"I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."
John 6 is a rough text. It causes most good church goers to cringe. We have a hard time fitting this into our idea of what Jesus was like. We see him as so loving and caring and inclusive. Always, including people and never pushing them away. Then we read John 6 and it shakes us to the core. Verse 66 says, "from this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him." Then we expect to find a verse that says, "but he went after them and begged them and pleaded with them to continue to follow," but there is no such verse in fact he follows it up by saying to those that remained, "are you going to leave too?"
He taught a message so hard that the nominal casual followers left because it was "too hard." And remember from verses 22-25 that they pursued him earnestly. So, I would conclude that they were more devoted than most people that I run into that take up a seat at a church building on Sundays. Yet on account of how hard it was they turned away. Following Jesus is not easy. It is as easy as believing on him but if you want to get closer to the King you have to enter through the courts humbly and with reverence. And those two virtues are not gained easily.
So here is what Jesus is saying to us this morning... "you are looking for me [for reasons that will not last]." Because you are hoping to receive the benefits. What are your motives today. The people sought Jesus out because he provided for them. I mean he fed 5000 of them with 5 loaves and 2 fish!? It was awesome!? But Jesus concludes that they were coming for the benefits and that doesn't sit well with him. So, he does what I would conclude any angry rabbi would do. He drives them off intellectually... Here is the issue: those people were more concerned with the benefits.
Here is a thought provoking quote from Dr. John Piper from his book titled God is the Gospel: "The critical question for our generation-and for every generation-is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ were not there? And the question for Christian leaders is: Do we preach and teach and lead in such a way that people are prepared to hear that question and answer with a resounding No?"
Are you more in love with the gifts or giver. Do you love the things that God is blessing you with more than you love God? Do you come to Jesus for the benefits or for Him, the benefit? Is Jesus your treasure? Would you be willing to give up anything for him? Let alone would you be willing to give everything?! Would you trade your health to know him more intimately? Would you take a pay cut? What about close relationships with friends, would you be willing to give them up? What about giving up your favorite hobby if you knew it would get you more of Him? How many reservations do you have? How many excuses are flooding your brain right now? Racing in to justify worldly tendencies. O' that we would be a people that consider our lives rubbish compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Jesus!
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