According to a certain poll, four of the top five New Year’s resolutions are weight loss, increased exercise, reduced food intake and general health. An abundance of quick fix diets offer short cut solutions. The more people eat, the less they want to. The founder of a popular weight loss program presents a unique perspective on this conundrum. She believes that overeating is an emotional problem which can only be solved emotionally.

After Jesus miraculously fed 5,000 men, plus women and children, he slipped away by himself in order to prevent the crowd from forcing a kingship on him (John 6:15). The next day, the crowd went looking for him, prompting Jesus to state “you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs.” (John 6:26)

When the people declared that they also wanted to perform God’s works, Jesus “told them, ‘This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.’” (John 6:29), to which they cunningly replied, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. Our ancestors ate manna [in] the wilderness; Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.” (John 6:30-31)

Noting their fixation on food, “Jesus said, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:32-35) He then explained that anyone who ate the living bread (his flesh) would live forever (John 6:48-58). Hearing this, “many of his disciples turned away and deserted him.” (John 6:66)

The crowd was so focused on perishable food as a means to immediate satisfaction that they missed Jesus’ message of eternal fulfillment. Behind all dissatisfaction or ‘hunger’ is a void within us, which only God can fill. Jesus is the ultimate solution to every emotional problem we face.

MORE: Read Isaiah 55:1-3 for God’s invitation to receive food which truly satisfies.

NEXT: Think about the primary sources of discontent in your life. How do you attempt to satisfy them? What can you do to obtain the true fulfillment that Jesus offers?

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