The sixth chapter of the Gospel of John is a powerful chapter, filled with signs and wonders from the life and ministry of Jesus. The chapter opens with Jesus and his disciples at the Sea of Galilee. Followed by thousands, Jesus performs one of the most powerful signs during his life on earth. With just a few loaves of bread and a few small fish, Jesus feeds the multitude.
Immediately following the feeding of the five thousand, the disciples went down to the sea and got into a boat to go to the other side. It was just a while later when Jesus approached the disciples in the middle of the sea, walking on the water. The disciples were terrified and could not believe what they were seeing, but Jesus spoke the comforting words of peace to them, “It is I, do not be afraid.” Jesus climbed into the boat and finished the journey with the disciples.
The next day the crowd tracked Jesus down. They came from all directions, by land and by sea. When they reached Jesus, he began to teach them,
“Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs,
but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that
perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of
Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.”
– John 6:26-27
All the signs were pointing to Jesus as the one whom the people had been waiting for. Jesus was able to defy nature by walking on the water and providing food for all. But God did not want the people to seek the result of the signs, such as the bread. God wanted the people to seek him. The signs were to point us in the right direction.
Jesus is the true gift for the world. It is through him that we receive God’s saving grace. Through Jesus, the world receives the strength and nourishment to live life to the full. It is through him that we receive peace in the midst of the storms of life. It is because of Jesus that we have hope for today and the hope of resurrection and eternity.
Jesus is the one whom we should seek. We read about the life of Jesus in the scriptures. We pray to connect with Jesus. We work to grow in our faith, our trust in Jesus, who is the giver of the saving grace that gives us life.
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
