12/3/23
John 6:25-26-27, When the crowd had found Christ, “They said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?” Jesus replied, “Verily, I say unto you, ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him God the Father sealed.”
These are strong words for today’s earthy-minded Christians, and they are strong words for those NOT bent on spiritual excellence as found in Christ.
They came not for the love of Christ but for the bread to fill their bellies. Instead of making service to Jesus their meat and drink, they only serve Him that they might eat and drink.
Self can creep into the best of desires, feelings, affections, passions, impulses, hearts, minds, and actions. But the self only exerts controlling power or influence in the hypocrite.
When the crowd asked, “Rabbi, when camest thou hither?” Christ’s reply partly dissuades them from putting the secondary and subordinate (eating and drinking) in the place of the principal and unlimited end. His warning for them is not to prefer their bodies to their souls, their fleshly needs to the glory of God. “Labour not in the meat that perisheth.”
A large majority of the Christian community today has made religion a pretense for sensual gratification. We are to labor and strive for that which will bring us into eternal life.
Where can we find this food for eternal life? The Son of man shall give it to us. “For him hath God the Father sealed.” Christ has been given the authority and power from His Father on high.
An order is observed among the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father sends the Son; the Son comes to fulfill the Father’s will, and both send the Holy Ghost and act upon what He hears from above.
Is Jesus our only Mediator?
Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name (Jesus) under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Also,
Isaiah 9:6, “The government is upon His shoulders.”
What was the manner by which the Father sealed His Son? There is a metonymy, meaning a figure of speech in which the name of is used for the name of another associated with or related to it. When the symbol of authority is exchanged for the authority itself; Also,
A metaphor is sealing, a human act for ratifying and confirming an instrument or grant, being here applied to God. The President seals American ambassadors, giving them the credentials (seal) confirming the ambassador’s authority. So, it is with the Lord Jesus.
The heart of our Lord was as thoroughly and ardently engaged in the work of redemption as the Father’s.
Psalms 40:7-8, “Lo, I come to do thy will, O God; thy law is in my heart.” Jesus came with a due call and full commission from the Father.
John 8:42, Jesus said, “I proceeded and came from God (the Father;) thy law is in my heart.”
Hebrews 5:4-5, “No man taketh this honor to himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron: so also Christ glorified not himself to be made an High Priest; but He that said unto Him, Thou art my Son.”
Christ was sealed for the mediation work and sent to recover and save all the Father had given Him.
John 17:2, “To give eternal life to as many as were given him.” and
Isaiah 49:5, “To bring Jacob (Israel) back to Him.”
The high priests of the O.T. took no oath, but the Priesthood of Jesus was made with an oath.
Hebrews 7:21, “The LORD sware and will not repent, thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”
Because Jesus was sealed by the Father, whatever He did was fully ratified by the Father.
Now, there are the false mediators, false priests, and liars. Their acts were done without a commission and the authority of God. Regardless of their work, the supposed miracles, wonders, signs, or whatever that a false priest or prophet performs, they are in and of themselves null and void. Without authority, power, mercy, and love, without God’s knowledge and wisdom. “Broken vessels.”
Jesus alone! Faithful in His work, sealed from above.
John 9:4, Jesus said, “I must work the works of Him that sent me.”
John 5:30, “I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” He is a faithful servant.
Men who fit and appoint those not qualified and not ratified by the Holy Spirit are found unfit and incapable of performing the work of God.
There shall never be one as faithful as our Lord, He being the cornerstone. The apostles are the foundation stones. And those that come to Christ are built upon the cornerstone and the foundation stone.
Hebrews 3:6, He (Jesus) “Is the faithful and true witness.
For zeal, there is none like Him,
John 2:16-17, “The zeal of God’s house did eat him up.”
Jesus counted His work as food and drink, and all He did was done in love. For wisdom, there was none like him. He was most wise; He sought not His own glory.
Today, as in the past, we have the pretenders. They are pretending to have been called and given a commission. They are counterfeit Christs that produce more counterfeits.
John 10:7-8, Jesus said, “I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers,” as are all who come after.
Matthew 24:24, “There shall arise false Christ’s, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch, that if it were possible, they should deceive the very elect.”
Matthew 23:14, To our modern-day Scribes and Pharisees, Jesus would say, “Woe unto you, — hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayer: therefore, ye shall receive the greater damnation.”
And for those who follow these false teachers, is this warning if you have become one of their victims,
Matthew 23:15, “Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass (travel) sea and land to make one proselyte (a convert,) and when he is made, ye make him (convert) twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.”
The Lord was filled with the Holy Spirit without measure. The Father hath,
Psalms 45:7, “Anointed Him with the oil of gladness above his fellows.”
True Christians are co-partners of this Spirit, not without measure as was Christ, but according to measure.
It is incredible to me when I see how so many embrace imposters. False Christs arise as locusts from the dust of the ground, leading many astray.
Christ said, John 5:43, “I come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another come in his own name, him will ye receive.”
Tending not to believe Christ but believing every deceiver, every pitiful cheat that entertains is witty and expounds the lie the Lord has sent him. It is only his word, a single word, yet he will get disciples. These do not, and will not, receive the true Saviour and High Priest.
Evil as it intrudes into the office of Mediator is without a proper call from God. These are false Christians who come to honor themselves.
Each of us must cry out as written in,
Cant.8:6, “Set me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thy arm; for love is strong as death, jealousy is cruel as the grave; the coals thereof are coals of fire, which have a most vehement flame.”
Jesus was fitted with the body of a man and authorized by a commission from the Father. He now devotes and sets Himself apart to and for this work: This work is for the further advancement of the glorious design of our salvation, sanctifying Himself for our sakes. He has given us His word in writing. It is up to every individual to study his word to find yourself approved. Amen.
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com