What Jesus Did! 'Wanting Jesus for the Wrong Reasons' — John 6:22-26

Thursday, April 28, 2022

The next day the crowd that had stayed on the far shore saw that the disciples had taken the only boat, and they realized Jesus had not gone with them. Several boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the Lord had blessed the bread and the people had eaten. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him. They found him on the other side of the lake and asked, "Rabbi, when did you get here?" Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs."
— John 6:22-26 NLT

Key Thought

There are many reasons to follow Jesus. Sometimes, we can let these reasons be selfish ones. Many people who grow disillusioned with their walk with Christ give the excuse that it wasn't "working for them." What they mean is that being a disciple was harder than they thought it would be and they weren't getting the obvious "payoff" out of giving their allegiance to Jesus. However, we don't follow Jesus because of what we get out of him on a day-to-day basis, but because of who he is and what he did for us in sacrificing himself for us. Sometimes we have to follow regardless of the temporary circumstances. If we follow only when we get what we want, then when hardship comes, trials beset us, and the evil one attacks us — we're going to give up on God and lose everything. Jesus' blessings remind us who he is and where he is from. They point us to God and our home with him. Let's live for him no matter what our temporary circumstances may be.

Today's Prayer

Purify my heart, O Lord God Almighty. I want to follow Jesus because he is Lord and worthy of my obedience. Please remove from my heart anything that is selfish and manipulative in my relationship with him so I will follow him with wholehearted joy regardless of my circumstances! In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Hebrews 11:8-10, 13-16
  • John 20:30-31
  • Philippians 3:17-21

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Illustration

Illustration of John 6:22-26 NLT — "Rabbi, when did you get here?" —— "I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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