Year Two, May 10

Sir, Give Us This Bread Always1

Those who followed Jesus for the wrong reason soon found that he did not care for their company, and left them, without them realizing it. If we attend places of worship with worldly motives, we will one day find out as these people did, that, “Jesus was not there.”
  

John 6:22-34

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.

John is particular in noticing that our Lord gave thanks. Spiritual minds notice and remember most the spiritual parts of any action. The Jews notice the bread and the fish, but the beloved disciple was most pleased with the giving of thanks. Oh to have such a spiritual eye!

24So 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?” (They had a lot of zeal and showed outward respect, but it was blind and selfish. Therefore, the Lord paid little attention to it.) 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.”

With one infallible glance he read their hearts. They imagined that they were fond of him and his kingdom, but he knew their hearts were ruled by far more earthly things. He told them this plainly to their faces and instructed them to reach beyond the mere concerns of this life.

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.” 28Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” (The most godlike work, the greatest, and most acceptable, is that we believe in Jesus. Faith is, after all, the highest of works and no one has it except those in whom God himself has placed it.) 30So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” (They wanted feeding again, and thought that by such talk they would persuade the Lord to make them another banquet. They spoke of bread from heaven, but they did not really care where it came from, as long as they could fill their stomachs with it. It is a wonder that Jesus had patience to listen to their greedy and devious insinuations.)

32Jesus 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. 33For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” (Some asked in honest ignorance, expecting Jesus to supply them with food everyday for nothing. But others only said this to insult him and make fun of him. If the Lord would give them bread the rest of their lives, then they would believe he was the Messiah, but not unless he did. But without meaning to, these unbelievers have provided us with a prayer we can use every hour. It is full of meaning and exactly expresses our need and our desire. Let us carry it with us all this day as our heart’s wish and prayer: “Lord, give us this bread always.”)

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¹ John 6:34