Work can be very hard to find these days and food very expensive. In today's story many people come to Jesus enquiring about work and food. Jesus has something very important to say to them that concerns you, even if work or food are not a problem for you.
A crowd of people "got into boats and went ...in search of Jesus... They found Him on the other side of the lake. '..You are looking for Me because you ate the loaves and had your fill.'" Jesus said. (verses 24-26,) He had miraculously fed over 5,000 of them the previous day. Jesus went on to say, "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you." (verse 27.)
These people were greedy for more free food, and thought Jesus was saying that there was some special everlasting food from God that they could work for! "What must we do to do the works God requires?" they asked Him. Jesus answered, The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent." (verses 28-29.)
Jesus message for these people was about something much more satisfying and precious than food for their stomachs. Jesus was speaking about God's gift of ETERNAL LIFE that would satisfy their souls, giving them peace with God and the assurance of getting into Heaven. (1st John 5:10-13. 1st Peter 1:3-9.) And the only "WORK" that God required of them if they wanted to receive eternal life was to believe in Jesus whom God sent from Heaven to give Life to the world. (verse 33. 1st John 4:14. John 3:16-18.)
But these greedy people only wanted more free food, so they asked Jesus, "What miraculous sign will you give that we may see it and believe you?" They were hoping that He might give them miraculous "bread from Heaven to eat"; (verses 30-31.) but they showed no interest in the "eternal life" for their souls that Jesus was eager for them to have.
What about you today? Are YOU interested in the gift of ETERNAL LIFE that God offers you through faith in Jesus Christ? (Romans 6:23. Ephesians 2:8-9.) Don't think it is received by some food you can eat - "food does not bring us near to God." (1st Corinthians 8:8.) And don't think it is a reward for "works" that you can do - He saves us "not because of righteous things we have done, but because of His mercy." (Titus 3:4-8)
So, what God wants you to DO is to discover what Jesus has already done for you by dying for your sins and rising again - He has paid for all your sins! (1st Peter 2:24, 1st John 1:7.) And God says that faith and trust in Jesus Christ will not only give you spiritual Life, but will continue to feed and satisfy your soul. (Romans 8:1-17.)
That's why Jesus said to that crowd, "I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen Me and still you do not believe." (verses
35-38.)
The crowd was blinded by greed that day and were unable to realise their greatest need.
Read about them in John's Gospel chapter 6, verses 22-36.
John Nixon, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
For the next
reading from John's Gospel go to NEXT
In order to browse
further "Good News Compage" prompts and commentaries for John's
Gospel go to
---------------oOo---------------
