“FOR HIM HATH GOD THE FATHER SEALED?”

by Shawn Brasseaux

Can you explain, “For him hath God the Father sealed,” in John 6:27? Why, certainly!

“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” (John 6:26-27).

Doubtless, the Lord had given them delicious bread and fish earlier in this chapter (the miraculous feeding of the 5,000 in verses 1-14), but the lust of their flesh has caused them to miss the essential truths of God. They strive to, they occupy themselves with the task to, partake of temporary physical food. As He fed them with material food, so He can provide them with spiritual food, eternal life through Himself—but this is what they are overlooking. They see the Lord Jesus Christ as nothing more than someone who can supply them with food to fill their physical stomachs.

Now, we reach the statement, “For him hath God the Father sealed.” Think of this as a seal of approval, like a stamp to confirm a document’s authenticity. Father God has endorsed or certified Jesus as true. “And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not” (John 5:37-38).

“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16-17). “And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mark 1:10-11). “Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased” (Luke 3:21-22). “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:…” (Acts 2:22).

Since the Father has “sealed” or endorsed Jesus, the nation Israel should accept and trust Him wholeheartedly—not superficially as in John 6:14-15. Furthermore, Christ Jesus is not to be viewed as a false prophet or an ally of Satan, which is what many Jews assumed He was in Matthew through John (for example, Matthew 12:24; Mark 3:21; Luke 23:2; John 7:12; John 8:13,48; et al.)

Also see:
» Was Jesus a glutton and drunkard?
» Is the Lord Jesus merely “the Holy One of God” in John 6:69?
» Why did Jesus offer Himself to Israel if He knew they would reject Him?
» How is Jesus Christ prophet, priest, and king?
» Can Jews who believe in God, the Father, but who reject Jesus, be saved from eternal damnation?
» How could John the Baptist question if Jesus really is Christ?
» Is Jesus Christ God’s “one and only Son” or “only begotten Son?”
» Why was Jesus water baptized?