VISION IS THE INTENDED DIRECTION OF OUR LIFE IN WORDS.
FILLED UP. POURED OUT.
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.
25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 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.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”
JOHN 6:25-28 (ESV)
1. WE THINK WE CAN EARN IT.
28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”
JOHN 6:28 (ESV)
For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
ROMANS 3:23 (ESV)
10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
JAMES 2:10-11 (ESV)
2. WHEN WE THINK WE CAN EARN IT, WE BEND THE RULES IN ORDER TO GET THE SAME RESULTS.
I CAN NEVER DO ENOUGH WORK.
28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
JOHN 6:25-28 (ESV)
THE ONLY WORK YOU ARE CALLED TO IS BELIEVING.
32 Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. 33 When they came to a place called The Skull,[e] they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left.
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”[f] And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.[g]
35 The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. 37 They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”
40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
LUKE 23:32-42 (ESV)
Jesus answered the second criminal far beyond his expectation. The thief on the cross had some distant time in mind; Jesus told him today. The thief on the cross asked only to be remembered; Jesus said “you will be with Me.” The thief on the cross looked only for a kingdom; Jesus promised him Paradise.
DAVID GUZIK
