The Bread King

Toddlers who receive gifts are often more interested in the wrapping paper and packaging than in what those things contain. We can do the same with God’s gifts. We become focused on the things we want from God and we lose sight of God Himself.

This was the problem with the crowd that followed Jesus across the lake after the miraculous feeding. They had tried to take Jesus and make Him their king, but Jesus did not trust their motives. “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill” (v. 26).

Jesus went on to remind them: “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval” (v. 27). When the crowd asked what kind of “work” God required, Jesus told them it was to “believe in the one he has sent” (v. 29).

The crowd saw Jesus only as a great prophet or perhaps as a miracle-working rabbi (v. 25). More critically, they failed to understand their own need. The superficial nature of their devotion to Jesus was soon evident in their surly demand that Jesus give them more bread.

Food is essential to life, but there is more to life than food. Instead of food for physical life, Jesus offered eternal life (v. 40). The crowd understood that Jesus was claiming to be more than a rabbi or a prophet. His words could only mean that He had a status that was even higher than that of Moses (vv. 41–42). Jesus offered to do things only God could do.

Pray with Us

Please include in your prayers the rest of the Donor Resource Management team: Patricia Fletcher, Ruth Velaer-Wheeler, Samuel Slennett, Sharon Cluff, and Zachary DeWitt. May they walk their Christian walk with joy and gratitude.

BY Dr. John Koessler

John Koessler is Professor Emeritus of Applied Theology and Church Ministries at Moody Bible Institute. John authors the “Practical Theology” column for Today in the Word of which he is also a contributing writer and theological editor. An award-winning author, John’s newest title is When God is Silent: Let the Bible Teach You to Pray (Kirkdale). Prior to joining the Moody faculty, he served as a pastor of Valley Chapel in Green Valley, Illinois, for nine years. He and his wife, Jane, now enjoy living in a lakeside town in Michigan.