The crowd, as recorded in John 6:25-70, was first being fed in a miraculous way in order that they might hear what Jesus had to say to them. We can only imagine what the crowd would have been thinking about the connection between what Jesus was doing and saying, because we, in our time, have access to the Bible with the option of searching the scriptures for ourselves for information about Jesus. We also have access to Bible apps, Google searches and various sophisticated ways of finding what God is saying to us. Below are some of my favorite scriptures.
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." Mark 1:9-11
When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too.
And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove.
And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli,…
Luke 3:21-23
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."
Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is God's Chosen One." John 1:29-34
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage, rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Philippians 2:5-8
During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, Hebrews 5:7-9
However, no matter how willing we are to search the scriptures, we still have a definite choice to make: Will we believe what is written about Jesus, and more importantly, believe in Him. trust in him, obey His commandments, in order to know him as our eternal Savior?
Take some time to ponder these scriptures this week.
by Carolyn Schmitt
