Thoughts for the Day

The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the lake saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

When they found him on the other side of the lake, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for 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 for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.’ Then they said to him, ‘What must we do to perform the works of God?’ Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Our scripture reading begins to prepare us for the beginning of the seven "I AM" statements made by our Lord. Found only in John's Gospel they thread themselves in and out of the travels Jesus makes in the three years of his work on earth. We pick up the story from the feeding of the 5,000 where Jesus has dismissed the people and retired to the hills to spend time with God, while the disciples have gone on ahead by boat to Capernaum. The people eventually find Jesus in Capernaum and the inconsistency is noted - there was only one boat, so how did Jesus get there ahead of them? John says he walked on water (John 6.16-21).

In today's passage Jesus teaches those who confront him not to focus just on the physical signs of his teaching, ie on the bread he produced, but to look beyond these to the deeper truth of who he is. They area also to seek spiritual nourishment through faith in God and belief in him as the 'Son of Man' (using the Book of Daniel's term for the Messiah). Jesus wants the people to look beyond earthly rewards to focus on eternal blessings.

This incident has some timeless truths that are relevant to us today. Our world seems consumed by materialistic desires with too many wanting instant gratification, and an attitude of "If I can't have it now, I don't want it!" Jesus’ words challenge us to look again at our priorities and to reject the transient pleasures of the world, to seek a deeper more meaningful relationship with God. He says "Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you."

How do we do this? Have you ever tried one of those puzzles where you have to move parts around to put them in the right order (see picture)? It's the same thing - Jesus calls us to align our lives to match his life!

Lord Jesus Christ,
we are earth-bound beings,
concerned with our physical well-being,
often to the exclusion of all else.
Help us to view our spiritual health
as equally important;
Teach us to align our life to Yours,
loving others as You love them,
and in the process drawing closer to You.
Amen.