The Search For Jesus

By Mary Vee
John 6

One of the 5,000 

Photo by Mary Vee. Ruins at Capernaum

Yesterday, I brought my wife and children to the place where others said Jesus would be. I wanted to hear what He had to say. My friends tell me this man has healed even the very sick and His teachings are like none any have heard before.

We spent the day listening to Jesus and around evening, we grew hungry. The story has already been told how Jesus miraculously fed all the people who were there. 5,000 men plus women and children! 

After we finished eating, the people wanted to make Jesus king. Some of the men and women pressed in toward Jesus. It looked like they wanted to lift him up in their arms and place a crown on his head. 

Jesus whispered to his disciples. They nodded, walked down the hill to their boat, and sailed away. Sometime after, Jesus left, I'm not sure when. There were so many people I didn't see him leave or which direction He went. 

Everyone hung around, assuming the disciples would return, which meant Jesus would also come back. When they didn't come back right away, some of the people boarded boats and went out searching for the disciples hoping to also find Jesus.

Nightfall came. Those of us who had stayed still didn't see Jesus. By the next morning, ships from Tiberias docked at the shore. We watched and saw neither Jesus nor His disciples stepping on to the shore.

We were confused. The disciples must have sailed to Gennesaret across the sea. No one could figure out where Jesus went.

We talked and decided the only answer that made sense was Jesus must have climbed into a boat and met His disciples across the sea.

We climbed into boats and sailed for Capernaum in search of Jesus and were so happy to see him when we docked. "Rabbi, when did you get here?"

Jesus said, "You are only looking for me because you had your fill of food yesterday. You haven't come because of the miraculous sign that you saw or what you learned. Don't work for food that spoils. Work for food that lasts eternally. The Son of Man will give this to you. On him, God the Father has placed his seal of approval."

We asked him, "What work does God want us to do?"

Jesus said, "God asks you to believe in the one he has sent."

We asked, "What miraculous sign can you give to help us believe you? Our forefathers ate manna in the desert given to them from heaven."

Jesus said, "Moses is not the one who gives bread from heaven. My Father gives the true bread from heaven. The bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."

We asked Jesus to sit. "From now on, give us this bread."

Jesus said, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But you have seen me and don't believe. Whoever comes to me, I will never drive away. I have come down from heaven not to do my will but the will of Him who sent me. Everyone who looks to the Son and believes will have eternal life and will be raised up at the last day.

 Come back to read the next story.

*Author of blog's note: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.