John 6:25-35

When they found him back across the sea, they said, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus answered, “You’ve come looking for me not because you saw God in my actions but because I fed you, filled your stomachs—and for free. 

It appeared the numbers of Jesus’ congregation were up this week but contrary to popular seeker-friendly strategy, Jesus challenges their motives for even attending. I suspect Judas was in the wings thinking, “Man, this guy is going to kill our cash flow.” But Jesus just pours it on….

Don’t waste your energy striving for perishable food like that. Work for the food that sticks with you, food that nourishes your lasting life, food the Son of Man provides. He and what he does are guaranteed by God the Father to last.

But, their hearts are set on what their hearts are set. To that they said, “Well, what do we do then to get in on God’s works?” I wonder if Jesus was thinking, “There’s no way this crowd will ever understand this but for those who will one day get the printed version, I’ll say;

Throw your lot in with the One that God has sent. That kind of a commitment gets you in on God’s works.

But again, the multitude wants what it wants when it wants it and makes its counter proposal..

Why don’t you give us a clue about who you are, just a hint of what’s going on? When we see what’s up, we’ll commit ourselves. Show us what you can do. Moses fed our ancestors with bread in the desert. It says so in the Scriptures: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

God, in His patient and persistent love, pursues this multitude (and us as well) with these words which He desires should produce eternal rather than temporal benefits in us and for us. He explains…

The real significance of that Scripture is not that Moses gave you bread from heaven but that my Father is right now offering you bread from heaven, the real bread. The Bread of God came down out of heaven and is giving life to the world.

This lit up the crowd! They jumped at that: “Master, give us this bread, now and forever!

Jesus then delivers the summary remarks to His sermon..

I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever.

It appears The First Church of Jesus in the Wilderness is poised for growth but Judas knows better. He has heard Jesus’ sermons. He knows the multitude’s appetite for the Bread of Life is going to be turned upside down when Jesus tells them that they are going to have to daily take up a cross if they really want this Bread.

Perhaps, because Judas had less delusion than the others about what Jesus was really after, he knew that while miracles are impressive, he also knew you don’t rule men with mere miracles. Ruling requires power. Power requires money. So, even though Jesus would not produce an earthly kingdom to  Judas’ liking, he could still turn this Jesus into some real cash at the right time.

So, isn’t the real question always, “What do you want?” What do you really hunger and thirst for? Consider a few possible objects of our hunger and thirst;

– revival and awakening in my city replete with God’s presence, signs and wonders

– the  dismantling of all organized church and a resettlement of the flock into smaller groups meeting in homes

– a growing healthy traditional church motivated to go out and win the neighborhood and the city to Christ

– to feed, clothe and shelter the poor

– to find a good local church with good teaching and music ministry where my family and I can attend

– to leave America and go abroad where there is legitimate hunger and thirst for God

– I have no wants, Christ in me is sufficient for every need that is present.

While all of these may be good, which of them would be the best corehunger to have growing in our hearts in light of Jesus’ famous proclamation?

I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever.

Jesus’ words have always done more stirring than settling. However, in the heart-turmoil His words create there is always a loving Father’s intention at work. He knows, bound up in our hearts there is folly that needs exposed so that it doesn’t end up leading to our wasting energy and striving for the temporal. He is always persistently sending out His invitations for us to partake of His Son – the Bread of Eternal Life. By abiding in Jesus we are vested into a counterintuitive kingdom – that domain where Jesus reigns saying and doing things that will last forever from his earthly base of operations- our hearts.

Thank you Father for Your persistence in challenging our heart-level understandings of Your words. We pray that with You alone at the center of our motives, You will build Your Church in Your timing and in Your ways. May You become the loving and persistent disturbance in our hearts so that You might ultimately become, in Yourself, their exclusive satisfaction. Amen.

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