“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. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” John 6:26-27

Just the previous day, he fed five thousand men with five loaves of bread and two fish. For the majority of his followers, this was it—finally, a miracle worker who would solve their perennial food shortage issues. There was no longer the need to till the land. Who cares whether the rains come in or not now that the food-producing king had arrived?

This characterisation may sound condescending and simplistic, but it is not far–fetched when you consider the actions of some Christians today. I have been to churches where the average person was there not because Jesus is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”, but because of what they have heard he can do for them materially.

On April 6 2023, I came across a social media post attributed to the ministry of a prominent preacher with a large following. I want to believe this is not his real account and even if it’s not, it clearly tells what his followers believe. In the said post, 17 items had been listed from which followers could select one and they would have it by April 30 (don’t ask me, because I have no idea what was so auspicious about that date). The listed items ranged from cars to babies to visas. The most astonishing item on the list was number 11, Salvation. According to the post, salvation is one item among many that followers could simply pick from the shelf. No mention of repentance from sin, turning to Jesus, or God’s sovereign act in saving the lost. They could either choose a car, a visa or salvation. Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. Such is the state of Christianity in Ghana and many parts of the world today.

It is against this backdrop that Jesus makes his statement in John 6:26-27, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking 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 to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you.” Jesus knew why the throng was following him. It wasn’t because of his teaching or his impending death and resurrection and what that means for their eternal state; rather, it was because they ate their fill of loaves the previous day and had come for more. However, in verse 27, Jesus exhorted them to have a different mindset; he elevated their eyes and minds to that which is truly eternal. He offered them himself, the true bread that came from heaven.

I’m not sure why you are following Jesus, but his reproof in this verse is important for you too. One of our greatest deficiencies as humans is our inability to accurately diagnose our true needs. Perhaps this is why most of our problems remain: because we have not been able to accurately identify what will truly bring us joy and peace. Our felt needs are often not our truest needs. Jesus says, “do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life.” Your greatest need is not a visa or a car or a baby or even good health. Your truest need is peace with God through Jesus Christ.

If you don’t have that yet, then earnestly call out to God to have mercy on you and restore you to a right fellowship with him through his Son, Jesus Christ. If you have already accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, then you have everything you need. Don’t let anyone distract you with cheap and fleeting substitutes. Your worth is not in what you own, not in skill or fame but in the fact that your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Remember, he will never deny us what he knows to be good for us, and he will never give us what he knows will be harmful to us. That is the confidence we have in our Heavenly Father as Christians.

Most of those who followed Jesus back then thought their problem was bread, but Jesus would have them focus on their true need, eternal life. This understanding is what led Paul to say, “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him” (Philippians 3:7-9).

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