John 6

Bible Passage: John 6

John 6 records 2 miracles that Jesus performed that we are all very familiar with – He fed the 5000 with just 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread, and also walked on the sea towards a boat filled with His disciples.

In the middle portion of this chapter, Jesus explained at great length and detail about the bread from heaven which will never perish, that the people ought to believe in God in order to have everlasting life.

Yet, as recorded in verse 30, the people asked for a sign just so that they could believe in The Lord Jesus.

My first thinking was, these people had the cheek to ask Jesus for a miracle just so that they will then finally accept Him. My second thinking was, Jesus had already performed many incredible miracles, yet the people still asked for more signs.

Perhaps it didn’t matter how many more wondrous miracles did Jesus perform. Rather it was the people’s hard-heartedness that made them choose not to accept Jesus as their saviour. Perhaps they were doubtful because Jesus came from a poor background and they expected someone with a glorious presence who will become their Messiah.

Hence we must continue to pray that God softens our hard hearts, that our hearts are willing to listen and obey His word.

To me, chapter 6 ended on a sad note.

“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.”

These were the disciples who were with Jesus most of their time, listening to His teachings, witnessing the signs and miracles. Yet they could not accept what Jesus has said. They were no better than the Jews who squabbled amongst themselves. Cant imagine the hurt that Jesus must have felt.

Similarly today, as members of the True Church, are we like these disciples who turned away from God, who choose not to obey His words? “Does this offend you?” said Jesus to the disciples who commented that what Jesus said was a hard saying. Does the words from the bible offend us? Have our hearts hardened against the words of the bible that we refuse to listen and obey? Are our actions hurting our Lord Jesus?

We need to pray that the Lord preserves us in our faith and that we stick to the right path.