Jesus’ heart goes out to the gathered crowd that day, all those famished people. But He has only a couple of barley loaves and two fish. That’s it. However, from that meager food basket, He manages to fill the gullets of over 5000 people until their tummies are about to explode. Much to my liking (and others in my family!), there’s a ton of leftovers. Really? Absolutely, for in Jesus’ hands, a little goes a long way. Take that as a hint. Give Him whatever you have. He can do more with it than you can.

Later in John 6, we discover that the crowd hangs around looking for Jesus. They want more. Of Him and His teaching? Yeah, right. Not quite. Rather, to munch away at Jesus’ overflowing freebie feedbag of goodies. After all, grub satisfies for only a few hours. Their gratitude lasts only as long as Jesus’ prior blue-plate special.

Fear not, the Lord knows what they’re up to. No fooling Him, then or now–‘Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for food that perishes…’ (John 6: 26-27).

Without skipping a beat, the crowd bellows and howls like this–‘Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate manna in the wilderness…'(John 6: 30-31). Can you believe them? These are the same blokes Jesus recently fed. And now they come after Him for more. A twenty-four-hour, open daily, holidays included, don’t have to buy-one but still get-one-free, endless buffet with an unnecessary senior discount thrown in for good measure!

Their stomachs growl for blessings beyond measure. What Jesus did last time was not enough. That’s yesterday’s miracle. What about today? Why not every day, Jesus? All the time. More and more, or we won’t believe you, let alone follow. You’d better put up, or else.

They’re in it for the goodies. For His blessings. What He can and must give them. Uh oh, I sense someone looking over my shoulder. A nudge to my conscience? An unwelcome glance in the mirror? A ‘gotcha’ from on high? For am I any better than the crowd that day? In it for all I can get. Ungrateful and spoiled rotten.

All this gives me pause. Too important to just shrug off. So, I’m taking this seriously, thinking about it hard and long. I least want to be a fairweather follower of Jesus. Rather, I want to be all in, with both feet planted solidly in His corner. No matter if all God’s earthly blessings dry up and blow away. Yes! Always His and His alone. But am I?

Lord Jesus, forgive me when I’m greedy and selfish. Amen.