Sign Seeking

In John 6, we have the tremendous account of Jesus feeding 5,000 men, plus women and children with 5 loaves and 2 fishes. Also, Jesus miraculously walks across the water the night after feeding the multitude. Upon not finding Jesus the next day, the multitude crosses the lake and tries to find Jesus again. They had just become convinced he was a powerful person because of the miracle of the feeding.

Then Jesus starts getting frank with them about his role as Savior. I'll paste the entire passage below, but there's a few critical points:

1) The Jews that had just seen a great miracle, enough for thousands to seek after him, ask for a sign like Moses gave.

2) Jesus responds by saying that he, himself, is the sign. He is the son of God that gives everlasting life, something much more important the the manna God gave in Moses' time.

3) The Jews are upset that he calls himself the bread of life. They either wanted something more tangible (real bread), or don't believe that they need to follow a significantly different path than they've been following; particularly not to follow someone great but who is standing before them.

It's very sad how blinded they were. Did they really need another sign? It's important for us to not be so blind ourselves...

28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye ^abelieve on him whom he hath sent.

30 They said therefore unto him, What ^asign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them ^abread from heaven to eat.

32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the ^abread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never ^bthirst.

36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

37 All that the Father ^agiveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise ^bcast out.

38 For I ^acame down from heaven, not to do mine own ^bwill, but the ^cwill of him that sent me.

39 And this is the ^aFather’s ^bwill which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose ^cnothing, but should ^draise it up again at the last day.

40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and ^abelieveth on him, may have ^beverlasting life: and I will raise him up ^cat the last day.

41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.

Feeding the multitude - Care

In Luke 9 we learn about Jesus feeding thousands of people who had followed him out into the desert to learn from him. It's a remarkable event as the disciples only had 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes, but at the end of feeding everyone there were baskets full of food.

I think it's important to remember how this miracle was performed. It had very little to do with food. It had everything to do with caring for the people.

Here's a verse just before the feeding occurs:

11 And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.

Note that he healed those with a need. Then he feeds those with a need for food.

12 And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.

When considering the reasons for Jesus performing this miracle, a few stand out.

1) The multitude had a need - they were hungry.

2) The multitude could have eaten somewhere else, but as they had come to Jesus to learn of and be with him, he blessed them with increased faith and with a full stomach; this is important, perhaps Jesus gives us help/miracles as we try to come to him just to make other parts of life easier

3) Jesus cared for them; he cared about all of their needs, not just spiritual

I appreciate the lessons this story gives us. Surely it teaches Jesus had power over elements and could multiply food. Perhaps more importantly though, it shows how much he cared for the people and how willing he was to take care of those that sought after him.