the events of this occasion. For in these details, we find a vital revelation for any of us who has come to Jesus.
Approaching and Coming to Jesus
It is important to realize that these people were drawn to Him. After Jesus miraculously fed the multitude, he left ahead of His disciples into a nearby mountain, and they got in their boat to go to Capernaum. Along their way, Jesus came to them walking on the water, and He joined them in their boat while calming their fears. He told them not to be afraid while assuring them it was Him. Yet realize this. When the multitude figured out where Jesus went, they also made their way to Capernaum on boats that came by from Tiberias, and “they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus” (John 6:24 NASB). Like you and I, they were drawn to Him; they sought Him, and they came to Him.
Jesus then confronts them concerning their reasons and motives for coming to Him which were misdirected. While they sought Him because they ate the loaves and were filled, He then exhorted them to labor after the “food which endures to everlasting life” (John 6:27 NASB) which the Son of Man would give them.
Perils of Religious Reasonings
So, again, in short, here is what happened. The crowds came to Jesus. They were instructed about the way to everlasting life. They were willing to bite but were hesitant and chose to have Jesus prove His authority. They embraced their perception of Moses’ authority: Just as manna was provided by God through Moses, what work could Jesus do to demonstrate He had as much or more authority than Moses?
Every one of us must be aware of the danger of hiding in the shade of religious reasoning! The Jews were sure they embraced Moses and his authority. It was their continual premise for debate and rebuttal to Jesus. Yet, Jesus rebuked the nature of their embrace. “If you would believe Moses, you would believe Me.” Yet what they embraced was only a representation of Moses and an authority defined by their traditions and teachings. When religion shades anyone, you and I included, from the light of the truth, darkness will have dominion in those areas of our hearts.
Yet rather than comply and satisfy them, Jesus gave them further insight. He told them, “Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven” (John 6:32 NASB). He then declares to them that the real bread from Heaven is Someone who comes down from heaven – from the Father – giving life to the world.
Now notice their reaction! “Lord, give us this bread always” (John 6:34 NASB). Like the Samaritan woman who wanted this water so she would never thirst” (see John 4:15), they wanted this bread; they wanted everlasting life. They declared they wanted to do the works of God.
Unyielding and Unwilling While Wanting Eternal Life
However, as Jesus responds to them, the mood and composure of the crowds begin to shift. Apprehension settles in, and they start to look for reasons to discredit and disqualify what Jesus offers them. Rationalizations and unbelief resonated with their unwillingness to repent and surrender while justifying their unwillingness to submit to Him. They came to the Door of Heaven unyielding and unwilling while wanting eternal life.
How about us today?
You see, everyone, including you and I, has a strong propensity to customize the deal – to negotiate and rationalize it to our pleasing. Through the aid of a religious spirit, we fabricate a covering for our loins rather than putting on the belt of truth. We hold to only a form of godliness. Often it is our image of godliness to which we hold fast. In so doing we preserve the self-life Jesus’ told us to crucify thus denying the power of true godliness –while remaining unholy. Fallen areas of our hearts that are unfallen to Jesus remain entrenched within our nature and unchecked. And the obstacles of our natural man seeking to sustain itself in this present age prevent us from walking after Jesus let alone running the race set before us.
Door of Life / Entrance of Transformation
At the door of eternal life is the entrance of transformation. We have made our way in seeking God, finding Jesus. As we begin to perceive His nature, His character, and virtues we start seeing the image we are to be conformed to. It is here that we must recognize and reject any qualities and tendencies that we share in common with the crowds that came to Jesus that day in Capernaum. This is paramount.
Here is why.
The very Moses, whose authority the crowds at Capernaum idolized and embraced, gave the congregation of Israel a command with very specific instructions. If only they believed Moses instead of their traditions concerning Moses, they would have heard and received what Jesus concluded with at Capernaum.
Eat the Lamb
First, through Moses (see Exodus 12:1-10). God instructed the congregation of Israel to take an unblemished male lamb. They were to kill it, and its blood was to cover the two doorposts and the lintel of their house. That same night, they were to roast it in a fire and “eat the flesh” (v. 8) of the lamb in its entirety until they were filled (there was to be a large enough lamb for every member to eat fully).
Now here is what Jesus had to say: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves (life here is the eternal life of God – zoe. Emphasis mine)” (John 6:53 NASB).
Our Lesson and Warning Concerning the Crowd at Capernaum
The crowds reacted. Relying on the traditions of men instead of the Scriptures that declare the Truth of God, they did not hear and discern what Moses commanded and instructed. They rejected the revelation; they rejected the teaching. They rejected Jesus the Messiah – the Christ.
The Holy Spirit through Paul admonishes and solemnly warns us: If God spared not Israel because of their unbelief, lack of surrender, and unwillingness, how much more should we who are grafted into the olive tree beware lest we hold to an unyielding, unwilling, and unbelieving heart (see Romans 11:17-21)!
Fullness: Devouring Him in Entirety – Filled to Full
Beloved, there are many Christians who struggle with the same sins or distractions week after week, month after month, and even longer. Thank God that He did not insist we improve ourselves. Instead, He commanded us to crucify ourselves! This is where we get the victory. It is in this reality that we must realize that to obtain victory over the sins we struggle with. We must have more of God filling, abiding, and working in our hearts than we have right now. We must eat the lamb – all of Him! And we must devour Him in His entirety – fully; we must greedily and intently eat until we are filled to full.
As we surrender and repent, we make room for the manifestation of the nature, virtues, and character of Jesus in our being. Sadly, we often pride ourselves in being “full” of the Spirit, or filled with Christ – and we are not filled or full. The purpose of God is that we attain the level of the measure of the fullness of Christ. This reaches way beyond information and understanding; this measure that God directs and leads every believer toward is nothing less than what we are to become in Christ – a quality of being so that as Jesus is, so are we in this world (see 1 John 4:17).
Religious Terminologies Versus Reality
We must be careful not to claim a quality or standard of righteousness that we have yet to obtain. In this are found the fruitful works of darkness and deception woven in self-righteousness courting and propagating a religious spirit rather than the Holy Spirit. A Spirit-filled church should look like Acts. A Spirit-filled Christian is someone who is filled with the fullness of Christ; they should look like Jesus and do what He did.
We must rid ourselves from and let go of religious terminologies that aid and abed the sin that so readily clings to us and harbors and protects the obstacles of the natural man that prevent our exodus from where we are now to the fullness of Christ in our hearts and lives. Think about it, the level of God in your life determines the level of victory over sin and the distractions and cares of this age in your life. This will become your plateau unless you press on and press in to have more of God! God has ordained that you reach the summit of the Mountain of the Lord, not level out and settle for a comfortable plateau along the way. Future victories, deliverances, healings, and even miracles are destined for those who will receive their destiny in God: We must take and receive all of Jesus in His entirety; eat His flesh and drink His blood until you and I are filled to full. Herein we become completely filled with the eternal life that devouring and partaking of Christ gives.
Time is of the Essence!
We must reach toward the measure of the stature that belongs to the fullness of Christ in each of our lives and collectively as His Body. Instead of taking our time, let us make haste and take time – make time – to dig into the Word of God. Daily verses are nice, but search the Scriptures, and find what God has for you. Delve into what God has to say to you as you prayerfully immerse yourself in the transforming grace found in what He has to say to you. Replace some of your leisure time for seeking the face of God. Let Him enlarge the place of your heart for more of His abiding presence. Repent, and continue before God until He releases you from prayerful repentance with the assurance His grace has given you victory! Finally, fill your day with His Presence. Daily pray and seek His presence. And embrace the local body of believers God has connected you with.
Lord, forgive us for our offerings of rationalizations, reasonings, and religious speculations instead of presenting our lives as living sacrificial offerings to You. We repent of our unyielding and unwilling ways. We have preserved and harbored sinful areas in our hearts and have been content in following the distractions of this life instead of following You. Forgive us, Lord. We repent of only embracing Your grace to save us while eluding its power to change and transform us after Your likeness. Jesus, with a repented and surrendered heart, we commit ourselves to making time to seek You and to seek Your Word in the Scriptures. Lead us into the necessary period of repentance so that we will have victory over the present sins we struggle with. In Your name Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Hal Garms eWord Messages 