Seventeenth-century Quaker leader Isaac Pennington said, "The Lord has been teaching me to live upon Himself - not from anything received from Him, but upon the life itself". The people in John 6 wanted to live off Jesus, but not for the same reason. It was not because their hearts were loyal to what they thought He could provide for them - namely, food and deliverance from Roman oppression.
Jesus' provision of the loaves and fish was a confirmation in their minds of what He could do for them. Jesus knew that behind their interest in Him was their hope that He would become a different kind of king, so He withdrew from them (John 6:14-15). The next day they looked for Him and found Him, making their quest successful (vv. 22, 25-26). So they continued to follow Him because of what they thought He could provide.
But Jesus turned the tables and identified Himself as the Bread of Life (vv. 32-33). They wanted a better life from Him, but He told them He came to offer them eternal life (v. 40). Only those who believe in Jesus can find true fulfillment - now and forever. Follow Jesus, not just because He can provide "the loaves", but because He can satisfy your deepest hunger - the quest for eternal fellowship with Him. You can experience complete fulfillment if your life is filled with Christ.
Give us this day our daily bread.
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