John 6:26 Hunger’s crazy appeal

Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.”

John 6:26 NASB

There is so much going on in this response in verse 26 and 27, it’s like a freeze dried meal. Just add water. Jesus didn’t answer the question they asked, but understood the question they intended — “We wanted to make you king, but you slipped away from us. Why did you ruin your opportunity to take the place the Messiah deserves?” But even if this was their real question, Jesus responded by addressing their motive for asking and shot the arrow of his words at the heart of the issue.

If Jesus were seeking a victory on American Idol or Dancing with the Stars, getting the audience to vote for him would be key to winning. The multitude was already convinced and was ready to vote with their action. Although Jesus could not deny the identity they suspected, he wanted something much different than an earthly throne — the pleasure of His Father. That was to finish his work by embedding faith within his 12 followers and then offering his body as a sacrifice for sin — something no one would understand. An earthly kingdom would have a temporary beachhead on earth’s territory overrun by our adversary. God was looking for something much more enduring, something that would benefit me today — not just the little nation of Israel two thousand years ago.

Alfred Edersheim adds some context in Jesus the Messiah:

Let us bear in mind what ideas and expectations of an altogether external character those men connected with the Messiah of their dreams. At last, by some miracle more notable even than the giving of the Manna in the wilderness, enthusiasm has been raised to the highest pitch, and thousands were determined to give up their pilgrimage to the Passover, and then and there proclaim the Galilean Teacher Israel’s king. If he were the Messiah, such was his rightful title. Why then did he so strenuously and effectually resist it? In ignorance of His real views concerning the Kingship, they would naturally conclude that it must have been from fear, from misgiving, from want of belief in Himself. At any rate, He could not be Messiah who would not be Israel’s king. Enthusiasm of this kind, once repressed, could never be kindled again. Henceforth, there was continuous misunderstanding, doubt, and defection among further adherents, growing into opposition and hatred unto death. Even those who took not this position, Jesus, his words and works, were henceforth a constant mystery… Only comparatively few came back to seek Him, where they had eaten bread at his hand… They could not disbelieve, and yet they could not believe; and they sought a “sign” to guide, and an explanation to give them its understanding.

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, Alfred Edersheim

Jesus’ reply suggests that it would have been better had they been looking for him because of the miracles and not just the food. But why? Signs display the intersection of heaven and earth. They point to something. Throughout history, the miraculous is part of the testimony of God to Israel. God told Moses to put Aaron’s budding rod and a jar of manna into the Ark of testimony (the rod was cut and not connected to roots, and all other jars of manna spoiled within a day). He led millions of Jews through the middle of the Red Sea, but closed the water on the Egyptians. As a man, I relate miracles to a beautiful, well-dressed woman who walks into a room — she catches your attention with the subtle fragrance of her perfume as she passes. When God walks into the room, one may smell the subtle fragrance of his presence in the miraculous that occurs. Now His son is walking the earth and is it any wonder at the continual fragrance while he is healing the sick, multiplying food, walking on water, turning water to wine, and casting out demons? Being attracted to His presence because of the signs shows my affinity with my Father and his kingdom. And in the opening of this chapter John writes, “the multitude followed him because they had been viewing the signs which he did upon the sick.” They smelled the divine. And they were curious — is this the Messiah? Then, erasing all doubt, they saw the sign of the multiplication of the fish and loaves, and concluded in verse 14 “this is of a truth the prophet who was to come into the world.” All good so far.

So why did this relatively small group of people pursue him while the majority of the crowd continued their journey to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover? This fringe group persisted, even after he sent them away, because they were hungry and received a free meal. Now they are hungry again. It didn’t have anything to do with observing the sign. Or being convinced of the kingdom of heaven. Or turning from sin. Or most importantly, loving God with all of their heart, soul, mind, and strength. If miracles were a magnet, those who love God are the metal. But in this case Jesus was the meat and these followers were the vultures.

Motive matters.

Looking at this from a slightly different angle, I wonder why these who sought him ignored his wishes? No human ever wants to be ignored, manipulated, coerced, of forced to do something that they didn’t want to. Neither does Jesus. I think of how many times someone has wanted me to do something and I declined, and they completely missed or ignored my wishes. The other person is focused on what they want, so empathizing with me is — peripheral. Jesus in a number of ways had rejected their efforts: He left them. Disappeared. He didn’t want the rise to power that they proposed. He was meek and gentle, yet rebuffed them as they kept pushing. Contrast this behavior with that of his disciples. They inwardly were expecting the very same desire for the immediate coming kingdom similar to these zealots, but they listened to him and let him take the lead. They knew enough about Jesus to know they didn’t know much about the kingdom. And this is the beginning of understanding — recognizing how much I don’t know.

Having a full tummy is good for a moment. Having a full spirit is good for a lifetime.