In the record in John 6 we have crowds of people following after Jesus because of the miracles He was doing and the signs He was performing. Jesus fed the crowd miraculously “with five small barley loaves and two small fish” and there were “twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over”. The crowd thought of Jesus as a “sugar hit messiah”:
“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” (John 6: 26 NIVUK).
Jesus wasn’t concerned so much with the happiness or contentment of the people following Him, however, as He was with teaching them about holiness. His mission was to bring people into a personal relationship with a holy God. He wanted them to develop godliness in their hearts, to be set apart with attributes that only He could give.
In order to do this Jesus invariably taught a message of selflessness, servanthood, kindness and humility. He asks us to put to death our old nature – to crucify our sinful nature with Him so that we no longer serve sin (Rom. 6:6).
That’s an insurmountable ask of an ordinary sinful person but Jesus has enabled us to do this by giving us the Holy Spirit. “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26 NIVUK).
The Holy Spirit has not only been given to us, but He has been given in profusion – as in overflowing rivers of abundance. “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’ By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified” (John 7:38-39).
Jesus does have concern for our temporal needs and has promised to provide for us but those daily needs are always met in the light of our searching for God and His righteousness. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things (ie food, raiment, drink) will be given to you as well” (Matt. 6:33 NIVUK).
We are reassured that: “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7 NIVUK).
Look what Jesus has done for you! A promise like that takes all the stress and worry out of our lives. It gives us hope and contentment. It gives us an abundant life! (John 10:10).
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