Scripture
14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”
15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.
27 Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life …
28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”
29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
41 So the Jews grumbled about him …
52 The Jews then disputed among themselves …
54 (Jesus said to them), “Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life …”
60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?”
63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him …
Observation
Intense interactions between Jesus and followers in this chapter.
Jesus miraculously feeds them.
So they want to make him king.
Jesus calls them out for exalting him merely because they saw a miracle and got their physical needs met by it.
Jesus tells them they should seek what brings eternal life, not temporary life.
The people want to “do something”, but Jesus tells them not to “do something” but to “believe Someone”, namely Himself.
Many following Jesus did not like this.
So they “grumbled” and “disputed” and, ultimately even “turned away”.
Application
People love the flesh, not the Spirit.
Do I?
The people wanted to know what to do for eternal life.
They hated that they couldn’t “do” anything!
They had to “believe”.
And this is ONLY possible by the Spirit!
What they really wanted was control!
They wanted to control what was circumstantial … for example, their hunger . (“Jesus magic” met their physical needs of food.)
They wanted to control what was eternal … by “doing something”.
Ultimately, they wanted to control God … and for their own means.
The big questions becomes …
Do I want to control God?
I can act in the flesh every day all day.
I can believe I have control over my circumstances and even control over what seems “eternal” … (a “successful retirement”, etc.)
It’s all an illusion.
Control is an illusion.
It is the Spirit that gives me belief.
It is the belief in the Son that gives me eternal life.
I can “grumble” about this.
I can “dispute” this.
Plenty do.
I can even “turn away” from this like so many did then and do today.
But ultimately, the Truth stands.
Will I stand with the Truth?
I will if I rely on the Spirit.
Prayer
Thank you, God, for your word
That it is given to me
Spirit help me trust it
For what’s circumstantial
And what’s eternal
In Jesus name
Amen