“A Journey with John” Day 13: A miraculous feast and a watery walk (John 6:1-21)

Last time, we watched as Jesus told it like it was to the religious leaders. Basically, He ended up telling them that if they really believed the scriptures they esteemed so highly, they would believe in Him also. To top it all off, Jesus said that if they believed Moses, they would believe Him.

Since we didn’t meet any new people last time, let’s take a moment to reiterate why we are taking this Journey with John in the first place. Again, we are taking this time preceding Resurrection Sunday (and beyond, if need be) to become more intimately acquainted with the vision of Jesus that John the Beloved has to offer. Bear in mind, John is referenced as being the disciple Jesus loved. Indeed, he was the one who rested his head against Jesus’ precious chest. Surely, if anyone had a knowledge of what was in Jesus’ heart, it would be John.

Having said that, let’s head right out with our guide to take part in a miraculous feast and finish it all up by watching Jesus taking a watery walk:

After Jesus had spoken truth to the religious leaders’ power, He headed out across the Sea of Galilee. At this point in time, a great multitude had gathered because they had seen the healings that Jesus performed among those who were diseased. Upon seeing the crowd gathering, Jesus asked Phillip what they should do to feed all these people, at which point, Phillip states the obvious: They don’t have enough money to even begin to buy food for all these people. Andrew seems to make a ridiculous observation concerning a boy who had a lunch consisting of five barley loaves and two fish. Surely enough, Jesus, Who’s authority presides over the physical world, took that small lunch and fed that multitude. Jesus offered thanks for it, then broke it, and kept breaking it, until there was enough to feed over 5000 people. This miracle was of such proportion that many of the people believed Jesus was the Prophet who was to come, and they wanted to make Him king, right then and right there. Jesus, knowing their intentions, slipped away by Himself to the mountain. Now, if that wasn’t enough miracle working for one day, Jesus completed the day by walking across the water to meet up with the disciples who had left out ahead of Him. They watch with great fear as Jesus walks across the troubled sea. Indeed, it was no match for Jesus Who turned that water into a sidewalk. Then, as Jesus is taken into the boat, they suddenly find themselves arriving at where they were headed. Wow! I think we just saw yet another miracle: not just feeding 5000 people with five loaves and two fish, not just walking on water as if it were concrete, but now, translating the whole group from where they were on the sea, to where they were going.

Our highlighted verses for today:

“Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?” Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone. Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.”

‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭5‬-‭6‬, ‭8‬-‭12‬, ‭14‬-‭16‬, ‭18‬-‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question for reflection:

In what way was Jesus testing Phillip?

Next time, our guide is taking us to hear about some heavenly food.