"work not for food perishing but for the food enduring unto life eternal which the Son of man gives to you..."1
Jesus is the Son of Man, he spoke of signs as those the children of God had experienced in the wilderness. He is lifted up for salvation, as the serpent was, so that all who look upon him will be saved. Like the rock from which water flowed, He is the Rock in which living water flows. Like the manna from heaven that fed God's people in the wilderness He is the bread from heaven. Jesus said this bread and water he gives is unto eternal life, it is food that doesn't perish. Those who are thirsty and hunger seek such food. Do not toil for earthly food but heavenly food that gives eternal life and satisfaction to the soul.
"which the Son of man gives to you, whom the Father God has sealed."1
This word for seal, "sealing, attest ownership, authorizing." God placed his seal on Jesus, authorizing the way to the Father, by Grace through faith. When we believe in Jesus, God "set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."14 This word for guarantee, "an earnest, earnest-money" properly, an installment; a deposit ("down-payment") which guarantees the balance. This hope is deposited in us, a down-payment. This salvation was bought for us, it is without price.
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not toil or spin."3
When I first gave my life to Christ he burdened my soul for homeless men. The city had allowed them to congregate under an overpass, and to live in tents, we called it "tent city." With all the restlessness; the busy thump of cars passing over, the noise of the heavy loads of cargo trains passing by, and the law and order of sirens going off in the poor areas nearby, with all these things I would find unexplained peace in tent city. It was a place God had established for these men, a place they could find rest. He has given such a rest for his people.
"I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."5
Why do you toil for food that perishes? food that perishes is that which has cost, that which you must toil for, spend money on.6 Many men despise the poor, "get a job," toil for food that perishes is their word of wisdom, but they do not understand, "Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy?"7 They put importance on earthly food, but weary men need food that doesn't perish, they need life. "Truly, truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man, you have no life in you."8
"Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight yourself in abundance. Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you."8
The promise of rest. This is an invitation to the needy. We are told the first step in any recovery program is recognizing you have a need. The Church should be needy people, it is truth that we know our souls will not be satisfied with earthly things and we have found food that leads to eternal life. Maybe this is why it is difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom, they rest in lavish earthly comfort. Many men toil within the Church, but surely we can enter into the promise, "Since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it."9
"Therefore they said to him, what works must we do that we might be doing the works of God?"3
Toil not. Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand, this was the message to God's people. It basically said, change your mind, toil not, you will no longer have to toil for righteousness. Yes, it is the founding principle of the new covenant in Christ, not by works but by grace through faith. But does not the Church ask today, what work must we do? And again Jesus says to his people, this is the work of God that you believe.4 It is abiding in Jesus the Word that sets men free thus we can say truly, Now, abides Faith, Hope and Love the greatest of these is Love. Change your mind, transform by the renewing of your mind, toil not for food that perishes.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."9
God said to the leaders of Israel through the prophet, "Here is rest, give rest to the weary," And, "Here is repose," but they would not listen."10 This word for repose means refreshing. Oh Jesus refreshes those heavy burdened, he says come to me, "For I satisfy the weary ones and refresh everyone who languishes."11 Oh he cries out, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink."12
Chain Breaker
Jesus is the Son of Man, he spoke of signs as those the children of God had experienced in the wilderness. He is lifted up for salvation, as the serpent was, so that all who look upon him will be saved. Like the rock from which water flowed, He is the Rock in which living water flows. Like the manna from heaven that fed God's people in the wilderness He is the bread from heaven. Jesus said this bread and water he gives is unto eternal life, it is food that doesn't perish. Those who are thirsty and hunger seek such food. Do not toil for earthly food but heavenly food that gives eternal life and satisfaction to the soul.
"which the Son of man gives to you, whom the Father God has sealed."1
This word for seal, "sealing, attest ownership, authorizing." God placed his seal on Jesus, authorizing the way to the Father, by Grace through faith. When we believe in Jesus, God "set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."14 This word for guarantee, "an earnest, earnest-money" properly, an installment; a deposit ("down-payment") which guarantees the balance. This hope is deposited in us, a down-payment. This salvation was bought for us, it is without price.
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not toil or spin."3
When I first gave my life to Christ he burdened my soul for homeless men. The city had allowed them to congregate under an overpass, and to live in tents, we called it "tent city." With all the restlessness; the busy thump of cars passing over, the noise of the heavy loads of cargo trains passing by, and the law and order of sirens going off in the poor areas nearby, with all these things I would find unexplained peace in tent city. It was a place God had established for these men, a place they could find rest. He has given such a rest for his people.
"I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."5
Why do you toil for food that perishes? food that perishes is that which has cost, that which you must toil for, spend money on.6 Many men despise the poor, "get a job," toil for food that perishes is their word of wisdom, but they do not understand, "Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy?"7 They put importance on earthly food, but weary men need food that doesn't perish, they need life. "Truly, truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man, you have no life in you."8
"Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight yourself in abundance. Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you."8
The promise of rest. This is an invitation to the needy. We are told the first step in any recovery program is recognizing you have a need. The Church should be needy people, it is truth that we know our souls will not be satisfied with earthly things and we have found food that leads to eternal life. Maybe this is why it is difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom, they rest in lavish earthly comfort. Many men toil within the Church, but surely we can enter into the promise, "Since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it."9
"Therefore they said to him, what works must we do that we might be doing the works of God?"3
Toil not. Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand, this was the message to God's people. It basically said, change your mind, toil not, you will no longer have to toil for righteousness. Yes, it is the founding principle of the new covenant in Christ, not by works but by grace through faith. But does not the Church ask today, what work must we do? And again Jesus says to his people, this is the work of God that you believe.4 It is abiding in Jesus the Word that sets men free thus we can say truly, Now, abides Faith, Hope and Love the greatest of these is Love. Change your mind, transform by the renewing of your mind, toil not for food that perishes.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."9
God said to the leaders of Israel through the prophet, "Here is rest, give rest to the weary," And, "Here is repose," but they would not listen."10 This word for repose means refreshing. Oh Jesus refreshes those heavy burdened, he says come to me, "For I satisfy the weary ones and refresh everyone who languishes."11 Oh he cries out, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink."12
Chain Breaker