When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 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. 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.” Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
Comment: Having eventually found Jesus, people ask Him the question “Rabbi, when did you come here?” The question could have been easily and directly answered, just giving them the basic fact (Last night) or He might have used His answer to amaze them more. (There weren‘t available boats, so I walked on the water!). Instead He says you are seeking Me for the wrong reasons. If we think about His answer, it centres on the following. He says…
- You are satisfied because I gave you a big cheap meal.
- You haven’t been listening to what I said!
- I can give you lasting food for the Life that goes beyond death. I have the Heavenly Father’s permission.
- The people having raised the continuous supply by God of their needs in the Wilderness journey, and possibly hoping for no future need to work for their daily bread, Jesus says ‘What you put in your mouths isn’t the issue here, It’s what you do. And the doing isn’t with the hands but with the brain, heart and integrated obedience! I am the bread which you need.’
- They say “Sir, give us this bread always.”, but do they know to what they are committing themselves?
Prayer: Thank You for expecting me to try and get to the real meaning of Your teaching and calling.
As I read it! 