Why Are We Interested in Jesus?

John 6:1-15, CEB

After this Jesus went across the Galilee Sea (that is, the Tiberias Sea).  A large crowd followed him, because they had seen the miraculous signs he had done among the sick.  Jesus went up a mountain and sat there with his disciples.  It was nearly time for Passover, the Jewish festival.

Jesus looked up and saw the large crowd coming toward him. He asked Philip, “Where will we buy food to feed these people?”  Jesus said this to test him, for he already knew what he was going to do.

Philip replied, “More than a half year’s salary[a] worth of food wouldn’t be enough for each person to have even a little bit.”

One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said,  “A youth here has five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that for a crowd like this?”

Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass there. They sat down, about five thousand of them.  Then Jesus took the bread. When he had given thanks, he distributed it to those who were sitting there. He did the same with the fish, each getting as much as they wanted.  When they had plenty to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather up the leftover pieces, so that nothing will be wasted.”  So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves that had been left over by those who had eaten.

When the people saw that he had done a miraculous sign, they said, “This is truly the prophet who is coming into the world.”  Jesus understood that they were about to come and force him to be their king, so he took refuge again, alone on a mountain.

                Abraham Maslow was a scientist who proposed what is a now famous hierarchy of human needs.  A basic description is pictured above.  The idea is that humans seek fulfillment of basic needs at the bottom and, once those needs are met, they move to seeking the “higher” needs at the top.  For example, when one is hungry, they aren’t too interested in working for achieve safety until their hunger is satiated.  That’s a bit of an overstatement, but is has been shown to be generally true. 

                Thinking about Maslow’s theory in the light of John’s gospel might provide some insight into why Jesus did certain things and why He chose to do them at a certain time. Jesus sees the crowd coming to seek Him out and he realizes that, while they are certainly in need of spiritual teaching, they will be unable to fully listen to Him if they are physically hungry.  The disciples themselves seem pretty preoccupied with that need as well  They are becoming pretty anxious about the perceived scarcity to meet this basic need. 

                So Jesus takes what is available and miraculously feeds the crowd.  Thousands of people eat until they are full.  Afterwards, John makes sure to point out that there is still and abundance of provisions remaining.  Back to Maslow.  Notice what happens as soon as no one is thinking about food.  The people then are starting to think about how Jesus can be the answer to a higher need.  They could make Him King and overthrow the Romans!  Jesus can make them safe from their oppressors!  Jesus realizes this and disengages.  Though there is safety in Jesus, it will not come in the way the crowd here wants it. 

                Notice here that the crowd is still interested in Jesus because of what He can do for them.  As we work through the rest of chapter 6 of the gospel, Jesus himself will address this self-interest and we will see the crowd’s reaction.  We will also see the crowd’s self-interest contrasted with the disciples who make up the twelve.  But for this moment, let’s consider some questions aimed at self-awareness.

Questions:  With no need to share your answer with anyone else, what is the nature of your interest in Jesus?  How much of that interest is peaked because of what you need from Him?

Prayer:  Lord God, King of the Universe, you are our provider.  We praise and thank you for all that we have.  Help us consider how our thanks and praise may be shown in the way that we live.  Amen.

Prayer Focus:  Talk to God today about what you perceive to be your most pressing needs at this time.

Song:  Jireh (Provider) – Elevation Worship & Maverick City