Thoughts on the Gospel of John (72) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2023

Jesus answered them and said, Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek me not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal on him. Then they said to him, What shall we do, that we may work the works of God? Jesus answered and said to them, This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he sent.
John 6: 26 – 29.

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (72)
Jesus had fed 5,000 men then mysteriously disappeared. The multitude sought Him, first on the eastern side of the Lake of Tiberias, then on the western side, where they found Him. They still enthused over the wondrous miracle of the feeding. But the Lord, seeing into the hearts of those who were thirsty for sensation, pointed out what was truly necessary for their life.

Haven’t we a fixation for what is visible? We mostly concern ourselves with transient things and risk overlooking the matter of life after death. Christ had come with the purpose of satisfying our souls’ hunger with what we lacked spiritually. He is Himself, as the Son of man, the answer to all our questions regarding eternity. God the Father sealed His Son with the Holy Spirit. He has thus been confirmed for all mankind by God as the One, who as a Man had His full agreement and His unlimited approval.

Hearing the Lord’s words, some of the listeners were prepared to “labour for the food which endures to everlasting life”. “What shall we do?” they asked. They would undertake any necessary activities, but Jesus explained that it was a question of faith, i.e. faith in the Son of God.

(to be continued on Sunday 2nd January 2022)

Today‘s reading: Ezekiel 40: 1 – 27 · Psalms 140: 1 – 14