Jesus came to bring us the light that leads to both life and knowledge. Whoever has the life of Jesus is born of God and this life must be received by faith. In John 6 we look at the multiplication of the loaves and fishes: can miracles really lead to faith? No, a miracle is not proof that you are on the right path. Many people report miracles in their lives. But a central point is the difference between living FROM God and WITH God. We should live from God and with people.
Jesus describes himself in John 6:32-33 as the bread from heaven, yet many do not believe him. Ultimately, the key to faith lies in becoming one with Jesus. Jesus took on the life of the Father and lives for the sake of the Father. Everyone who receives Jesus moves from selfishness to selflessness, in which they no longer do anything for themselves. This message is a challenge for many people, as they believe that the life of Jesus brings restrictions instead of freedom. Yet God created freedom. Restrictions only exist in the error of the heart. In John 6, people turn away from Jesus when they hear that they should do everything for him. But his disciples recognize him as the Son of the living God and stay on his side.
In John 7, we see the unbelief of the leaders of the people. They know the scriptures, but their interpretations lead to unbelief. It is often those who say “It is written” who have the least faith and reject Jesus. So we need to ask ourselves: what do we base our faith on? Do we have a clear standard for interpreting the Bible? These questions are the focus of the seventh part of our series “Themes in the Gospel of John”.