By Gene Price
Pastor, Tumbling Creek Baptist Church, Gleason
Focal Passage: John 6:26-27, 35-40
Today people want more. Think of all the luxuries we have today that we did not have 50 years ago. We have cell phones for instant communication. We have bigger televisions with more than 500 channels. The problem with society is many are convinced that more is always better. The more prosperous we are, or the more money we have, the more satisfied we think we will be. However, Jesus never promised prosperity.
In verses 26-27, Jesus speaks about misplaced priorities. The people have just experienced Jesus feeding them with five barley loaves and two fish. The people misunderstood the miracle because Jesus wanted the people to seek the “Giver” of the gift but the people were more interested in receiving another meal. Their priorities were misplaced. Jesus wanted them to seek the “food that endures” rather than the “food that spoils.” Today people seek material things because they feel that those “things” will give them security. Yet Jesus is the only One who can provide eternal satisfaction.
Why did Jesus choose bread to illustrate this principle? Bread is a staple of life. Both the rich and the poor have bread. Also, bread is eaten by almost everyone every day. When you eat bread, a number of hours later, you are hungry! Just like bread is eaten every day, the Bread of Life should be eaten every day with a returning.
Jesus said in verse 35 “he who comes to Me will not hunger or thirst.” Physical things only bring temporary satisfaction. No matter how many possessions a person has, he wants more. The people thought Jesus was going to give them the experience such as their forefathers had when God sent them manna in the wilderness. Jesus had to teach them the spiritual truth that manna was for the body, but the Bread of Life is for the soul.
Many did not understand the simple truth that Jesus was teaching: people who put their trust in Jesus experience true contentment. Verses 36-40 gives us some simple truths.
(1) Not all who see will come. Even though the crowd saw the power of Jesus, they refused to come. They would not trust Jesus or commit themselves to Jesus.
(2) All who come are welcome. “Him who comes to Me, I will never cast out.” Jesus will never refuse anyone who comes. Jesus forgives a person’s past, therefore Jesus is more concerned about where you are going than He is about where you have been.
(3) All who come are forever safe. Jesus is strong enough to keep us eternally secure. You will never be lost. When you know Jesus, you have true contentment forever.
