A crowd of more than 5,000 people once chased Jesus down. They wanted their sick people healed. They wanted their bellies filled. They wanted to be taken care of. They wanted satisfaction for their life when they really needed satisfaction for their souls.      

            There’s something really quite pathetic about that. Thousands of people walked on foot for miles to catch up with Jesus. Many of those people needed their diseases cured. Many of those people needed a good meal. But did any of those people ask Jesus for the way to heaven? Few, if there are any at all. And yet this was their greatest need. Spiritually speaking they couldn’t tell their right hand from their left hand.

            So when did you last chase Jesus down? What brought you to him? Did you find that life had gotten away from you? Maybe the delicate balance of your family life was thrown off by a sudden disagreement. Maybe a health problem sent you spinning in turmoil. Maybe it was some financial concern or some personal conflict. 

            I’d be willing to bet that my relationship with Jesus and your relationship with him is a lot like those ignorant masses waiting for their miracle worker to step ashore. Too often I’m afraid our Savior will look into my heart and yours and will see the spiritual void left by our sin. It is a spiritual hole that sometimes were not even aware we have because we’ve spent so much time throwing the material world into it: more entertainment, more sexual immorality, more stuff, more money, more gossip, more cheap thrills. Keep the sinful mind busy enough and we may never realize the wide spiritual gap that exists between us and a holy God who will judge the sinner! 

            But your Savior is here, right now, to help. Your Savior saves. He is present in his word to fill your spiritual void with his limitless love. He is present right now to take your sinful and ignorant heart, and mine too, and nail it to the cross. To cast away our sins onto the hill of Golgotha and say once for eternity, “It is finished.” The price is paid. Your needs are met. You are forgiven. This Savior who once gave people bread to eat, is the Bread of Life. He gives you his very body and blood to eat and to drink. It is this body and blood given and shed for you that you may taste, see, smell and share in the assurance of forgiveness. This Savior is here at every moment—good and bad—to provide for you the assurance of eternal life. 

            And we are....satisfied.