To help you walk with God, He begins by showing His power to overcome your inadequacy supernaturally. Once He has your attention, God wants to build your love relationship with Him so you can trust Him in a crisis. Instead of being satisfied with the world’s toys, He wants you to hunger and thirst for Jesus. In response to the Father’s drawing, you believe in Jesus for eternal life to abide in Him. You walk with Christ by trusting in the Holy Spirit, putting to death human self effort and constantly believing God’s word as you study and meditate on it. John 6 moves through each of these steps.
Proof
A great multitude followed Christ because they saw the sick being healed. To test Philip, Jesus asked where they should buy bread for the multitude. Philip answered that 200 denarii wouldn’t feed everyone. Andrew said he knew a boy with five loaves and two fish. After the people sat down, Jesus gave thanks and distributed the loaves and fish until they were filled with 12 baskets of leftovers. The people understood that He was “the Prophet who is to come into the world” (John 6:1-14). Jesus tests your faith by overcoming your inadequacy supernaturally.
Love
Jesus withdrew again to the mountain perceiving they were coming by force to make Him king (John 6:15). Jesus desires love first for His person, not what He can do for you.
Crisis
After a strong wind stirred the sea as the disciples rowed a boat to Capernaum, they saw Jesus walking on water drawing near to them. When He told them to not be afraid, they received Him into the boat. Immediately the boat came to the land (John 6:16-21). A crisis provides opportunity to either fear or trust Jesus to lead you to your destination.
Hunger
The multitude traveled in small boats to Capernaum seeking Jesus. After finding Him on the other side of the sea, they asked when He got there. Jesus said they sought Him because bread filled their appetites, not because they saw signs. Work for eternal food the Son of Man gives and Father seals, not physical food. Jesus said the work of God is believing in Him. The true bread out of heaven gives life to the world represented by manna given to Moses in the wilderness. When they longed for true bread, Jesus said He is the bread of life and those who come to Him will not hunger or thirst, but have eternal life and be raised up on the last day (John 6:22-40). Believing in Jesus satisfies your hunger and thirst.
Draw
The Jews grumbled because Jesus, as Joseph’s son, said He came down out of heaven. Jesus answered that no one comes to Him unless they respond to the Father’s drawing. Jesus reaffirmed that He is the living bread from heaven. Those who eat this bread live forever since He gives His flesh for the life of the world (John 6:41-51). Feeding on Christ produces eternal life in response to God drawing you.
Faith
The Jews argued with one another how someone could eat Jesus’ flesh and drink His blood. He said that whoever eats His flesh and drinks His blood has eternal life, abides in Him and will be raised up on the last day, unlike physical bread the fathers ate resulting in their death. He said these things in the synagogue and in Capernaum (John 6:52-59). Simple faith produces eternal life as you abide in Jesus represented by eating His flesh and drinking His blood, a stumbling block for religious people and unbelievers.
Spirit
The disciples wondered who could listen to these difficult statements. Jesus asked if they stumbled over them. He said the Spirit gives life and the flesh profits nothing since His words produce spirit and life for those who believe. Jesus knew who wouldn’t believe and who would betray Him. No one comes to Him unless it’s granted by the Father (John 6:60-65). Knowing the Spirit gives life, while the flesh profits nothing, which removes the stumbling block of simple faith in Jesus.
Walk
Many disciples withdrew and did not walk with Him anymore. Simon Peter said Jesus had the words of eternal life and they believed He was Holy One of God. Jesus said He chose the twelve but one of them was the devil who would betray Him (John 6:66-71). Disciples stop walking with Christ when they don’t believe His words of eternal life.
Determine the point where you are stuck in the following sequence of walking with Christ:
1. Have you responded positively to a test where God is showing how He can meet your inadequacy supernaturally?
2. Do you love God more than what He can do for you?
3. In a recent crisis, have you been afraid or trusting in God?
4. Are you seeking to satisfy your inner hunger and thirst with the world or Jesus?
5. Is God trying to get your attention?
6. Have you placed your faith in Jesus alone in each circumstance of life?
7. Are you trusting in the Holy Spirit or your own self-effort (flesh)?
8. Are you constantly believing in God’s word as you study and meditate on it?
