16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
John 6:16-21
Three or four miles out into the sea, Jesus catches up with them, but he is not in a boat. They’re afraid! Is this a ghost?! What is happening?! Jesus calms their fears and John says that immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
We could camp out and just preach here all day long. This is good stuff. Jesus is never late. He’s always on time. Jesus is Lord of earth, and sky, and sea…
Jesus comes to us in our darkest night; he calms the storms around us and he calms the fears inside of us. These are true, these are good, and these are right.
Do you know this Jesus? Has he drawn near to you in the storms of life? Has he delivered you from the storms that rage around you? These are fair questions; these are good questions; these are right to ask from the text.
But in John’s Gospel, this storm is also a setting–an occasion for Jesus to reveal both to the
crowds that have followed him and his disciples more about the mission for which he has come to Earth.
John, after this brief recounting of Jesus walking on water, returns immediately to the crowds. They’re still fascinated by Jesus…
22 On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only 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 had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
John 6:22-24
I like to think there were some nosy people in the crowd. So, they came here on one boat. Jesus didn’t get on the boat, but the disciples did. Where did Jesus go? Maybe he left on another boat. This is strange. Don’t worry–here’s what we’ll do. Let’s get in some boats and track him down.
Sure enough, they get to the other side of the sea and there he is. Again, I think they are a little nosy. 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?”
Jesus does not play games in his response. He cuts right to the chase. 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”
You guys must be hungry again. You didn’t see me multiply bread and come to worship me. You’re not thinking spiritually; you’re thinking physically. Your minds are not set on the things of God; they’re set on your stomachs.
Jesus tells them not to work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life. From where we sit this is pretty clear, 2,000 years later with a completed canon of Scripture and the Holy Spirit as our guide. The Son of Man, on whom the Father has set his seal, gives not merely temporal satisfaction, but eternal life.
But if we’ll cut them some slack, this is a bit perplexing. Okay, so we should be working for God’s food. Got it. How do we do God’s works? What is this sort of work we must do?
29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
Here’s the “work” you must do: believe!