December 14, 2023
The Transformation of Our Desires
There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?" Jesus said, Have the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So, the men sat down, in number about five thousand. Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise, also of the fish as much as they wanted. When they were filled, He said to His disciples, gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost." So, they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. John 6:9-13
In John 6, a massive crowd has been following Jesus, and He miraculously feeds them by turning a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish into food for 5,000 people. The crowd recognizes that a prophet like Moses has been raised (John 6:14; Deuteronomy 18:15), and the next day they continue to seek after Him—perhaps hoping to see more miracles or be fed in abundance yet again.
He challenges them, saying, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst” (John 6:35). They are excited that He can take away their hunger and free them from starvation, but they haven’t thought about the promise of salvation—of everlasting life in Him. Let us remember, then, that Jesus wants to do more than just fill us with food and offer us earthly comfort; He wants to transform our desires.
Think about it
- Throughout this chapter, Jesus uses eating and drinking to speak about belief in Him. How can these ordinary practices remind us of our faith in Christ?
- What does it mean to pursue the “food” of eternal life?
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