April 9, 2023
Reaching for Low Hanging Fruit
“Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.” John 6:26 (NASB)
Years ago, my wife and I visited Costa Rica on a day trip. We had the opportunity to visit a Chiquita banana plantation and packing plant. Our cab driver was a really nice man. He was really proud of his country and wanted to show us where he once worked. Once we made it near the rain forest, he said, “Let me take you to the plantation.” As we went through the plantation, he showed us fields of growing bananas. On each vine, there were large groups of bananas. Beneath each large banana group, there was a small group hanging about 12 inches lower. I asked him why there were a group of five or six growing below the big group. He said the lower group were left for insects who sought the fruit and would eat from the lower group. The ones above would never be infected by the bugs. When harvest time came, they cut off the lower fruit and harvested the ones above. The lower fruit was sacrificed to prevent potential insect infestation.
Jesus told those who sought Him they “seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.” Their hearts were seeking, or to be on quest for, or to hotly pursue Him. “He knew their seeking of Him was shallow or self-seeking in their quest for Him. Jesus does not put them through their difficulty, says nothing of His treading on the waves of the sea, nor even notices their question, but takes advantage of the favorable moment for pointing out to them how forward, flippant, and superficial were their views, and how low their desires. ‘Ye seek Me not because ye saw the miracles’—literally, ‘the signs,’ that is, supernatural tokens of a higher presence, and a divine commission, ‘but because ye did eat of the loaves and were filled.’”[1] This seeking from the crowd is exactly what Jesus addressed in His response. He knew the crowd were only interested in seeking marvels, signs and wonders, not tokens of His divine power and mission. They were seeking the low hanging fruit which would satisfy their needs for the immediate future, not eternity.
So many people today seek low hanging fruit today. They are happy to grab the first fruit they can reach. It is the least risky. The problem with reaching for lower fruit is it is not real salvation. Lower fruit is subject to potential rot, much like seeking out miracles like the crowd. It doesn’t take faith either. Jesus communicated the importance of understanding the real meaning behind the healings and miracles. They were conducted for the purpose of authenticating His ministry. The messages and healings were for those to see the One who was conducting them. Then to begin to draw them to His message, not their immediate needs. Their immediate needs is the low hanging fruit. They are happy with the good things that can happen, but never take it any further. When they are entertained, they become satisfied. This isn’t faith. It’s seeking something other than faith, self-gratification. If they reach above the low hanging, they will find the best product; a life of faith in Jesus Christ. This is the best quality fruit, which only God can provide. The other is subject to rot. Don’t be a person who settles for the miracles or healings. Seek life in Christ Jesus and reach higher. His fruit is eternal.
[1] Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 138.