Seeing, Not Seeing

"But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. John 6:36

Standing before Jesus is a multitude that had witnessed miracles, heard His teachings, yet remained blinded to who He truly was. They had seen Him with their eyes, they had tasted the bread He multiplied, yet their hearts were not moved to faith. Jesus laments here, but more, He exposes a profound truth: seeing alone is not believing. Physical presence alone can’t produce true faith. For faith requires not only sight but also the Spirit’s inward illumination.

Unbelief

To stand in the presence of Christ and yet remain in unbelief reveals the great tragedy of the fallen, hardened heart. These were people with all the advantages of physical proximity to the Savior. They had heard the very words of the Word made flesh, seen His compassion, and tasted His provision. And yet, their hearts were still darkened. Why? Because faith is more than intellectual head nodding or amazement at miracles. It is a deep trust, a yielding of the whole self to the One who calls. They were captivated by the spectacular, yes, but they were unwilling to let go of their carnal hearts to truly follow Him.

Seeing, Yet Not Seeing

In His words, "Ye also have seen me," Jesus is pointing to the superficial level of their engagement. They had seen Him, yes, but with earthly eyes. Their gaze was on the benefits He provided, not the Person He was. They saw a provider, a prophet, perhaps even a political figure who could deliver them from Roman rule, but they missed the Bread of Life! How often we, too, are guilty of seeing but not seeing, of coming close to the things of God yet not surrendering our whole hearts. We can know doctrine, attend worship, and even engage in ministry, yet still be distant from a living, pulsating faith.

The Spirit in Faith

This verse reveals the profound need for the Holy Spirit’s work in our hearts. Mere knowledge or even evidence of God’s power cannot produce saving faith. It is the Spirit who opens our eyes, who transforms our sight from one of mere observation to one of adoration and surrender. As Paul writes, "No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost" (1 Corinthians 12:3). When we believe, it is not because we have gathered the right information but because the Spirit Himself has drawn us, has softened our hearts, and has kindled within us the flame of faith. True sight, then, is a gift of grace.

Self-Examination

Jesus’ words invite us to search our own hearts. Have we seen, yet not believed? Have we been near to the things of God without drawing near to Christ Himself? It is a sobering question. It’s one that compels us to examine our motives and desires. Are we following Christ for bread or because of Who He is? Because if we truly believe He is our only hope and salvation, we are drawn by the Person of the benefits, not the benefits themselves.

Renewed Faith

Let’s remember that, even though many rejected Him, Jesus remained faithful to His mission, continuing to offer Himself as the Bread of Life to all who would come in faith. His heart was—and is—ever open to those who turn to Him in true belief. And so, we are invited, again and again, to come to Him, not with a partial or hesitant faith, but with the fullness of our trust. We are called to come not only because we have seen Him in Scripture, but because, by His Spirit, we have tasted and known that He is indeed good.

Let us pray for hearts that see rightly, for eyes opened by the Spirit, and for a faith that does not waver but clings wholly to the One who is our life, our hope, and our sustenance. Amen.