Day 8: John 6:25-71
I love how patient Jesus is with answering the crowd’s questions in this passage, there is so much to learn, but of particular note is the crowd’s response to Jesus.
Jesus comes to Capernaum after feeding 5000+ people with five loaves and two fish. The crowd follow him and ask how He arrived. Jesus knew their hearts and answers with why they asked the question;
(vs26-27) “…you seek Me, not because you saw the sign, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labour for food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you…”
The crowd were focused on the physical food provided by Jesus and missed the fact they were with the Son of God and struggled to receive His message. They witnessed the feeding of 5000+ people, but asked (vs30) what sign will you perform…that we may believe in you?” They were still looking for an unlimited material food supply, yet Jesus was talking about an unlimited spiritual food supply. He said (vs47)”.. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and are dead.” Jesus is lovingly direct, because His heart is that none should perish, He came to give more than just material things; He came as a sacrifice for our sins so that all who believe in Him shall have eternal life!
Secondly, we see that the crowd had preconceived ideas on what the Son of God would do. They looked at what God did previously with manna in the wilderness and we read in verse 28 that they were expecting to do a series of works for God to get what they wanted. Jesus says, (vs29)..this is the work of God that you believe in Me. It starts with a step of faith, trusting God and being obedient to Him. They were blinded by their own agendas and focused on the temporary, but God came to give something of eternal significance, far beyond their imagination, eternal life. Isaiah 55:9 “..My ways are higher than your ways…”
We read later that many of the crowd walked away. I wonder how many times we have been so focused on material things and our preconceived ideas/plans of what God will do that we miss what He is doing right in front of our eyes like the crowd in this passage.
Jesus makes it clear that He is the bread of life, for us to believe in Him and place our trust in Him rather than temporary things or feelings. Whatever we feed the most in our lives has the greatest strength, feelings or faith.
We can miss what God is doing in the moment when we are more focused on material things rather than Jesus or cling to our own plans of what we think God will do instead of trusting Him. Let’s be people who focus on Jesus and put our faith in Him, not in temporary things.
Sarah Hallett
Connect Leader