Short Term Gains
We all know the story, but with John it is a little different.
When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, got into a boat, and started across the lake to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The lake became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the lake and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, ‘It is I; do not be afraid.’ Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land towards which they were going. The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the lake saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the lake, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’ Jesus answered 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 6:16-27
In John's version of the story of Jesus walking on the water, Peter and the other apostles don't say much. They just become scared.
John wants us to see that we ignore the signs that Jesus is divine and instead we focus on our own needs and wants. The people are looking for Jesus because he fed them. What they want will only satisfy them for a short while, rather than for eternity.
How much of our time do we spend seeking short term benefits? I'm sure the crowd had no idea what Jesus was talking about. He talks about different food, but what they know is that he gave them bread and fish to eat.
We only know what we experience in this world. We can imagine what else exists, but unless we experience it first hand, it is merely left to faith.
So, it is the short term we focus on. And that is what Jesus is trying to get us to change.
He wants us to see the kingdom as something greater than this, something truly amazing.
John's Gospel is all about who Jesus is. He is the Messiah, the son of God, one with God from the beginning. We should approach him as we would approach the Father, and that is what all the signs point to.
Do we see him that way, or do we look to him to give us what we feel we need?
We could do both. He even invited us to ask for anything and he would provide it, but we must believe in him first.
Do we?
More to come...