Recently I have been on a search.  There was a product I’d used that I loved, and run out of.  Except now I can’t find it in any of the stores I’ve bought it in before.  I have been round them all in turn over recent weeks, and I cannot track it down – yet it is something I really want.

How we search for something we want and need.

John 6:24-35

²⁴ They saw that Jesus and his disciples had left. Then they got into the boats and went to Capernaum to look for Jesus. ²⁵ They found him on the west side of the lake and asked, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

²⁶ Jesus answered, “I tell you for certain that you are not looking for me because you saw the miracles, but because you ate all the food you wanted. ²⁷ Don’t work for food that spoils. Work for food that gives eternal life. The Son of Man will give you this food, because God the Father has given him the right to do so.”

²⁸ “What exactly does God want us to do?” the people asked.

²⁹ Jesus answered, “God wants you to have faith in the one he sent.”

³⁰ They replied, “What miracle will you work, so that we can have faith in you? What will you do? ³¹ For example, when our ancestors were in the desert, they were given manna to eat. It happened just as the Scriptures say, ‘God gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

³² Jesus then told them, “I tell you for certain that Moses wasn’t the one who gave you bread from heaven. My Father is the one who gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³ And the bread that God gives is the one who came down from heaven to give life to the world.”

³⁴ The people said, “Lord, give us this bread and don’t ever stop!”

³⁵ Jesus replied:

I am the bread that gives life! No one who comes to me will ever be hungry. No one who has faith in me will ever be thirsty.

The people are searching for Jesus again.  It’s like they can’t let him out of their sight in case he disappears.  I guess they seen what he offers, and they like it and want it.

But Jesus questions them on whether they are looking for the right thing or the right reasons.

Are they looking for a miracle worker, someone who does great wonders?  Someone who will make their life easier by providing what they need?

Or are they looking for the different way of life that Jesus offers?  The way of living God’s ways?

Jesus suspects it is the former.  But he tells them, they should not be looking to what he does, but the God who enables him – the one who sends the food to truly fulfil their needs.

Jesus offers, not bread for today, but food for life.  Food not just for the stomach, but for the soul and for eternity.

Today, are you looking for Jesus?

Are you looking for a new way to live and to be?

Are you looking for something to fill your soul and your life?

Because that is what Jesus offers – will you take it from him, let him feed you up and equip you?

Lord,

I thank you for all that you give to me.

Thank you that you feed me,

not with food that will make me hungry again in a few hours,

but with food to fill the depths of my soul,

food that will quench the deep inner longings and yearnings.

Today,

I come

and take and eat