Jesus Is Our Source- John Chapter 6

As a single man, when someone gives me food or invites me for dinner in their home, instantly I have a fondness for them. When I was younger, a married couple were my friends and I could stop by anytime. I tended to do so close to dinner time. When I would stop by, they would ask me to stay for dinner, I would act like I did not want to be a problem, and they would assure me they wanted me to stay.

After Jesus fed the thousands and left, the people looked for him. When they found him, they did not admit to the reason they were looking for him.

When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

Just like my friends knew the reason I stopped by at dinner time, Jesus knew why the people were looking for him.

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.”

He took that moment to teach them about eternal life.

“Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

So they asked the question.

Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

The Jewish religion was full of works people had to do. The list of rules by the religious leaders for how to follow the Sabbath was cumbersome. The people were looking for a checklist of works. Jesus answered.

“The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

Believe in Jesus. It is that simple. Not easy but simple. The reason it is not easy is because people tend to want a complicated religion not relationship.

So under the guise of asking for proof what he said is true, they said.

“What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”

Ah but even in asking for proof, their real motive still show. They started talking about bread. The manna from heaven. Jesus had just fed all of them with turning a few fish and a few loaves of bread into enough food for them all to have their fill. They were not actually looking for proof. They wanted more food. But by bringing up the manna from heaven during the time of Moses, they opened the door for Jesus to reply.

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

Jesus is our source for every thing. He created the water we drink. He created the plants that give us food. But here Jesus is talking about spiritual/eternal life. When we have Jesus, he gives us the Holy Spirit, the living water he spoke of in John 4. When we have Jesus, we have the word of God to sustain us. When Jesus said, I am the bread of life, he was telling them he is the source for eternal life, for all things spiritual concerning God.

The people were looking for physical food. Jesus used the opportunity to teach them about spiritual food.

Do we believe in Jesus or do we want to add to that a list of our own manmade rules?

Do we trust Jesus alone, or do we want to have a checklist for us to accomplish?

Do we spend time with Jesus for our souls to be nourished?

Thank you for reading. God Bless.