Do not work for food that spoils
John 6:27 - Jesus wanted the people who were seeking Him to exert their efforts toward what He alone could provide them; eternal life.
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“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.””
John 6:27 NIV
Today’s verse is from the Gospel of John, and the words are those spoken by Jesus after a very miraculous day and night. During the day before, Jesus had blessed five barley loaves and two small fish supplied by a young boy and provided a feast for a crowd of five thousand people, after which the disciples collected twelve large baskets of leftovers. Jesus had gone away on His own to pray and sent the disciples ahead in a boat across the Sea of Galilee, catching up with them by walking upon the water.
Those miracles bring us to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, where eventually part of the crowd who had witnessed the miracle feeding of the five thousand arrive, seeking Jesus and another free meal. In John 6:26, Jesus gently admonishes them with the words:
“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.”
John 6:26 NIV
These people had probably taken the hard route around the Sea of Galilee to follow Jesus and eventually find Him. But they had been seeking Him for the wrong thing; “the food that spoils,” full stomachs, not full hearts.
Enduring Word’s David Guzik says in his commentary on these verses:
i. Jesus made a contrast between material things and spiritual things. It is almost universally true that people are more attracted to material things than spiritual things. A sign that says free money and free food will get a bigger crowd than one that says spiritual fulfillment and eternal life.
In other words, Jesus wanted the people who were seeking Him to exert their efforts toward what He alone could provide them; eternal life. Of course, there were probably a number of people who misunderstood the metaphor He was using. The “food” Jesus was referring to is His teachings and the salvation He offers.
Way back in Deuteronomy 8:3, we see the words “…man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord,” and for many of those in the crowd, the words of Jesus should have been understandable. He was talking about giving them a quality of life that began when they declared their faith in Him and that would continue forever.
Jesus refers to Himself here as “the Son of Man,” connecting to the vision in Daniel 7:13-14 where the Son of Man is given all authority and an eternal kingdom, emphasizing His humanity and divine authority. He will give those who believe in Him this “food that leads to eternal life,” a gift of salvation from His grace and generosity. It’s not something that is earned by human toil, but as His gift of grace.
The verse ends with Jesus noting that God “placed His seal of approval” upon “the Son of Man.” This commentary from BibleHub explains the significance of seals (usually of wax and imprinted with a signet ring) quite well:
This phrase indicates divine authentication of Jesus' mission and identity. In ancient times, a seal was a mark of ownership and authority, often used to secure documents or goods. God's seal on Jesus signifies His approval and endorsement, affirming Jesus as the legitimate source of eternal life. This is reminiscent of the baptism of Jesus, where the voice from heaven declares Him as the beloved Son (Matthew 3:17). The seal also implies the presence of the Holy Spirit, as seen in Ephesians 1:13, where believers are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
Jesus was offering these people a banquet that would last for eternity. It was up to them to choose between following Him and being filled with His love forever, or focusing on material things that soon fade away
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Lord, help me to remember that material pursuits are temporary and fleeting, while the spiritual nourishment that only Your Son can provide directs us to eternal life. Bless me with Your assistance in prioritizing eternal values over worldly pursuits, knowing that true sustenance comes only from a relationship with Jesus. AMEN.