“When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus” (John 6:24).
This seems like a strange verse to begin an article. It’s not one that you will see on many people’s list of memory verses. I’ve never seen it sewn on a throw pillow. And that’s understandable, because this verse doesn’t stand alone. It is a small part of a fabulous passage describing one of Jesus’ most famous miracles. I quoted it because it hits at the heart of what I want to share with you today, dear friend. Why? Because I am afraid some conservative Christians might be praying amiss (James 4:3) and committing the same spiritual error that Jesus addressed in John 6.
Why Do We Pray for Revival in America?
Especially during the country’s 250th anniversary year, many Christians have fervently prayed for this nation. I, too, am burdened by the sin rotting America from within. I have loved ones who need to be saved. I see churches struggling to survive. I see Christians who aren’t walking closely with the Lord like they once did. I see neighborhoods destroyed by sin. Add to that the sheer insanity and unbridled brokenness filling this nation because its citizens are pursuing their own lusts.
Oh, what a burden it is to ponder these realities! It is right to take them to God in prayer. I do, and will continue to pray over these things.
However, I’m concerned that some Christians might be praying with the wrong motivation. We want to see God bring revival and spiritual awakening from sea to shining sea, but why? Let me ask you a soul-searching question. It’s the first of several that will drill deep to expose our motivations.
Do we want Jesus or just the things He can give us?
I’m concerned that some of us crave the products of revival more than the Person who brings it. We want crime to decrease, relationships repaired, churches filled, and wokeness to evaporate like it was just a bad dream. We want common sense to return. We want illegal drugs off our streets. We want righteousness to reign. We want our children to be blessed with peace and prosperity. We want America to discover a new Golden Age of flourishing. So, we pray for revival and spiritual awakening. But do we crave the blessings more than the Blesser?
How can we tell what we desire more? Carefully ponder this next question. It pulls back the curtain on our desires. If God answered all our prayers and America flourished like never before, would we still seek God? Or would we grow distracted by the blessings that we no longer seek the Blesser? In other words, is God worthy to be sought based solely on who He is, or do we seek Him only for what He can do for us?
These are soul-searching questions, friend. Jesus called out the crowd in John 6 for having a similar attitude. Jesus knew they wanted what He could give them more than they wanted Him. His comments sent them into a tailspin and led to one of the saddest verses in the Gospels.
Right Desire, Wrong Motivation
Let’s return to that curious verse quoted at the beginning. John 6 opens near the Sea of Galilee, as Jesus and His disciples ascended a mountain, followed by a large crowd (John 6:1-3). Jesus knew the people were getting hungry, but all his disciples could rustle up was a boy who brought five barley loaves and two small fish (John 6:4-9). Jesus took that small meal and miraculously multiplied it to feed about 5,000 men, plus women and children (John 6:8-13).
Those who witnessed this miracle said, “This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world” (John 6:14b). Just as God provided manna and meat for His people in the wilderness through Moses, so too, the Father provided bread and fish for His people in the Galilean hills through Jesus. The prophesied Prophet like Moses was here (Deut. 18:15-19)! The Messiah was in their midst! But when the crowd wanted to make Jesus their king, he escaped alone to another mountain (John 6:15).
That evening, His disciples sailed toward Capernaum (John 6:17). The next day, the multitude realized Jesus was gone, so they boarded boats to cross from Tiberius to Capernaum (John 6:22-24). At the end of verse 24, we see their proper desire: “seeking for Jesus.” Their desire was fulfilled when they found Him in Capernaum, His base for ministry in Galilee (John 6:25).
However, their proper desire to seek Jesus was improperly motivated. Instead of greeting them warmly, Jesus cut to the chase, “Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled” (John 6:26b). Ouch! Jesus knew they only sought Him for what He could give them, not for who He was. He called out their misplaced motives.
He urged them to seek eternal truths more than temporary treats (John 6:27). They responded with a question that many are asking today, “What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?” (John 6:28b). I believe they wanted to know how they could get on God’s good side so that they could get more blessings from God. I wonder: Is this what motivates some Christians to pray for America?
Jesus’ reply spoke to their hearts, “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent” (John 6:29b).
No amount of good works will ever make someone right with God (Eph. 2:8-9). Only faith in Jesus can!
We cannot bargain with God to get something that we want from Him. I’ve heard numerous stories of people who prayed something like, “God, if you get me out of this, I promise I will never cuss/drink/steal/etc. again!” More mature Christians might laugh at statements like this, but do they use the same motivation when praying for revival: “God, if you get America out of this mess, then we will…”? Another soul-searching question to ponder, friend.
The Product or the Person?
The crowd wanted the temporary blessings of bread, but Jesus wanted to give them a greater blessing that lasts forever — a relationship with Himself! He told them, “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not” (John 6:35-36).
What greater blessing is there in all the world than knowing Almighty God?! The One who created us — and all that exists — invites us to walk with Him in a close relationship. The Infinite calls to the finite. The Almighty speaks to the weak. The Holy calls to the unholy. The All-Knowing calls to the unwise. Why would we desire temporary blessings over the greatest blessing of all —the Blesser? He alone satisfies the cravings of our soul. He is the greatest blessing!
Sadly, many who heard Jesus teach in Capernaum’s synagogue that day turned away from Him, away from the Blesser and the greatest blessing. This is one of the saddest verses in the Gospels: “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him” (John 6:66). The term “disciple” does not refer to the 12 in this context, but to the multitude around them. Those who followed Jesus only for what He could give them decided to walk away when He pointed them to the Person instead of the products.
While I am glad that many Christians are praying for the souls of Americans during this 250th year, I am simultaneously burdened that we could crave the temporary societal and political products more than we crave Jesus. I pray that we would examine our motives and return to a place where we desire God for who He is, not for what He gives us.
Why are you “seeking for Jesus?” (John 6:24)?
