John 6:26-40   This is such an important lesson!  Listen carefully to what Jesus is telling us!  "Do not work ( be occupied, labor for, be engaged in, or do anything) for food that perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man shall give to you, for on Him the Father, even God, has set His seal."  

You can spend your whole life trying to accumulate enough money to satisfy your physical, emotional, and social self.. and in the end.. you will never be satisfied.  Look around.. our world is full of living proof that this is true.. people who work so much that they hardly know their own family, let alone their neighbors.  People who have more money than they can know what to do with... but who are so unhappy that they resort to drugs or alcohol.. or something else to dull the pain.  People who have gained fame through whatever talent God has gifted them with.. but can't even go out in public without being accosted by strangers, so they hide in their fancy houses and fight depression.  They are occupied.. working for what will perish.  It is true of us "common" people too.  We want to have enough to provide for our families.. or to buy a new car.. or the next big thing.  All our energy is spent on what we want and think we need... 

Jesus is telling us that we need to change focus.  To spend our time and energy on that which will never perish.  The people ask the question for us, "What shall we do, that we make work the works of God?"  What does it mean for us to be occupied.. to spend our time and energy on God's works?  Jesus gives a very simple answer.. "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." 

Believe in Jesus? That's all?  YES!

Well, the people had another question.. "What then do You do for a sign, that we may see and believe You? What work do You perform?"  They had just seen Him take 5 loaves and 2 fish and multiply it to feed over 5000 people!  What more did they want?!  They wanted manna!  They wanted more.. more.. and more.  Oh my!  Aren't we the same? Lord, forgive us!

First Jesus has to set them straight as to the source of the manna. They said it was from Moses.  Jesus tells them, it was His Father who gave them bread.. not just manna.. but  "the true bread our of heaven". "For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world." Not manna... which was temporary and perished..  but more .. "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst."  Jesus is everything we need.  He needs to be everything that we want. He gives Life. Eternal Life. Abundant Life. Real Life. 

These are precious promises!   "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out."  Jesus tells us that He won't lose us.. "but will raise [us] up on the last day."  We.. who believe in Him.. will be His forever.  This is the Father's will and the Son's purpose for coming down from heaven. 

Father in heaven, thank You for the True Bread from heaven, for Jesus Christ, Whom You sent.. and to Whom You have given us.  We belong to Jesus. He will not lose us. He will not reject us.  He will raise us up!  He is our Life-giver.. our Living Water.. our Bread of life. Jesus alone can satisfy our every need and fill our lives with that which does not perish!  Hallelujah! What a Savior!  May our hearts be encouraged and may we focus our time and energy on You.. hold us fast, Lord Jesus. We love You. We want to abide in You and You in us. Amen!