"... 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."
Everybody in life is seeking something. Some are seeking wisdom. Some are seeking spiritual fulfillment. Some are seeking physical fulfilment. The list goes on and on. The question is "What are you seeking?" Not everyone who looks for Christ is seeking to know Him. Some people just want to see what Jesus is about. Some people want Jesus to be their magical genie and grant them their wishes. Some are just afraid of going to Hell and want Jesus to be their Get out of Hell Free Card. Others want Jesus to make them healthy, wealthy, and wise. Jesus is looking for True Seekers to follow Him.
It was the same thing back when Jesus was on the earth. The masses had seen the signs and had eaten the feast that He had prepared which demonstrated His awesome creative power and fed the 5,000. They came seeking Him, and Jesus called them out on what they were seeking Him for. They didn't want Him and the message that He was sharing with them. They wanted the provider Jesus. The wanted the material things. They wanted the genie Jesus.
Jesus is not impressed with numbers. He is not looking for masses. He has always preached that wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and narrow is the gate and difficult is the way that leads to eternal life--and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13-14). One time there were great crowds following Him and Jesus told them that they better count the cost of what it meant to follow Him. (Luke 14:26-33) Jesus is looking for quality not quantity. He is calling out to the True Seekers to take up their cross, deny themselves, and follow Him.
True seekers of Christ seek Him as Lord and Savior. They submit their wills and their lives to Him. Not many will do that. Not everyone who goes to church will be saved. Not everyone who names the name of Christ and calls Him Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 7:21-23). Those are some of the scariest words in the Bible.
There is hope. Jesus knows our wayward hearts and how we are prone to seek Him for what He has instead of Who He is. We need to continually come to Him as the One who can change our heart and renew a steadfast spirit in us. He is the One who Masters in changing hearts. He is the One who will give us the a heart of flesh that we might be the True Seekers who earnestly desire to know Him and to love Him because He first loved us.
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