John 6:27

Jesus continues, “Don’t focus your efforts on food that spoils and expires; your work is best served in pursuing that which has everlasting staying power.  This is the food the Son of Man will give you.  He does so because God the Father has given him his seal of approval.”  John 6:27 EFP

As with Nicodemus, Jesus cuts to the chase.  He makes clear that “humanity does not live on food alone; life comes from every word spoken by God.” (Matthew 4:4)  Spiritual nourishment is superior to physical nourishment.  This must have been hard to hear, considering many of these people lived a subsistence-laden life.  They would have thought, “No, I don’t think so!  I need to eat to live.  Spiritual food is optional.  Give me food that will fill my belly!”

Jesus is drawing his line in the sand.  Echoing his words to the Samaritan woman in chapter 4, he reminds them that eating physical food will only satisfy temporarily.  It spoils and rots. The satisfaction it offers is temporary at best.  The bread he wants to give them—the one His Father has authorized him to share, is everlasting bread.  Given a choice, most people would choose physical food.  If I was starving, would I go without physical food in favor of spiritual food?  Would you?  This is the scene Jesus is painting.  Spiritual first—physical second.  This does not make sense from a merely human perspective.  Perhaps I’m missing something.  I sense the people gathered that day listening to Jesus are not yet connecting the dots.  I am not sure I would have fared any better at this point if I was living in their shoes.  Stay tuned!