The account of Christ feeding the five thousand and subsequently leaving the disciples before meeting up with them in the middle of the Sea of Galilee is one of the few stories told in all four of the gospels. That should tell us that this event is particularly important. What is equally important is to look at how the four accounts differ. I feel the differences are there to force us to “search the scriptures” to really understand what is going on or so we can see a truth God wants us to look at and other to emphasize one specific aspect of the event. John’s account is the only one that tells us what happened to the people after He fed them, but we need Mark to tell us where they were and where they were is the key to understanding the deeper lesson here. Mark tells us:
Mark 6:44-45 And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men. (45) And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.
And then later: Mark 6:53 And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.
Christ fed the five thousand at Bethsaida and they landed at the land of Gennesaret. So why is that important? The Sea of Galilee is part of the river Jordan. What is so important about that? The river Jordan is what the children of Israel crossed over to get into the promised land. Bethsaida is on the east side of the river Jordan and the land of Gennesaret is on the other. Remember that Jesus is the same name as Joshua and just as Joshua led the children of Israel into the promised land so will Jesus lead us into the promised land.
One more thing to note before we move on: the children of Israel were not allowed to into the promised land until all the Egypt generation was dead so the only people able to go over were the ones born in the wilderness. And how does that relate to this story you ask? Well, most, if not all, of the disciples were born or from Bethsaida or you could say the wilderness side and they have now crossed over and John is going to tell us about the people who didn’t cross over with Christ in their boat. I think I will to a larger and more specific study on this crossing the Jordan at a later date if anyone has an interest, but for now let’s get back to the topic at hand.
John 6:22 The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone; (23) (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:) (24) When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.
That believe it or not is one sentence so let’s try to break it down.
First I want to point out that Christ had given thanks for the bounty of bread, and He had done it before He received the bounty, which shows a supreme level of faith. One could look for days on that alone. Can you imagine having the faith to give thanks for the surplus of food holding but a few loaves? To be truly thankful for something you don’t have or cannot see, but knowing without a doubt that God will give it. I wonder how many people today go unhealed because most, if not all of us, cannot muster that level of faith.
Anyway, the people saw that disciples left by themselves so they took some boats and found him in Capernaum. On the map you will see Gennesaret as a spot different from Capernaum. This isn’t a problem with our text as the land of Gennesaret is what they called a fertile crescent of land on the west side of the Sea of Galilee and included Capernaum.
Tiberias was my in large a gentile city and the capital of Herod Anipas’s Tetrarchy and while there was a Hebrew temple there the gospels never tell us that Christ ever visited the city. To some this may be a bit of a reach, but note that Tiberias is on the west side of the sea so the ships came from the west side and went east, which should bring to mind all those children of Israel that kept whining to Moses how things were better in Egypt and wanted to go back.
John 6:25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
These people sought after Jesus. They took shipping and searched for him. One could say they have done everything that God wants. Doesn’t God want us to follow and seek after him?
John 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
Be careful he doesn’t say the same of you. How many times do we run about doing the “Christian” thing only we never stop to ask God what He wants? We run from bible study to bible study, sit in church on Sunday and sings songs of praise and move into Monday hardly thinking of him at all. Doing Christian isn’t what God wants. He wants your heart.
John 6:27Labour 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.
Does this mean we should stop farming and only study the bible? No, but when was the last time you labored in the word of God? “Give us this day our daily bread.” God will give it, but you still have to go to Him to get it. The manna that fell from heaven when the children of Israel were in the wilderness didn’t fall into their bowls. They had to go out and gather it. Then what? Well you have to eat it right? You have to actually stop and put the food inside of you. I know it sounds silly, but stop and think. It takes times to divide up what you’re eating. It takes time to chew it and it takes time to digest it and all those things have to happen before it can become a part of you.
John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? (29) Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Asked and answered.
John 6:30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
Apparently feeding the five thousand wasn’t enough for these jokers. Do you see the difference between these people and Jesus? Jesus showed faith before He had bread and these people want a sign before they will believe.
We will stop here for today, because I don’t want this to get too long and the Christ is going to get into explaining manna from heaven, which is going to lead to many people to stop following him. Pray that you don’t become one of them.
