"The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone; (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:) When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? Jesus answered them and said, Verily, 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. Labour 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 hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."
Today's quote tells us that many of the Jewish leaders, after filling themselves with the food Jesus had miraculously provided and waking the following day to find Jesus gone, boarded ships and and crossed the sea to find Him.
Jesus, knowing they had only followed Him for the free food, and to continue to taunt Him, said; "Verily, 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. Labour 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 hath God the Father sealed." Jesus made it clear that the miracles He had just performed would have no lasting consequence. He told those Jews that they should instead be searching out the savior who is able to grant them eternal life. ~
NOTE: The latter part of todays quote clears up an issue I believe we should take this opportunity to address. There are some who use the phrase "operation of God", which is found in Colossians 2:12, to contend that there are steps that are to be taken in the "operation" to achieve eternal salvation, water baptism being one of those steps. That contention is false and is demonstrated to be false in the last part of today's quote, wherein Jesus says; "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."
"The work of God" and "the operation of God" are one in the same in meaning. Jesus makes it very clear herein that the operation of God, or work of God, is to BELIEVE on Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son. Again, "THIS IS THE WORK OF GOD, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."
The following is the quoted text from which the phrase is taken. If we read it in context, we find that the term "baptism", as it is applied in Col. 2:12, is all about being made one with Christ Jesus through faith in His death, burial and resurrection, and has nothing to do with being immersed in water in order to be made one with Him. The term "baptism", as it is applied herein, simply means 'becoming one with'.
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And YE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism,wherein also ye are risen with him through the FAITH OF the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath HE QUICKENED TOGETHER WITH HIM, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." (Colossians 2:8-17)
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