Eastertide Day 16 Monday May 5 2025
John 6: 22-29 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. 23 Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 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.
25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”
26 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. 27 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.”
28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
In this passage, the crowds who followed Jesus after the feeding of the five thousand were seeking Him not because they understood the miracle, but because they were filled with material desires. Jesus uses this moment to redirect their focus from earthly sustenance to the greater gift of eternal life. He invites them to seek the “food that endures for eternal life,” which He, the Son of Man, will give. This teaching challenges us to examine our motivations in pursuing Jesus. Are we seeking Him for temporary blessings, or are we yearning for the eternal life and relationship with God that only He can offer? Jesus calls us to believe in Him as the one sent by God and to trust in His provision for our deepest spiritual needs.
Eastertide is a season of renewal and hope, reminding us of Christ’s victory over death and His promise of eternal life. This passage encourages us to deepen our faith and to focus on the eternal rather than the temporal. Let us ask ourselves: Are we laboring for the food that perishes, or are we striving for the bread of life that Jesus freely offers?
Prayer: Loving and Eternal God, we thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who is the bread of life. In this Eastertide season, help us to fix our eyes on Him and to seek the food that endures to eternal life. Teach us to trust in Your provision and to believe in the One You have sent. May our hearts be transformed, and may our lives reflect the hope and joy of the resurrection. Strengthen our faith and guide us to labor not for perishable things, but for the spiritual nourishment that sustains us forever.
In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.