When the crowds found Him they wanted to know when he had arrived, presumably unaware of His mode of transport.
Jesus responds with a declaration. They are searching for Him not because they saw miracles, but because they got free food. Even though the people had seen miracles, they were still focused on their daily needs. Ie they looked at the result, bread, but did not wonder how it had all happened, or who this person must be who could perform this miracle. Jesus tells them they need to be focused on eternal life, not on daily needs.
Being focused on eternal life does not mean just being focused on what happens after we die. Eternal life starts now. It is a whole different way of life. Jesus is the one who gives us eternal life, and He is the one with the seal of approval of God. This last statement was possibly drawing a distinction between Himself and the Jewish leaders. The Pharisees and Saducees may have claimed to be the arbiters of God's will, but they were mistaken.
The people asked what work they must do in order to receive eternal life, to which Jesus replies they need to believe in the One whom God has sent, ie in Jesus. The people respond by demanding a sign. Now it seems strange to be demanding this, having just seen the miraculous feeding. However, they were comparing this with the manna from heaven that God had provided through Moses (Exodus 16:4). They expected the redeemer to be like Moses, or greater than Moses. So they wanted to see something greater than manna from heaven.
Now the people were right to expect someone greater than Moses, and to expect greater food than manna from heaven, but they did not realise how this would be provided, as we will see in the next section.
Jesus often wants to give us something greater than what we are looking for.
Jesus responds with a declaration. They are searching for Him not because they saw miracles, but because they got free food. Even though the people had seen miracles, they were still focused on their daily needs. Ie they looked at the result, bread, but did not wonder how it had all happened, or who this person must be who could perform this miracle. Jesus tells them they need to be focused on eternal life, not on daily needs.
Being focused on eternal life does not mean just being focused on what happens after we die. Eternal life starts now. It is a whole different way of life. Jesus is the one who gives us eternal life, and He is the one with the seal of approval of God. This last statement was possibly drawing a distinction between Himself and the Jewish leaders. The Pharisees and Saducees may have claimed to be the arbiters of God's will, but they were mistaken.
The people asked what work they must do in order to receive eternal life, to which Jesus replies they need to believe in the One whom God has sent, ie in Jesus. The people respond by demanding a sign. Now it seems strange to be demanding this, having just seen the miraculous feeding. However, they were comparing this with the manna from heaven that God had provided through Moses (Exodus 16:4). They expected the redeemer to be like Moses, or greater than Moses. So they wanted to see something greater than manna from heaven.
Now the people were right to expect someone greater than Moses, and to expect greater food than manna from heaven, but they did not realise how this would be provided, as we will see in the next section.
Jesus often wants to give us something greater than what we are looking for.
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