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John 6:22-71 "A SIMPLE INVITATION TO BELIEVE"

Day 92 – John 6

A SIMPLE INVITATION TO BELIEVE

As Jesus explained the Gospel of salvation, He also extended an invitation to the multitude to believe. There would be some who might think that these glorious truths were not meant for them, for they were but common and humble folks. Who may believe and be blessed with everlasting life? Do they not have to meet some criteria? Would they not have to be identified with a religious sect before they could receive salvation? The religious culture of Israel in those days saw a number of people belonging to one group or another. There were the Pharisees, and the Sadducees and the Essenes, to name the more prominent ones. All of them had their own criteria for would-be members to meet before they were accepted!

The words of the invitation given by Jesus couldn’t be simpler. He said,

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me
has everlasting life.”
John 6:47

If they had listened well to the Lord of Hosts speaking to their hearts, they would have found faith to believe in Jesus. Then they would have enjoyed “everlasting life”.

We are reminded of another invitation given by God through the ministry of Isaiah the prophet.

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts,
Come to the waters;
And you who have no money,
Come, buy and eat.
Yes, come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without price.
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…”
Isaiah 55:1-3

The words of Isaiah’s invitation may be more elaborate, but both contained the promise of spiritual life! If only people would do more than just listen. If only people would respond to the word of truth they heard. Jesus gave an invitation to believe in Him as an encouragement to exercise faith! What a wondrous gift they would receive. They would have everlasting life. Surely that meant that they had also received an everlasting covenant from God too. Why should they labour for that which would perish? Why would they not receive the invitation of Jesus and find everlasting life in Him instead?

JESUS THE LIVING BREAD

Did the Multitude still think that Jesus could not be compared to Moses? They were wrong! Jesus said,

“I am the Bread of Life.
Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
This is the Bread which comes down from heaven,
that one may eat of it and not die.”
John 6:48-50

Jesus urged His hearers to think at a deeper level. He knew that many did not make much effort to fathom deep spiritual truths. The story of being fed manna was just one example. To many of the Jews, that was a great miracle recorded in the Scriptures. But few understood anything beyond knowing the essential outline of the miracle.

It took the occasion of the feeding of the five thousand to give Jesus the opportunity to explain that there were deeper truths at hand. Without the manna, the children of Israel would have died in the wilderness. The bread that God had supplied kept them alive for forty years. Manna was their staple food in the wilderness.

Could they not see the parallel that Jesus drew for them? Just as manna was important to sustain physical life, Jesus offered to sustain spiritual life. Jesus offered much more. He was that Bread of Life. Those who believed in Him may be said to have eaten of that bread. That was the language of Isaiah the prophet. That was also the language of Ezekiel the prophet.

When God gave Ezekiel His word, He instructed Ezekiel to eat that Word.

“Moreover He said to me, ‘Son of man, eat what you find;
eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.’
So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that scroll.
And He said to me, ‘Son of man, feed your belly,
and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you’.
So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness.”
Ezekiel 3:1-3

It would not have been hard for the people to understand what He meant when He invited them to partake of The Bread of Life. Who could be compared in this way? Only He who had the power to multiply five loaves and two fish to feed five thousand men could use this imagery and apply it to Himself.

RESPONDING TO SUCH A GRACIOUS INVITATION

What was there to hinder a person from responding appropriately and positively to such a gracious invitation? Jesus had already demonstrated His mighty powers. Many had seen Him perform signs and wonders in Jerusalem and in Galilee. What doubts could they have about Jesus?

It is curious that there wasn’t an overwhelming positive response to the kind and gracious invitation of Jesus. That same lack of response is still seen today! What does it take to have faith in Jesus and to respond to Him appropriately?