Tuesday 14th February
Read John 6:1-4
“Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near.” (NIVUK)
There are many who are interested in Jesus because of what He might be able to do for them. It is as true today as it was then. Jesus sought to spend time with His disciples, apart from the crowd, and crossed to the far side of the lake. It was a forlorn hope – people who want something are quite persistent! As Jesus’ representatives in the world, His body, it should come as no surprise that we are called on to help people who see us as a resource to help them. Jesus’ response to the crowd is one that should guide us in how we deal with them. As much as we might desire to spend time alone with Jesus and each other, the social obligation of the church for the world is real.
But that final note in these verses today speaks to their real need. Why does John mention that the feeding of these desperate people occurred near the Passover? This is the second Passover mentioned in John. At the first Jesus mentioned that the temple would be destroyed and that He would replace it. At the last, He gave Himself up to death in order to save us. At this second Passover He feeds the crowds and teaches them that He is the Bread of Life. John mentions the nearness of the Passover to this event not to tell us the time it occurred, but to tell us that the real Passover is coming. We meet God in Him, are sustained by Him, and find life in His death.
Whilst Jesus meets their physical needs, food and healing, He really came to meet their spiritual needs. The church must hold both together, equally. It is a challenging balance, but that is why Jesus created a church filled with gifted people. Thank Him for each other today.
