John

Check out all the previous John readings here.

John Reading Plan | Week 6, Day 2

Prayer

Give your soul a moment of silence to align with your body. Express gratitude to God for the opportunity to be with Him and invite Him to meet you at this time.

Bible Reading: John 6:16-29

Read these verses three times slowly.

When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.

When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

Jesus answered, “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. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

Reflection & Questions

John tells us at the very end of his gospels, that Jesus did so many miracles and signs, that “if every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written” (John 21:25). Today’s story is just one example of those innumerable signs. Jesus walks on the water to reach the disciples who were struggling to row across the lake. When Jesus reached them and got in, “immediately the boat reached the shore.” The experiences of these disciples were mindblowing.

The crowd that was fed in yesterday’s reading were trying to keep up with Jesus, too. But not for his teaching. They simply wanted more food! Here is someone who can keep them from having to depend on harvest or working to get money for food. He can simply multiply it! But Jesus isn’t going along with their plan. He rebukes them for simply seeking Him for food. He tells them, “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.”

How often do we try to get into God’s graces for what He might give us. We demonstrate that it is not truly Him that we are seeking, but the things. Those things are really the ‘gods’ in our life. We work for them. We expect God to provide them. But this is not the true ‘food’ of life. This will not nourish our soul; nor will it lead to eternal life.

The true food is eternal life and the true work is “to believe in the one he has sent.” To believe in Him is to seek Him first above all other things, to put Him at the center of our lives and trust Him in everything. That is work that will lead to soul-satisfying, eternal life-giving food.

1. Is there something you are seeking first besides Jesus? How do you know?
2. Ask God what it would look like for you to seek HIm first this week. Listen for His response.

Prayer

Talk to God in response to today’s reading.

Worship Song

You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:

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Questions?