“Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.” John 6:27
Why had they come?
These were those who came not because of the miracles they saw. (vs 2,26)
They had gotten in a boat and crossed the sea to find Jesus. They were passionate in their search, but there was something amiss about their motives.
These came because they had been filled. Perhaps they had never eaten so well as they had the day before when Jesus took one boy's lunch and fed over 5,000 men, women and children. Maybe, it had been a long time since they had eaten until their bellies were full.
Some say that the feeding of the 5,000 may have been the best meal they had ever eaten, reminding us that when Jesus turned the water to wine the ruler of the feast declared, “Thou hast kept the good wine until now!”
The least that God has to offer us is by far better than the best of anything the world offers.
Some desire a Christian life simply for the benefits and blessings that come with living for Christ. For it is true that, “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God:” Psalm 146:5
True believers come for Christ Himself.
Those who come to fill their bellies are enemies of the cross of Christ.
“(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)”
Philippians 3:18-19
Simply put, it was not their desire that Jesus go to the cross. And certainly, they are not willing to take up THEIR cross to follow Him. They want a king to do their bidding. We find that Jesus will not be our puppet monarch (John 6:15) so our bellies can be filled (v 26).
May I point out that even those closest to Jesus will struggle with the will of the flesh over the will of God. For instance, the disciples were willing to fish all night to fill their bellies (John 21), but struggled with praying all night to watch for their souls (Matthew 26:40).
Hmmmmm, this has a familiar air about it reminding me of someone I know well. Myself, of course!! 😒
May I point out this is an age old problem for believers. In the book of Haggai when the children of Israel built their houses, they left the house of God unfinished. “Consider your ways,” was the strong admonish the Lord sent the prophet to preach. We all need to consider our ways to come to a realization that the labor for the temporal is never going to satisfy the spiritual hunger of an eternal soul. (Haggai 1:6,11)
Have you come to Jesus to have your belly filled? Have you come for meat that will satisfy you for a day?
If so, you lack faith as those who sought for Jesus did. (v. 29) Without faith we are left with just a belly full of loss.
Or have you come because Jesus is the very bread of life to you?
“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” John 6:35
Faith in Christ and in the reason He was sent by the Father, this is why we come.
Loser Bible Study Series Theme Verse:
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.” Mark 8:35
“Lose” from the Greek word “Apollymi” means “to destroy fully.” It is translated perish in John 6:27, our verse for today.