John 6:30-33 “So they asked him, ‘What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’”

Jesus called for these people to put their faith in him. But before they were ready to do that, they wanted more proof. They wanted a sign. They were seeking wonders, a spectacle to convince them Jesus is the one they should trust.

This crowd says they want a sign. Really? It wasn’t good enough that Jesus just turned five loaves of bread and two fish into a feast for thousands? It wasn’t enough that he had spent the morning and afternoon before that miraculously healing sick people? It wasn’t enough that they had seen him drive out demons in this very synagogue in which they were sitting at this moment? If none of that satisfied them, what sign could possibly be good enough?

The problem was not that Jesus had failed to confirm his claims or his commission with miracles. The problem was that these things can never satisfy the truly skeptical. They aren’t focused on the right thing. They don’t need wonders. They need a relationship. They need love.

They need what a young pastor told an argumentative member of his inquirers class some time ago. “Instead of arguing about all these questions you have, you need to listen like a child for a little while. Just listen like a child. Take it in. Hear the story. Hear what it is saying to you.” And within a few weeks, his argumentative friend didn’t have any questions anymore, at least none he needed to start a fight about. He had gone from skeptic to student, denier to disciple.

As so often, Jesus’ answer did not go where their questions wanted to lead. He takes them away from signs to the thing that can truly feed their faith and nourish the soul. “It is not Moses who has given you bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” Don’t seek signs and wonders. Seek what God himself wants to give you. Seek the One who comes from heaven. Consume his words, his grace, his forgiveness, all freely given.

He can give you life. Listen humbly, simply, and you will find what you are looking for.