“Do
Not Work For Food That Spoils”
The
next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized
that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his
disciples, but that they had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten
the bread after the Lord had given thanks. Once the crowd realized that neither
Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to
Capernaum in search of Jesus.
When
they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did
you get here?”
Jesus
answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw
the signs I performed 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. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of
approval.”
Then
they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
Jesus
answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
So
they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe
you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is
written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
Jesus
said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the
bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from
heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives
life to the world.”
“Sir,”
they said, “always give us this bread.”
John 6:22-34
We
are told we should not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food which
gives us everlasting life.
Jesus
is that food. He is the one who assures us, and provides eternal life.
An
earthbound view will cause us to treat Jesus as a means to an end. He is, in
fact, our Bread of Life.
Seek first the kingdom of God; and all these things
will be added to you.
Our
Daily Bread – August 17, 2015