John 6:1-22-33
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Sit comfortably and breathe deeply for a few seconds before you begin. If you haven’t read the Introduction to John’s Gospel, read it here.
Read John 6:22-33 imagining you are part of the crowd searching for Jesus after his miraculous provision of food.
It must be incredibly confusing to the crowd when the person to whom they are flocking simply disappears. By human standards it makes no sense. He is gaining popularity through his miraculous acts, but instead of capitalizing on his fame he withdraws.
And when the searchers finally find Jesus across the lake, he exposes the true source of their attraction to him. They want to be with him because he met their physical need for food. They simply don’t understand that they have a more urgent need. Their souls are starving.
Get still for a moment and think about the tangible things you need right now. Now imagine that all of your physical and material needs have been met. Is there a chance that your soul has a deeper need that is obscured by your obvious needs? Talk to Jesus about this.
Read John 6:22-33 again paying close attention to Jesus’ responses to the crowd.
Life in a world wrecked by rebellion can be difficult and even exhausting, but Jesus knows that simply setting things right on the surface of our lives will never satisfy our greatest need. Jesus is after our hearts and souls. He wants to nourish us and restore us in ways that will lead us to a rich, faith-filled life. A life free from need would not require faith.
How keenly do you feel your desperation for Jesus today?
How can you allow your physical and material needs to remind you of your greater need for Jesus? Talk to him about this for a moment.
The people in the crowd claim to want to “perform God’s works.” It may be that you have a strong desire to take action that will make things better for yourself and others in the world. It’s important to remember that unless we believe that Jesus is God, and unless our souls are being consistently fed by Jesus, our activism will be devoid of any real power.
How do you respond to this? Talk it over with Jesus.
As you end this time of meditation, take a moment to be quiet and listen to Jesus with your soul. You may sense that a thought or idea that comes to you is actually Jesus inviting you to do something. If that thought or idea is in line with what you know of the character of Jesus, act on it today in faith.
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The Everyday Jesus Follower’s Guide ebook can help you learn how to recognize God's voice, how to read and understand the Bible, how to develop deep spiritual friendships, and how to become the person you were meant to be. Use it alone, with a friend or in a small group.
