Logistics

Lesson #100

Before we move ahead to the next section defined by John 6:22 – 26, we need to go back to the previous day when Jesus fed the 5,000. Realizing that the people were about to come and take Jesus by force to make him king, Jesus went with the disciples to the shore of the sea and sent then off in a boat to Capernaum (Mark 6:46). Jesus then withdrew to the mountain to be by himself. “On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone” (John 6:22 ESV). The crowd had no idea what happened during the night as the disciples tried to cross the sea during the storm. Since there was only one boat at the shore and the disciples took it, the crowd supposed that Jesus was still there with them.

After the disciples left, “Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks” (John 6:23 ESV). The people searched for Jesus, but “when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus” (John 6:24 ESV). They assumed that Jesus must have used one of those boats and gone to the other side so they went to find him. “When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here”? (John 6:25).” They seemed to be interested in when he crossed the sea, but Jesus does not answer their question. He responds with “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves” (John 6:26 ESV).

In the past the crowds were seeking him because of the signs Jesus was doing, but now the bar has been raised. Jesus is now providing food to meet a basic need for life. With the power Jesus has and now the ability to feed an army, what a king he would make! They do not yet have a clue about what Jesus is trying to do. They are focused on the physical and they know that Jesus can meet their physical needs. Being spiritually dead they are unable to even imagine anything outside their living experience. Without faith only the physical realm is possible in their understanding.

Because of signs the people who followed Jesus saw they believed he was the Messiah, but they followed him not for who he was, but what he could provide for them. This is being grossly selfish to replace the deserved worship of the Messiah with seeking him to enhance their physical existence on earth. Let’s be honest; do we come to Jesus to lift him up in worship or do we seek him supposing he will add to our earthly happiness or provide escape from suffering? Is our focus on the bread and fishes or is it to honor God and seek the good of his kingdom? Our answer may determine if we are Christian or not.

Prayer

Father, I struggle with how to live in this western culture as an alien or as a stranger. How do I live to glorify you to where I am seen as being different because my life demonstrates something of true value that attracts those with spiritual needs to the Lord Jesus? Believers facing the loss of everything, who stand against their persecutors with love and forgiveness truly demonstrate this value. How should I stand so others see a value in me that draws them to Jesus?