John 6:22-29
22 On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
In getting to know another person, it is common to ask the question, “What do you do for a living?” A person’s daily work has a great impact upon his or her life and interests. A good followup question might be “Why do you do that for living?” Even if you don’t ask that question directly, it isn’t long before the “why” comes out. Sometimes people just fall into a job because of chance and circumstance. Other times, a job is pursued in hope of wealth or because of personal aptitude or interest. In most every situation, though, a job is how we hope to make a living! We want to put food on the table. We want to live!
The people who were present at the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand had their worlds turned upside down. They worked for a living, and Jesus showed that he could give them everything they needed to live. They loved this idea. They chased Jesus around to the other side of the sea of Galilee in hopes of a free lunch. But, in doing this they also showed their need for correction. Knowing God through faith is true life. No earthly job can give what only God gives through faith. In fact, every blessing that comes through our work, actually comes from God’s love. The people were confused on this very point.
The people revealed their confusion when they were so distracted by the bread that they immediately forgot Jesus’ Words and only chased after His free lunch. If they forgot Jesus over a lunch, how quickly they would overlook the greater gifts of forgiveness of sins, resurrection from the dead, and life everlasting. So, Jesus directly addressed their error and called them to repentance.
True life doesn’t begin in us, but in the grace of God in Jesus. God “made a living” when He sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins and rise again from the dead. The true gift of God is Jesus. The eternal life that we receive as a gift through faith in Jesus is true life. Jesus calls us recognize the difference between temporal blessings and the eternal gifts of God in Him. When the people asked ‘What must we do?” Jesus said clearly, “Believe in the one He has sent.” Jesus directed them, and also now us to believe in Him for life. In Jesus, are found all the blessings we receive in this life, and the eternal life that is to come.
Let us pray,
I thank you Lord Jesus for giving me life and sustaining my faith. Help me to trust in you at all times, and acknowledge that you are my life now and forever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.