Day: February 16, 2023

Thursday, February 16, 2023

“The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven…. Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves…. When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?” (John 6:41,43,61 KJV).

Behold, they have become firmer in their murmur!

Today’s Scripture is toward the end of an exchange that started back in verse 24 and reaches all the way down to verse 65. The Lord Jesus has been reduced to a “food delivery man,” He who can satisfy worldly desires and fill empty stomachs. These carnally-minded people, lost in their ways and dead in their sins, follow Him across the Sea of Galilee (going westward), hoping to beg Him for additional bread and fish when they catch up with Him. Anticipating their arrival and reading their heart, He proceeds to correct them: “Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour 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” (verses 26,27).

Verses 28-30: “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?” This is utterly preposterous. If He has miraculously fed them already (verses 1-14), He has communicated a kingdom truth to them, yet they freely confess they have no idea who He is, what He is actually doing, or why they should believe Him!!

It is most unfortunate for them, but they really have not paid attention to the spiritual matters at hand. With closed hearts but open ears, they quarrel with the Lord Jesus by comparing His “trivial” miracle to Moses’ “mighty” ministry, which brings us to today’s Scripture….