John 6.14-29 - The Work of God?

So last time Jesus took one boy’s lunch box and multiplied it to feed every student in Gregg County.  [14-15 Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.]  Now the crowd wants to make Him their [king].  And why wouldn’t they?  He IS The Prophet Who Moses said would come.  And this "man" has the power - and the compassion - to protect them and provide for them.  As much as they want…they were filled [11-12]  Who wouldn’t want THAT person to be your leader?  We like leaders who give us everything we need, and then some, don’t we?  Of course you’d want this man to be your king.  But why would Jesus NOT want to be their king?  Isn’t He already King of the universe?  He’s shown us - and people all over Palestine - that He clearly has power and authority over all things - all people, all of creation.  Isn’t King His obvious destiny, His Divine Right?  Isn’t ruling as King of kings His job?  His work?  This is what we’ve been talking about.  But there’s more in play here, AND there’s more in play in this life than just temporary physical needs, temporal physical power.  Beyond nations and rulers and such [Is 40].  Jesus does not reign on our terms.  And for now, He has other work to accomplish.  Something eternal.

[16-21 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.  The sea began to be stirred up because a strong wind was blowing.  Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they *saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened.  But He *said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” So they were willing to receive Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.]  Jesus walking on water.  He gives us yet another sign of Who He really is.  What would it take to walk ON TOP of water (i.e. not sink)?  Need to take on a lighter density than the water (legs!).  Or suspend the Law of gravity, or alter the surface tension of the water [also need some traction?] - supersede the known laws of the universe in any case.  The laws of the universe are subject to Jesus (even tho He can/does operate within them: [1.3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.][Phil. 2:7-8 He emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.]).  [The work of God > the universe. The death of Jesus > the universe.]

But here - in the middle of this lake, at night, dark, windy, waves, these experienced fishermen are scared.  Not by the rough conditions!  By Jesus.  Why?  Cuz no normal person can walk on water [now they’re WAY beyond the place of comfort/the familiar].  Now they’re really in the realm of the otherworldly.  Don’t miss how in the midst of blowing their mind with this new sign of Who He is, He cares about their heart, how they’re feeling.  The work of God involves (caring for) people.  And don’t miss what He says, this eternal truth: I Myself AM.  I AM.  I am the Eternal God.  And I am here.  Never forget that - I am with you.  Do NOT be fearing.  The cure for fear.  What/whom shall I fear? [Heb. 13:6 We confidently say, “The Lord is my Helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”]

[25 When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?”] You didn’t come by boat, so we know you came on foot - so, when did you get here?  How’d you get here so quickly? (And are we missing another feast?)  Of course, they’re focused on the physical, AND when you’re focused on the physical, you’re asking the wrong question… It’s not “when?”, or even “how?” (they just assume he walked on land).  When we focus on the physical, we assume we know the right questions to ask, and we assume we know the answers to the questions we’re not asking.  But the first question they/we really need to be asking is, Who?  WHO IS JESUS?  WHO are You, Lord?  WHO do YOU say that I am, Jesus asks?  WHO am I to YOU?

But to their well-intended but ill-informed question, Jesus drops another double-truly: [26 Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.]  I.e. you’re not really looking for signs that point you to spiritual reality/eternal truth.  To you, I’m just a novelty.  A 24hr convenience store.  A guy w free bread.  You’re more interested in what’ll fill your tummy.  Temporal food.  You followed Me, you got filled, and you liked that.  We're just the same: What can I get out of this?  Our fallen mindset is, what is in it for me, right now? Here & now. Temporal.  That which perishes...

[27 “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”]  [Perishable food].  THE work of God is not about [physical] food.  The temporary.  Jesus exhorts, don’t make it your main goal in life, don’t throw your primary effort, your best years, your only life after stuff that can/will perish.  Rot.  Rust.  This food - ALL this stuff - is designed to perish.  Why give your life for something that won’t last?  [i.e. like mist on a warm lake in fall - so temporary]  He’s saying, there IS food here, work that endures to [eternal] life (spiritual food).  Truly non-perishable.  There IS work that will last forever - and it involves the eternal souls of those around us.

Yes, the reality is that we’re all consumers.  Like any consumer, we’re each driven by self-interest.  What’s in it for me?  And as consumers, we consume stuff.  We DO need to eat.  We DO need to acquire a critical mass of stuff that helps us to survive, and even thrive.  We need sometimes  to cross stormy lakes.  [And yes we can do all this in ways that show off the goodness of God 1Cor. 10:31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.].  But savvy consumers look for [Seals of Approval].  Guarantees that you are getting good food, quality merchandise.  Well there is one SoA that surpasses all the rest.  God the Father [27].  Consider how significant it is for Him to set His SoA on anything [it's a big deal even for a human engineer to certify a pool].  And God the Father, the Engineer of the entire universe, has set His SoA on Jesus.  And Jesus does have food to give us, food which endures to eternal life.  The work of God.

[28 Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”] So now they’re asking about work.  Doing some work.  The workS of God, plural.   As if there are a bunch of things they need to do, keep doing.  Trying to work their way into God’s good graces [which of course is a gift].  Maybe they think they need to do some physical works that might contribute to something significant?  Works OF God?  OR maybe they’re looking to curry favor with God?  Works FOR God?

[29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”] How do we “DO” the “works of God”?  Jesus turns their question on its head.  Neither a work OF God nor a work FOR God, THE true work that God has given us to do is NOT to work per se, but to trust, to believe (i.e. not something physical —> spiritual) - IN THE SON!  Believe IN the One He sent, the GOD•send!  THE work of God is believing, trusting in His Son.  That is the “work” God has given us to do - because this is our true need.  This is the eternal food we’re looking for.  Trust/believe in Jesus, trust Him for eternal life and for everything that pertains to this life, trust Him to provide the food and everything that you need, trust Him to get you across the stormy lake… [Ps 2]

Referenced verses:

James 1:12  Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.

Heb. 13:6  so that we confidently say, “THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID.  WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?”

Is. 40:21-24  Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?  It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.  He it is Who reduces rulers to nothing, Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless.  Scarcely have they been planted, scarcely have they been sown, scarcely has their stock taken root in the earth, but He merely blows on them, and they wither, and the storm carries them away like stubble.

Psa. 2:1    Why are ^athe ¹nations in an uproar 

And the peoples ^bdevising a vain thing?

2  The ^akings of the earth take their stand 

And the rulers take counsel together 

^bAgainst the LORD and against His ^1cAnointed, saying,

3  “Let us ^atear their fetters apart 

And cast away their cords from us!”

Psa. 2:4    He who ¹sits in the heavens ^alaughs, 

The Lord ^bscoffs at them.

5  Then He will speak to them in His ^aanger 

And ^bterrify them in His fury, saying,

6  “But as for Me, I have ¹installed ^aMy King 

Upon Zion, ^bMy holy mountain.”

Psa. 2:7    “I will surely tell of the ¹decree of the LORD: 

He said to Me, ‘You are ^aMy Son, 

Today I have begotten You.

8  ‘Ask of Me, and ^aI will surely give ^bthe ¹nations as Your inheritance, 

And the very ^cends of the earth as Your possession.

9  ‘You shall ^1abreak them with a ²rod of iron, 

You shall ^bshatter them like ³earthenware.’”

Psa. 2:10    Now therefore, O kings, ^ashow discernment; 

Take warning, O ¹judges of the earth.

11  ¹Worship the LORD with ^2areverence 

And rejoice with ^btrembling.

12  ¹Do homage to ^athe Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, 

For ^bHis wrath may ²soon be kindled. 

How blessed are all who ^ctake refuge in Him!

John 6.1-13 - THIS is NOT too difficult...

Here we come to the only miracle recorded in all four Gospels… So what truth(s) is God emphasizing for us in His Word? [1] [back to the other side of sea]

[2 A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick.]  People are following Him “cuz He’s healing people” - but is it entertainment?  Showing up for the show?  We do this, don’t we?  We follow folks who entertain us.  Or maybe these folks are following Jesus to get their own healing?  What’s in it for me?  Q: What can I give to Jesus this day?

[4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near.]  Passover is near - what DOES that mean?  The events of Passover, when the destroying angel passed over homes whose [doors were covered with lamb’s blood], were the final catalyst for the [Exodus], which then becomes the focal point of the annual [Passover feast].  A time of remembering that God worked miracles and delivered His people from slavery and then miraculously provided food [manna - i.e. bread out of thin air, out of heaven!] AND water [from a rock].  But (the feast of) Passover - like the Passover/Exodus it looks back to - is a paradigm-shifting promise: Never forget that God delivers His people over and over.  And He’s about to do it again…

[5 Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, says to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?”]  The feeding of the 5000 [10-20k].  A miracle of impossible proportions.  A fiscal logistical impracticality.  What is this all about?  Jesus lifts up His eyes.  This is what He just told the disciples to do re the fields being white for harvest [4.35].  What will it mean for us to “lift up our eyes”? [1) A new focus. 2) A different timepiece]  See the focus, the heart of Jesus, compassion on the crowd, ready to take care of their practical need. These are strangers.  Intruders.  Here He is, getting away, enjoying time w His disciples, yet He has 1) eyes to see the need AND 2) patience (willingness to wait, to defer His own needs) to meet the need of these “intruders”.  Most of us lack one/both of those.  Wouldn’t most of us most of the time see these others as intruders?  The disciples themselves urge Jesus, send away these “intruders” so they can find something to eat.  But God’s is a heart of [Philoxenia.  Love of strangers].  Welcoming strangers.  Eyes to see (and acknowledge) the stranger/intruder - and a heart to bless them.  “Jesus grow that heart in me…“

Philoxenia: We see a CHALLENGE of location: Jesus asks his disciples, “Where?”  They are across the lake, on a mountain in the middle of nowhere.  Miles (on foot) from the nearest agora.  A good question.  But the answer - as is often the case - is NOT about where.  It’s not found in a physical place.  It’s found in Jesus.  As long as our “where” is a where where Jesus is there, it doesn’t matter where we are.  Philoxenia can happen wherever Jesus is present.  This is NOT too difficult…

[6 This He was saying to test him, for He knew what He was intending to do.] Jesus, starts with Philip - What do we know about him?  Ch 1, Jesus finds Philip - who finds Nathanael.  Philip already passed the “God•send test”.  But here, Jesus is “testing” Philip.  Trying him.  This is not a trying to cause a failure - it’s a trying to show what is inside.  [1.12] What he’s made of.  Sometimes God tries us in order to show what’s inside us.  God’s trying reveals character, AND it reveals need.  Maybe the hard thing you’re going thru (or about to go thru?) is God showing what’s inside of you?  And also how much you need Him?

But Jesus knows.  He knows what He’s doing.  He knows EXACTLY what the situation is.  He knows everything about Philip.  And Jesus knows exactly what He’s going to do.  Don’t miss so many streams of impact here.  There’s the crowd.  20000 people - and He knows exactly what’s going on w each one of them.  His disciples - each of them in a different place.  And He knows them.  Everything about them.  All these streams, intersecting, maximizing opportunities for each person to learn more of what they need to know about Jesus.

[7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.”] How is his spiritual vision? How does he feel about the crowd? Are they an annoyance? A distraction?  How does Jesus feel about the crowd?  We see a CHALLENGE of lack of resources… Philip is a Can’t Man.  He has a keen grasp of reality.  He’s able to discern the huge scope of the challenge before them. But he’s too focused of the [physical].  What do you think of Philip’s response? [1DN could feed 10 people - but not 100? so even 200 DN would only be 1/10th of need?]  What ’s he saying?  Not enough $.  Financially not feasible.  This IS too difficult.

[8-9 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, *said to Him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?”] Now Andrew.  Andrew is a Try Man.  Can’t hurt to try?   Philip and Andrew are the only two guys who we’ve already seen who went and brought someone to Jesus.  How about Andrew’s response?  Andrew here brings someone to Jesus - but like Philip, his focus is primarily on the physical.  So many people. 

For the disciples, this is too much.  Physically, mentally, emotionally.  Too difficult.  Way beyond our capacity. Yes, yes it is.  But sometimes (often?) - if we let Him, (even when we don’t?) - Jesus lets us be in situations that are too much for us.  Beyond our capacity. [2Cor 1.9; 3.5] To help us to learn to trust Him.  Maybe you’re there today.  Across the sea.  On a mountain.  Crowded slopes - the logistics, the finances, the measurables - it feels overwhelming.  Too difficult.

[10] We see a CHALLENGE of logistics: Only 1 thing Jesus asks the disciples to do: Make the people sit down (literally, make them FALL BACK).  It’s a practical suggestion: 20 thousand people, crowding around.  The noise.  The stress, exacerbating the sense of impossibility.  Make them fall back.  Put the obstacle in its proper perspective (part of a new focus).  The heart of Christ leans in even in the face of challenges of location, resources, logistics.  This is NOT too difficult.

[11-12] As much as they wanted: They were filled up.  Jesus earlier turned a gallon of something into a gallon of something else [Transformation].  Now He turns 5 of something into 5000, w plenty leftover [Multiplication]!  Jesus is all about both - Transformation AND Multiplication.  Sometimes He doesn’t just want to provide a little, or then maybe add a little.  He wants to break what we have and multiply it to feed/bless a multitude.  Jesus is so ready to provide just what we need, just when we need it - and then some.  Note that He didn’t multiply the loaves before they got there - He provided them exactly when they were needed - and then some. 

Takeaways: Gratitude.  Be thankful for what we have… A value of stewardship.  Waste not.  Yes Jesus mentions concern for every last fragment of bread, but could this be an allusion to making sure that no soul is lost [6.39]?  How much more does He care about people than pieces of bread?  How much more are they worth? 

[13] In the end they have way more bread than what they started with.  12 baskets - number of the Jews…?  Number of apostles?  [Each guy wound up w a full basket!]  

This is NOT too difficult.  [Jer 32.27] Jesus dares to delve into the difficult.  He excels at making an abundance out of little.  He excels at taking our little and making it more than enough.  Don’t sweat the physical.  The physical, the temporal - all the stuff we get so worked up over and so worried about - this is no sweat.  NOT too difficult. 

Verses referenced

James 1:12  Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.

2Cor. 1:9 indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead;

2Cor. 3:5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,

Jer. 32:27 “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?”

Jer. 31:14  “I will fill the soul of the priests with abundance, and My people will be satisfied with My goodness,” declares the LORD.

John 5.16-47 - The Four Witnesses (and a 5th)(and a 6th)

Last time we saw a guy lying by a pool.  Pool guy (PG).  38 years, he’d been sick, waiting who-knows-how-long to be healed by the waters of this pool.  The Bethesda pool.  House of Chesed.  House of Grace.  Famous.  Five [stoas] full of hurting people, waiting, hoping for healing.  But it’s first-come first-served gets healed, and PG had never made it.  No one to help him, either.  Until Jesus showed up.  Jesus healed him, with just one word - BUT He dared to do it on a Sabbath, on Shabbat, and the Jewish leaders are livid, cuz PG is carrying his mat on Shabbat (which Jesus told him to do).  And these Jews are looking for whoever had the audacity to tell PG to do that.  Of course it was Jesus.  PG learns His name and tells the Jews, and they go ballistic [16 For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on Shabbat.].  And again, for the Jews, it was [Law/Shabbat above all]… No work at all on Shabbat.  You told a guy to break one of our Shabbat rules!  No WORKING on Shabbat!  No mat-carrying.  And NO healing either! [Lk 13.14]  Totally devoid of compassion, blind (rules > people), oblivious to what God is doing in the world…

[17 But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”]  Yes, God created the world in 6 days and rested from that work of creation on the 7th day.  And yes, He set an example and a standard for people to set aside time when they cease from their own labors and focus on Him.  BUT since the beginning of creation it’s also true that God continues to maintain - AND REDEEM - all of creation, 24/7.  I.e. He is working, continues to work.  Which is a valid point - but Jesus ups the ante.  [My Father] (a title He uses 26x in John) is working, and that’s what I’m doing.  THE Father is My Father, and I have the authority to do what He does.  I.e., not only is Shabbat NOT above all, but in the same way that God the Father transcends and supersedes all these Shabbat rules - so do I.  What’s He saying here?

[18 For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.]  Jesus does this deliberately.  The Jews are now actually looking to kill Him.  They’re enraged!  Cuz - according to them - He has just [blasphemed].  Makes Himself EQUAL with God.  Which - if He were just a mere man, that charge would be accurate.  But already, John has shown us that Jesus is no mere man.  Not simply claiming to be something He isn’t.  He’s been backing it up.  Jesus has already shown us divine attributes of [omniscience] (He knows thoughts/secrets of every heart).  [Omnipotence] (He does the impossible, heals with mere words, creates matter out of non-matter).  And [omnipresence] (He knows/sees all, and works miracles without needing to be there). Just wait until He rises from the dead…!  But going forward, the Jews are out to kill Him.

[19 Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.] The Jewish leaders reject Jesus’ claim of equality with God, so He gives them His 4th truly truly.  Truth truth: I (only) do what I see the/My Father doing [Son-Father, Father-Son].  If you have a problem with Me (Jesus), you have a problem w the Father.

[20 “For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. 21 “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.]  Father-Son, Father-Son.  And you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!  Greater works.  Marvelous.  And you will marvel: raising the dead back to life, Power over death.

[22 “For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.]  Still Father-Son, Son-Father - again mentioned in the same breath.  The questions of life & death & judgment & eternity - all those the Father has given to Jesus.  It all runs thru Jesus.  All judgment.  All honor.  In fact, there is no way to honor God at all without honoring Jesus.

Double truly truly: [24  “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.]  It all comes down to, do you and I believe what Jesus is saying, that He is THE God•send?  

[25-29 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.  For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who practiced the foul deeds to a resurrection of judgment.] The [Power over death] - this is unparalleled power.  Authority of judgment - it is all given to Jesus.  The Son of Man.  God the Son Who is fully man.  AND He has Life IN Himself.  He not only IS alive, He has life IN HIMSELF.  He IS LIFE.  [In Him is Life]  All life - including and especially eternal life - is contingent upon Jesus.  And the Son gives life to those who “do the good work” of believing in Him.  To whoever He wishes [21][which is the Greek word, thelō].  The Lord WANTS to give eternal life - but this is only for those who HEAR Jesus’ Word and believe Him.  Those who don’t seek what they want but seek what God wants.  And if you have not yet believed in Jesus, you may think you are alive - but you don’t know you are dead.  You are spiritually dead - and you need to hear the voice of the Son, so that you will finally and fully LIVE.  You need to listen to His voice and believe…

[30  “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.]  Theléma - the noun form of theló.  The want of the God•send-er.  What do You want, Lord?  That is the question...

[31-39] Believe the witnesses: 1) John (TW), 2) the works I do, 3) the Father, and 4) the Scriptures.  And they all Point.To.Me.  Life is in Me.

[40 and you are not wanting to come to Me so that you may have life.]  I so want to give you eternal life, and I have FOUR witnesses testifying that what I’m telling you is true - but you are UNwanting.  Theléma.  You DON’T WANT to come to me.  And why is that?  Two reasons:

[42 but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves.] 1) You do not have the love of God.  Let God love you, show you His love.  Receive His love…[The story of the Bible, of heaven - all this is one grand love story]-[He made paradise for us to live in and enjoy, to enjoy Him!]  And He has gone to indescribable lengths to bring us back into relationship w Him... [3.16/Rom 5.8][the cross].  So first, you do not have His love in you.

[43 “I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?]  And 2) You receive/care about what people say/think.  You care much less about what God thinks.

[45-47 “Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”]  There is actually a 5th witness!  And you DO hope in him - but he points to Me [Dt 18].  I am THE Prophet.  But you don’t believe what he said about Me, you don’t believe Me. 

They refuse.  So blind, and angry.  And Jesus just pours fuel on the fire.  MOSES accuses you.  You do not seek glory from God.  You do not have His love in you.  You don’t care about what He wants.  How they hate Jesus now.  How the world hates Him (still).  Jesus calls every person to face our sin.  Selfishness.  Selfrighteousness.  Hypocrisy.  Hard hearts of unbelief.  If only we’d believe… Believe the witnesses.  Believe JTW.  Believe the Father.  Believe the works.  Believe the Scriptures.  Believe Moses.  And don’t forget Pool Guy - you could believe him (6th witness!).  Or you could simply believe Me…   

Referenced verses

Luke 13:14 But the synagogue official, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, began saying to the crowd in response, “There are six days in which work should be done; so come during them and get healed, and not on the Sabbath day.”

Deut. 18:15  “The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to Him. 18 (The LORD said to me,) ’I will raise up a Prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. 19 ‘It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which He shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him.’”