July 2
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EVERLASTING NOURISHMENT
22 The next day the crowd that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other small boat there, except one, and that Jesus had not entered with His disciples into the boat, but that His disciples had gone away alone. 23 There came other small boats from Tiberias near to the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats, and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus. 25 When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?” 26 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. 27 Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” 28 Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”– John 6:22-29
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There were five thousand men and probably women and children as well, who were fed by Jesus during the multiplication of bread. It must have been hard to get some quiet time to spend with his Father in seclusion from everyone else. The crowd wouldn’t stop following and looking for Jesus because they want more signs and wonders. What was really in their hearts? Was it because they wanted eternal life or they just wanted to be fed again? In verse 26, Jesus reveals their hearts. They didn’t seek Him because of the wonders and signs that he was doing. Jesus exposes their motives for going after Him; the need to get more nourishment. He warned them and told them not to be concerned only with earthly matters, but to care more for what is important: to feed their spirits with foods that do not perish. Once again, Jesus reveals His divinity in verse 27. He told them that He is the source of such food and if they believe in Him, they will have everlasting nourishment. He reveals God’s will to them which comes from doing the works that God wants them to do; to grow their faith in Him.
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REFLECTION
• What kinds of food lead to everlasting nourishment?