Those who can't look past their own stomach will never get fed

Notes on John 6:26-42
The people following Jesus said they are "after a sign" of validity, but they had all the signs they needed; Jesus basically tells them to go away, accusing them of seeking more food for their bellies (since this is the day after the 5 loaves and 2 fish feast).

This is exactly what people are after today as well. However, they don't cleverly disguise it as the Jews do in verse 29-30: "What sign will you perform then, that we may see it and believe You?... Our fathers ate the manna in the desert." Ooohhh so they really were thinking about food. Sneaky sneaky. People today, on the other hand, have no shame in wanting a Jesus who meets merely their physical and emotional needs.

The problem with Jesus' audience as well as today's audience is the worldly focus. Jesus calls them out about the food: "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled," which is the most basic and physical need, and therefore it should have been very insulting for them to follow food around like an obese and spoiled dog (vs 26). Their next item on the agenda is the emotional need of accomplishment: "What shall we do to work the works of God?" Do they care about God? Of course not - if they did, they'd ask how to please Him! They want to look righteous, which is fitting with other current pharasee-an actions and customs. Being outwardly religious was the pretty much the equivalent of today's worldly success. People treated the 'righteous' religious leaders like we treat our celebrities to an extent. So their plea could be like asking Jesus to make you rich/successful/popular/etc... only the latter is worse. I guess it's like saying: "God, tell me what to do so I can be rich, successful, and have everyone like me... (long pause) of course so I could give You credit for it." Riiiiiiight.

The last question they ask (vs 29-30 above) is evidence of either short-term memory loss, neglect to recognise what they just witnessed and filled their sinful stomachs on just one day earlier, or, most likely, a pretty smart attempt to get some more food ("hey, Jesus, I don't really believe it happened the first time; better feed me again so I know it's real"). Geez, how frustrating. No wonder He concludes that "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him," because we are so ridiculously foolish until He opens our eyes to see past our own stomach.