John 6:22-29 CSB
The next day, the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw there had been only one boat. They also saw that Jesus had not boarded the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone off alone. [23] Some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. [24] When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. [25] When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?" [26] Jesus answered, "Truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled. [27] Don't work for the food that perishes but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal of approval on him." [28] "What can we do to perform the works of God?" they asked. [29] Jesus replied, "This is the work of God-that you believe in the one he has sent."
Psalm 145:14-16 CSB
The LORD helps all who fall; he raises up all who are oppressed. [15] All eyes look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. [16] You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
Finding God
As a child, Christmas and birthdays were magical times. I was blessed with good parents, but as a teacher, I saw many students who did not have that same foundation. It is tragic to see the burdens some children carry—parents who put hurdles in their way, making life unbearable.
Good parents, however, want what is best for their children. They are compassionate, putting the child’s needs above their own. They work hard to provide things that bring a smile, but they also know when to say “no” to ensure the child is raised properly.
On the days I knew a gift was coming, I would dream of it with wonder. Whether peering through a store window or flipping through a paper catalog—the “physical version” of today’s internet stores—my desires took center stage. I remember some of those gifts today; my enthusiasm with the gifts might last a few days or even years, but eventually, they broke, were boxed up, or were lost to time.
Our loving Heavenly Father gives us gifts at the proper time. He satisfies our earthly desires in healthy ways that build us up, but His greatest gift is not food that perishes. It is the gift that never fades away.
The five thousand who witnessed the miracle of the loaves and fish received earthly food. It was like the manna God gave the Israelites in the wilderness—necessary for survival, but temporary. Manna perished after a single day unless the Father declared otherwise. When the crowd realized the One who satisfied their hunger was gone, they began a frantic search. Some most likely went home, but many boarded boats for Capernaum, desperate to find Jesus again.
Jesus, however, knows the hearts of men. When they finally found Him, He immediately corrected the error in their hearts—an error many who call themselves Christians still make today. There is a concept called “Christless Christianity.” This occurs when a person lives by nothing more than a system of theology and religious rules. It is the same error the Pharisees made: following man-made requirements disguised as the path to salvation. The crowd wanted to know what “works” they had to do to get food that does not perish—that gift that never fades. They were looking for a checklist.
Jesus answered them plainly: “This is the work of God—that you believe in the one he has sent.”
Those who live within a “Christless Christianity” work in vain. Our faith and our actions must be the natural result of a personal relationship with Jesus, not a rigid adherence to a man-made system of religious rules. We aren’t looking for more bread; we are looking for the Bread of Life—the life where we call Jesus friend and savior.
Reflection Questions
- Reflect on a “gift” you once desperately wanted. How long did the satisfaction last once you received it? How does that compare to the satisfaction found in Christ?
- Jesus told the crowd they were looking for Him for the wrong reasons. If Jesus were to tell you why you are seeking Him today, what would He say?
- How can you distinguish between “religious work” and the “work of God” (believing in the One He sent) in your daily life?
Prayer
Father,
Thank You for Your compassionate heart and for the way You provide for us at just the right time. Forgive us for the times we focus more on the gifts than on the Giver. Keep us from the trap of a “Christless Christianity” that values rules over relationship. Help us to stop working for things that perish and instead lean into the simple, profound work of believing in Your Son. Satisfy our souls today with the food that lasts for eternity.
Amen.
