David Bahn – Reflections

John 6:22-27

²²On 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. ²³Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. ²⁴ 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.

 ²⁵When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” ²⁶Jesus 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. ²⁷ Do not labor 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.”

The crowd  asked Jesus the wrong question on this occasion. It wasn’t a matter of political correctness or propriety that made their question wrong. It was their total lack of understanding and their inability to comprehend the mysteries of Jesus’ ministry, identity, and purpose. They were worried about how Jesus got to the other side of the lake. “When did you get here?”, in this case is really a hunt for and answer to “How did you get here?”.

Jesus isn’t concerned about them knowing either. He wants them to examine their motives, and to embrace his purpose for coming into the world in the first place. He tells them that they must seek the bread of eternal life – not just daily bread. If they were to seek that they would perhaps ask, “Why did you come here?” They would have wanted to learn straight-up what Jesus was all about, and not just how he got from one place to another.

Jesus, however, knows all about man’s motives and shows their questions for what they were: a ploy to be taken care of , and a short-sighted desire to enjoy another show of Jesus’ power. Jesus knew that they didn’t want him to be king of their hearts. But that’s exactly what Jesus wants to be. He wants to guide and shape our desires. He wants to lift our eyes beyond the day-to-day grind of eking out a mere existence, and just getting to the end of the work week.

Jesus came to give us life – eternal, abundant, meaningful life. So when we treat him as though he is some sort of side show attraction (“Look here what Jesus can do!”) we have missed his greater gifts. We may wish to know how Jesus answers our prayers, intervenes in troubling situations, or provides for our needs. But He would call us to seek the greater knowledge of his goodness, gifts and purpose.