DON'T WORK FOR FOOD THAT SPOILS

Passage: John 6:22-29

Key verse: 27

NIV

22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake(A) realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone.(B) 23 Then some boats from Tiberias(C) landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.(D) 24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.

Jesus the Bread of Life

25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi,(E) when did you get here?”

26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me,(F) not because you saw the signs(G) I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures(H) to eternal life,(I) which the Son of Man(J) will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal(K) of approval.”

28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe(L) in the one he has sent.”(M)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

I Am the Bread of Life

22 On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only (A)one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord (B)had given thanks. 24 (C)So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and (D)went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, (E)“Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, (F)you are seeking me, not because you saw (G)signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 (H)Do not work for the food that perishes, but for (I)the food that endures to eternal life, which (J)the Son of Man will give to you. For on (K)him God the Father has (L)set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing (M)the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, (N)that you believe in him whom (O)he has sent.”

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Food that endures to eternal life (22-27)

The crowd had had lunch with Jesus, but they were hungry again. They wanted him to give them more bread. He had done a gracious act and demonstrated his Messiahship, but they only thought about bread. Men work hard for bread, but bread does not solve men's life problem. Material things can never satisfy the deepest needs of a man's heart, nor can they solve the problem of death. But the bread that Jesus gives endures to eternal life.

2. The work of God is to believe (28-29)

What must we do to do the work of God? This is what the crowd asked. The only work we can do for God is to believe in the one whom he has sent--Jesus. No matter what, we must believe in Jesus who loves us. When we believe in him, we have eternal life. This is the food that truly satisfies and lasts forever.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for teaching me how to do your work. Help me to believe in you no matter what. Help me to see people and events with the eyes of faith.

One Word: Do the work of God