John 6:24–35

²⁴When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. ²⁵When they found him on the other side of the sea, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” ²⁶Jesus answered them, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: You are not looking for me because you saw the miraculous signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled. ²⁷Do not continue to work for the food that spoils, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” ²⁸So they said to him, “What should we do to carry out the works of God?” ²⁹Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God: that you believe in the one he sent.” ³⁰Then they asked him, “So what miraculous sign are you going to do, that we may see it and believe you? What miraculous sign are you going to perform? ³¹Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” ³²Jesus said to them, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the real bread from heaven. ³³For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” ³⁴“Sir,” they said to him, “give us this bread all the time!” ³⁵“I am the Bread of Life,” Jesus told them. “The one who comes to me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty. (EHV)

There’s a lot of talk about inflation lately—especially about grocery prices. Coupon clipping is back in style. Some have switched to store brands as a way to cut costs. Meanwhile credit card debt is rising. This week it hit a new record high of $1.14 trillion for Americans, surpassing the previous high set in 2011. At this point, I hope few people are starving in our country. Obesity is still a bigger problem for many. Whether we have little or plenty, still we human beings tend to always want more—if not food, the latest earthly things. So Jesus says something in our Gospel today that all of us need to hear. ²⁷Do not continue to work for the food that spoils, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.

Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” and promised to provide for all our true earthly needs. But as for our far more important spiritual needs, Jesus offers us Himself. ³⁵“I am the Bread of Life,” He says. “The one who comes to me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty.” Jesus Himself is more than we could ever want or need.

The Pursuit of the Earthly

Most in the crowd that Jesus was talking to in our text had been there in person the day before when Jesus provided the all-you-can-eat fish dinner for more than 5000. We heard Mark’s description of it a couple weeks ago in our Gospel Lesson—but it was only the day before. Remember how Jesus had taken five small barley loaves and two small fish and miraculously multiplied them into a huge feast? They saw it happen before their very eyes! They ate the food themselves. They saw the disciples gather 12 basketfulls of leftovers. They were ready to crown Jesus “Burger King” that day—or at least “Fish and Bread King.” They couldn’t think of anything more wonderful than having plenty of food for their bellies every day going forward. John adds this detail: “When Jesus realized that they intended to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself” (John 6:15). It’s at this point then that last week’s Gospel fits in. The disciples got into a boat and headed across the Sea of Galilee at Jesus’ urging. Jesus Himself went off alone to pray. He talked to His Father in prayer well into the night. Finally, after 3 am, He got up, went down to the shore—and just kept walking! He walked toward where the disciples were battling against a headwind. He caught up to them, when suddenly they noticed Him walking out on the water and freaked out. Remember how they jumped to the goofy conclusion that Jesus was a creepy ghost? Jesus called to them, “Don’t be afraid! It is I!” Then He came to them and climbed into the boat. The sea calmed down, and immediately, miraculously, the boat arrived at the other side, at Capernaum (John 6:20–21).

Then, early that morning, the people back on the west side of the sea, realized their meal ticket was gone. They frantically set out to find Him and get to Him. Other boats from Tiberias came to shore near the place where they ate the bread after the Lord gave thanks. When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus (John 6:23–24). You can picture them animatedly begging for a lift, “Let us into your boats. We’ve got to get across!” They were intensely focused and determined. What about? About learning more from Jesus? About hearing the Gospel? No. They were still obsessed about the free food! They wanted a lifetime supply! ²⁵When they found him on the other side of the sea, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” ²⁶Jesus answered them, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: You are not looking for me because you saw the miraculous signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Never again, the farmers thought, would they ever have to work out in the fields under the hot sun. Never again, the fishermen thought, would they ever have to spend hours in boats trying to catch those fickle fish that some days eluded their nets. Never again, the shepherds among them thought, would they have to spend cold nights outside in the meadows with their flocks. Never again, the women thought, would they have to bend over a hot hearth and bake their own bread. How easy life would be from now on! This Rabbi could just do His thing, and they’d have all the food they needed or wanted!

They thought Jesus would be happy to see His new fans crowd around Him again. Instead, they got a splash of cold water on their heated passions. You are not looking for me because you saw the miraculous signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Jesus doesn’t want a “fan base.” He doesn’t brag about how many Facebook or Twitter followers He has. He has no interest in being a “social influencer” on Instagram or TikTok. Nor did He want huge crowds following Him hoping He’d turn an ox cart into a Food Truck. No. He wants disciples. ²⁷Do not continue to work for the food that spoils, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. Did you catch that wording? Listen again: You are not looking for me because you saw the miraculous signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled. He wasn’t upset that they focused on the miracle—but that they didn’t see it as a sign! It was a sign that said, “This is the Messiah, the Savior!”

Jesus intended those words for us too. What is it that gets us excited? What are the things that we are really passionate about? Is it politics? Is it sports? Is it the fact that God has given you a comfortable life here on earth? Is food for the body more important to you than the Bread of Life? Or is it rather what the miraculous signs Jesus did point to—that He is your Savior from sin! That He came to this earth to take you to heaven. In the end, all that counts is what lasts forever: that we believe in Him—repent of our sins, ask Him for forgiveness and focus on the life to come, that we seek out His Word and Sacrament to keep our faith alive and get us there. Work for the food that … endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.   

That’s as hard for us as it was for the crowd. Not one of us, no matter how much we might desire in our hearts to place Jesus and His Word first in our lives, does so. We all fail to keep the first and the second and the third commandments the way we should. God says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your mind and with all your strength.” And in response we boldly vow with Joshua, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!” But then, just like the children of Israel, who said those bold words with Joshua, we forget it all the next day. “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  

The Pursuit of Heavenly Food

Jesus’ timely rebuke and admonition succeeded, at least for the moment, in getting the crowd to lift their focus a little more towards heaven. They replied, “What should we do to carry out the works of God?” Only, now that they finally took a moment to think about heavenly things, and life with God, they unsurprisingly thought of it as something they had to arrange for themselves, by deeds. That’s the way every unbeliever thinks, of course. Natural man assumes that if there’s a God and a heaven, it’s our works that will get us there. It’s our “natural religion” as human beings. It’s so “normal,” that even we believers are tempted to fall back into that works-oriented religion. But that natural religion of man is false religion. So pay extra close attention to how Jesus answered their question, “What should we do?” He answered, “This is the work of God: that you believe in the one he sent.” The only work of God is not our work at all! Or put another way, faith is not work that we do for God, but literally the “work of God,” that is, the work done by God, the work that only God can do. God works faith in our hearts through His Word and Sacrament and then we believe. The work of God is faith—faith in the One God sent, worked in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.  

There are “works of God” that earn eternal life, but Jesus is the One who completed them. He alone could—and did—keep every one of God’s laws, not just outwardly, but with perfect motives and intent from His holy heart. That’s what God requires, and Jesus met those requirements for you and for me. He did all the “works of God.” And He also met the demands of God’s holy justice. He has paid the fines and the penalties in full for every “work of the devil” that we have done, whether small or great. Your sinful works and mine were nailed to the cross at Calvary and haven’t been seen or heard from since. Because Jesus did the “work of God” and destroyed those sins forever, He “gives life to the world.”

“I am the Bread of Life.” ³³For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” ³⁴“Sir,” they said to him, “give us this bread all the time!”

³⁵“I am the Bread of Life,” Jesus told them. “The one who comes to me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty.

Do you want food that gives eternal life? You can’t get it at any store or restaurant on earth. But you can get it right here. That’s why Christ established His Church. Right here is where Jesus gives us Himself, the Bread of Life. He offers Himself to you and to me and to anyone and to everyone who will come and listen and believe. It was in church that Jesus, came into your heart through the miracle of Holy Baptism. It is here that Jesus feeds you with the Gospel of forgiveness. It is here that Jesus serves you the “bread from heaven” every time He offers you His true body and blood for the forgiveness of sins.

If your stomach is growling, you eat.  Listen to your spirit growling! That longing deep inside is telling you that you need the Bread of Life! Listen for it! You can’t ever get too much Jesus! Your soul desperately needs Him! He offers you the spiritual food that will keep your soul alive forever and ever on your way to heaven. And it’s totally free for the taking, just like Manna in the wilderness! “I am the Bread of Life…. The one who comes to me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty.” Keep coming to Jesus for more!

May your souls be full today and forever! Amen.