Crowds loved to follow Jesus. And yet Jesus kept leaving them. Even though he has compassion for the crowds, he has hard words for them. After he fed the five thousand earlier in John 6, we see the crowds continuing to try and follow Jesus to experience more signs, wonders and miracles from him.
In this week’s text the crowds ask Jesus, “Why do you keep leaving?” and He responds, “You are not seeking me, you just want more bread.”
Jesus is more concerned with full hearts than full bellies. We are a hungry people, but what we are hungry for reveals if we want Jesus or simply what he can provide for us.
What are you hungry for?
Grow Together
Read this from the Bible together:
John 6:30-40
30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
Some key statements and questions put forward that are important for us to talk about…
So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? We are often caught up in seeing signs other than seeing what the signs are pointing to. Are there areas of your life where you think Jesus is underperforming? How often do you try to step in and perform because you believe Jesus isn’t doing enough?
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. Pastor Nick encouraged us to feast on Jesus. Do you believe that being with Jesus is the only way to satisfy your hunger? If not, why?
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life… Eternal life begins in the present. If you knew that forever isn’t in the future it was in this very moment—would that change how you see and believe Jesus?
Next Steps
When Jesus spoke of the manna from heaven, he made a very clear reference to him being the bread of life. The Israelites called manna, “What is it?” and the crowds asked, “Who is this?” We often question God’s way of providing for us. Do you believe Jesus is all you need?
John 6:38 says “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.” Our flesh doesn’t like it when we are told that something outside of ourselves is the only thing that matters. Do you tend to lean towards self-will or self-forgetfulness?
”…you made us for yourself and our hearts find no peace until they rest in you.” - St. Augustine Do you struggle to feel at peace? Do you struggle to rest? Do you struggle to look to Jesus for both of those things and believe he is the source of them?
