Digging Deeper: Hunger is Timeless and Universal
24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.”
John 6:24-26 (ESV)
HUNGER IS TIMELESS AND UNIVERSAL
Jesus has just fed the five thousand with two loaves and five fishes. He has left the crowd to be alone on a mountain, mindful that the crowd would carry him away before his appointed time. Jesus and his disciples cross the Sea of Galilee during the night (the disciples in a boat during a storm, Jesus walking on the water part of the way, eventually joining the others in the boat, whereupon they immediately arrive on land). We pick up the story the day after the feeding of the five thousand. What was left from the large crowd of the previous day has crossed the sea to find Jesus (v. 24).
The crowd asks Jesus when he has arrived in Capernaum (the other side of the sea, v. 25). Jesus, as always able to read the thoughts of men, tells them the real reason why they seek him (v. 26). The night was long, and their bellies are no longer full from the miracle meal of the day before. The excitement and wonder of the miracle itself has worn off, and they are turning to their basic needs. As human beings, we all hunger for something, and it usually begins with our basic needs, such as food and shelter. Barclay notes, “But there are other hungers which can be satisfied only by him. There is the hunger for truth–in him alone is the truth of God. There is the hunger for life–in him alone is life more abundant. There is the hunger for love–in him alone is the love that outlasts sin and death. Christ alone can satisfy the hunger of the human heart and soul.”
Before the pandemic, I made a few mission trips to Haiti. If you want to see people just trying to obtain the most basic needs for survival, Haiti is the place to go (I am sure it is even worse now with the country in such chaos)! If you want to know how poor a population is, just look at the dogs that roam the streets. I have never seen such a collection of malnourished animals in my life! The mission team tried, on a very small scale, to satisfy the physical hungers of the people. However, it was just a small drop in an extremely large bucket. Our goal of course was to leave them with the hope that although they were in a desperate situation, there was someone who could satisfy their hunger for all of eternity!
It has been said that all humans have a God-sized hole in their heart, longing for it to be filled. As we begin our study this week, ask yourself: what things, people, or situations are you seeking in an attempt to fill that hole? What is it that you hunger for? If you have found it, was it fulfilling, or were you just hungry again in a few hours (like after eating pancakes)? Tomorrow we will discuss the myriad of “shiny objects” that may taste like bread, but do not satiate our appetites.
Diggin Deeper (er):
Matthew 5:6; Luke 6:21; Luke 1:53
Phil Meade is a father of three, and grandfather of five. He has a Masters in Theological Studies from Liberty University, and lives in Acworth. He has led various small groups throughout his more than 20 years attending NorthStar Church. He recently retired after 33 years as a pilot for Delta Airlines.