HOST: Michael Whitworth
SPONSOR: Logos Bible Software
On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Other 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 Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking 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 to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
Here, Jesus speaks to one of the great challenges He faced in trying to reach the people of His day. Like many people today, they were more interested in the physical things than the spiritual. They followed Him because He fed them or because He healed them. They wanted the physical benefits of being a follower of Jesus. He quickly chastises them for that attitude and instructs them to seek (or desire) the spiritual food that leads to eternal life. Many in our world are no different. They are interested in what physical benefits might be available as a follower of Christ. Will He heal me or my loved one? Will He take my debt away or bless me financially? Will he protect me from the hardships and difficulties of life? But Jesus’ message is still true and relevant today. There is no doubt that God blesses us with many physical things, but it’s the spiritual blessings, not the physical, that are the most important. It is those spiritual things that we ought to seek as our priority, because it is those things that can and will affect our eternity.
How can we seek spiritual things?
Don’t forget to pray and have a great day!
