The reason for signs, according to the Bible, is to draw people to God.
In other words, when Jesus performed a miracle, people would change, be turned to follow God. However , when people were drawn to Him, Jesus was disappointed, because they were coming for the wrong reasons. They wanted the benefit that came from the signs, bread.
You might react by saying, "Crazy, these guys wanted bread? Can't they see they'll go hungry again?"
But what is the alternative? Is the right response to follow Jesus because we want to see signs? That's what the text seems to say.
John 6.26Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
However, the next question would be, "Well, what is the advantage of seeing signs over just getting the benefits of the signs, bread, in their case?"
The answer might be, "Well bread makes us physically strong, but signs make us spiritually healthy". That is the conventional wisdom, what preachers teach.
So wrong!
The right response to Jesus's accusation is to say, "Okay, you're right, we were following you because we were getting fed, but really, as you say, we should be following you to find out how you do what you do, motivate people to follow God, because the Gospel is the announcement that the promise to Abraham is now available, to be able to bless the world, by being a light guiding them to God, and you seem to have the answer".
John 9.1As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” 3Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4“We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 5“While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.
...
John 3.1Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
...
So the next time we see a good post from someone IN the Kingdom, a gifted person, let's try to find out how he did it.
1 Cor 14.24But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; 25the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.
...
In other words, theology is not to feed, make people bloated with knowledge, or even spiritually healthy, mature but to move, inspire them to become blessings to the world, in the way they just saw.
In other words, when Jesus performed a miracle, people would change, be turned to follow God. However , when people were drawn to Him, Jesus was disappointed, because they were coming for the wrong reasons. They wanted the benefit that came from the signs, bread.
You might react by saying, "Crazy, these guys wanted bread? Can't they see they'll go hungry again?"
But what is the alternative? Is the right response to follow Jesus because we want to see signs? That's what the text seems to say.
John 6.26Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
However, the next question would be, "Well, what is the advantage of seeing signs over just getting the benefits of the signs, bread, in their case?"
The answer might be, "Well bread makes us physically strong, but signs make us spiritually healthy". That is the conventional wisdom, what preachers teach.
So wrong!
The right response to Jesus's accusation is to say, "Okay, you're right, we were following you because we were getting fed, but really, as you say, we should be following you to find out how you do what you do, motivate people to follow God, because the Gospel is the announcement that the promise to Abraham is now available, to be able to bless the world, by being a light guiding them to God, and you seem to have the answer".
John 9.1As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” 3Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4“We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 5“While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.
...
John 3.1Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
...
So the next time we see a good post from someone IN the Kingdom, a gifted person, let's try to find out how he did it.
1 Cor 14.24But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; 25the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.
...
In other words, theology is not to feed, make people bloated with knowledge, or even spiritually healthy, mature but to move, inspire them to become blessings to the world, in the way they just saw.
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