John 6:22-27

John 6:22-27 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

Sometimes in life, God simply takes the scales from our eyes, and we see clearly for a few moments. We have an aha moment and realize that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples. Today perhaps some of us need to pause in the midst of our busyness and ask ourselves a few questions about our lives, our purpose for getting up each day. How many of us are working for food that spoils? How many of us serve the Lord mainly for the loaves and fishes? Jesus said, Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. (Matthew 19:29) And again: Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10:39)

How many of us would serve God if Jesus told what He told the disciples. Jesus did not water down the gospel. Two of the gospel writers record his call in nearly identical words: If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23 & Mark 8:34) How many people would proclaim God is good after we had been stoned and left for dead or stripped naked and beaten with 39 deadly lashes? How many would be singing songs of worship in prison with our lives in jeopardy day and night as were the lives of the disciples and the life of Paul after God called him to bring the good news to the Gentile word? Paul's powerful charge to the Roman believers who were straying from the truth included this reminder: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39)

Many in the modern American church would not endure such circumstances. We whine and complain under the slightest difficulties: ongoing illnesses; financial difficulties; the loss of a job, mistreatment, disrespect or unkindness from others; failure to receive a promotion we deserve or the car we wanted; and our list of "needs" goes on and on. Yet none of us has faced a den of lions or been boiled in oil or had our fingernails pulled out or our tongues ripped from our mouths or watched our loved ones beheaded or hung on a cruel cross for the sake of the gospel. We have lost sight of the price Christ paid for us and that a servant is not greater than his or her master. We have lost sight of looking upward instead of inward. We have forgotten what the cross is all about. We seek the next happiness fix, the next feel good idea, some fresh belief of philosophy or a passionate TV guru that says we can have it all, the kingdom now, the best of everything now, and you just can't find that anywhere in the New Testament. Jesus says, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Follow me and I will lift you out of a bottomless pit and set your feet upon a rock, establish your going, and give you a new song. Follow me and I will give you joy unspeakable and full of glory. Follow me and never die. Follow me and be mine forever in my Father's house. I have prepared a place FOR YOU! Eat the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you."