6:25,26
The crowds succeeded in finding Jesus, referring to Him as “Rabbi”, and they asked how He had got there. As noted in 6:22 they had worked out He could not have got there by boat. Jesus replies with a “truly, truly”. He does not answer their question, but goes to the heart of the matter. The people did not need to know how Jesus had got there. It was really neither here nor there. What did matter was the whole focus of their lives. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus teaches on not worrying about what we will eat or wear, but on seeking first the kingdom of God (Matt 6:19-34). The people “did not see signs”. What does this mean, for they had indeed experienced the great miracle? Their focus was purely on having free food. If Jesus had turned up with a Tesco delivery van dishing out free pizzas they would have been happy. So they had seen the miracle, but they had learnt nothing from it, nor did they have a desire to learn from it. They were concerned only about their daily needs, their stomachs. We all need to watch ourselves, for we so easily become all consumed by the immediate needs of life.
6:27
Having pointed out their current state, Jesus then starts to tell them why it is wrong and how they need to change. The “food” they are currently focused on will perish. We can all focus on things that are not eternal. Earthly wealth will one day be of no use to us at all. It can vanish in an instant, and when we die it is of no value to us. Career success, or success in any other realm is equally temporal. Now it is not that these things are wrong in themselves, or are of no value. The problem arises when we give them the wrong place, making them the centre of our lives. So Jesus tells the people to focus on the “food that endures for eternal life”. And how do we get this eternal life? It is the Son of Man who gives it to us. And why can He give it to us? Because the Father has set His seal on the Son. God has chosen Christ, so we are in no position to choose anyone else!
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