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Try this recorded Imaginative Contemplation of this scene.
To
avoid the people seizing Him (John 6:14-15), He sent the disciples on a boat to
Bethsaida (Mark 6:45-46) and sent the multitudes away (Matthew 14:23; Mark
6:45) before He withdrew by Himself to the mountain. I do love to see Jesus
taking time to be alone in the busy and hectic pace of His life. That is a
model for us to follow!
After
spending some time alone, Jesus performed the fifth sign (attesting miracle) in
the book of John that points to Jesus as the Messiah: He walked on the water
(between 3 and 6 am), and the disciples were afraid, but we hear "do not
be afraid" (which is echoed throughout the Bible) from Jesus. The Matthew
account of this event records Peter coming out and walking on the water before
he was frightened by the wind. This was followed by a rebuke of Peter's
"little faith" (Matthew 14:28-31). Contrast this with the "great
faith" of the Gentile Roman centurion (Matthew 8:5-13, Luke 7:1-10). Since
Matthew is writing to the Jews, I believe He put this section in there to point
out that faith was more important than their Jewish heritage.
98. Jesus heals all who touch him: Matthew 14:34-36, Mark 6:53-56
They arrived in Gennesaret. A large harbor from this town has recently been found under the northwest corner of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus further proved His deity by people healing just by touching His cloak.
99. Jesus is the true bread from heaven: John 6:22-40
The next day Jesus uses the event of feeding the 5,000 to explain what truly fills: Himself, the Bread of Life. The gospel of John is unique in that he tries to prove that Jesus is God in the flesh, born to die as a sacrifice for our sins, and by believing we might have life in His name (John 20:31). He does this by including the seven "I am" statements by Jesus (see the introduction to the book of John HERE), and this is the first of those statements. Jesus started this with "truly, truly/I tell you the truth" (6:26). This means literally, "Amen, Amen." He uses it 25 times in the book of John, and it is not in any of the other gospel accounts. In this particular discourse, He uses it four times (6:26, 32, 47, 53). He does it to call attention to important affirmations. This is the seventh time He has done that.
Jesus rebukes them for not seeing the spiritual significance behind the miraculous signs He performed. The crux of the message was that physical food is only temporary but spiritual food lasts into eternity. I think of what He told Satan during the temptation in the wilderness, "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4, Deuteronomy 8:3). Jesus was saying that He would not only give this spiritual food but that He WAS that food (John 6:53)! The people asking wanted to DO something for this, but He said they only needed to believe on the One that the Father sent; the bread that provides life everlasting! Seeing did not necessarily equate with believing for them.
We will talk more about that tomorrow. Stay tuned.
APPLICATION
Is fear making you a person of "little faith"? If You Want to Walk on Water You've Got to Get Out of the Boat is a challenging and practical book to read. I did it with a group of women, and it was very beneficial.
PRAYER
We want to be Your disciples. Teach us, Lord. Help us to get out of the boat and not be afraid. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
We had a Hygge time around our fire table last night. One of the questions was about POWER - something about what we connotate with it. I said FEAR. I fear my own power. Hmm. I must pray about that this morning.
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