The Background - The miracle of the Loaves and fishes had taken place just the day before. When Jesus perceived that the crowd meant to make Him King by force, He sent his apostles ahead away from the political storm on land but into a physical storm on the lake. But he does not leave them to face the storm alone.

John 6:18–21 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.

He walks out to them on the water, through the storm and when they take Him into the ship, miraculously the ship they had tried all night to row across the lake is “immediately” at the land where they were headed. That right, long before Scotty and Captain Kirk or Star Trek, the Lord was using a transporter to rescue His away crew.

Sorry, that was a flashback to when I was a Trekkie.

Back on shore the people awake, and they can't find Jesus, their King by acclamation and they board ships and themselves sail to Capernaum, where Jesus lived.
When they find him in the Synagogue they ask Him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" They are also asking, "Why didn't you tell us you were leaving? Don't you know we want to follow you? Don’t you realize we want to make you King? Jesus, don’t you know you need us?”
Jesus’ answer to them begins the shifting, winnowing process that will culminate at the end of this chapter with most of his followers leaving him. It is very shocking and is so sweeping that Jesus even asks the 12 if they will also leave him. His answer to the King makers, the bread eaters, shows the difference between real followers of Christ and those who are only seeking self-fulfillment and trying to use the Savior for their own purpose.

Jesus tells them, “You seek me not because of the miracles but because you were filled. It isn't the spiritual things you seek, but the physical blessings which you think can come through me.”

He is very blunt, very straight to point in 27 - Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
He is telling them, “Don’t search for, don’t strive for physical food that doesn’t last but for spiritual food that endures unto eternity. Spiritual sustenance that is a gift from the Son of Man that God the Father appointed to this purpose.”

What Do We Seek?

Consider the words of Jesus in light of our present Christian age. How many people, how many churches, how many of us are trying to negotiate with God, make a deal of Jesus? Trying to get from the King of Eternity, tit for tat, quid por quo in exchange for following Him?

Is the only reason we come to church is because we believe God will physically bless our family. Do parents send their kids off to Sunday School so they can hear about the Bible, learn morals and grow up to be good citizens who behave themselves? Do people tithe and give offerings in order to buy God's favor? Is that how its supposed to work?

The far extreme side of this make a deal with God belief system is seen in the health and wealth charismatic preachers. The concept of “seed faith” giving is the ground upon which their mult-million dollar empires are built. We have the idea much like these that if we appear sincere in seeking Jesus that he will bless us in the physical things of life.

Illustration: 1980s Robert Tilton's Miracle Magazine pg. 12

Terri was desperate.  Things had gone from bad to worse; and the worse things got, the more she blamed God for her problems.  One day as she watched our television program, her hope was sparked.  That day she vowed $500 and wrote a five-point petition to God for her needs.  Within weeks, God restored marital and family relationships, renewed their spiritual life, supplied a five bedroom home, and improved the family's finances.  A petition is a written request made to a superior authority.
Most of our prayer are actually verbal petitions requesting something of God.  When petitioning the Lord, it is good practice to write down exactly what you are believing God for.  Not only will this help your faith as you expectantly stand to receive your answer, but it is also written evidence of a covenant with God.  Most people don't realize they can enter into a covenant with God. They don't know they can promise certain things (a vow) to God and then expect Him to fulfill certain things (a petition) for them. End Citation.

Not a bad deal.  $500 dollars to God in exchange for a strong family and a five-bedroom house. When you read and hear things like this, you realize in many ways our days are much worse than it was when Jesus reprimanded the ones who came seeking a meal in exchange for making Him King.

The true prophets of God’s word had much to say about such people.

Matthew 15:8-9 Quoting Isaiah, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Ezekiel 33:31-32 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.

God is not fooled, God is not manipulated, God does not play games with His blessings. If we are seeking Him in order to benefit from my idea of blessings then I’m seeking the wrong god. I’ve come looking for the wrong Jesus. - Pastor Kris Minefee