Tuesday, February 27, 2007

CROSSING THE SEA

READ JOHN 6:16-27

16-23) The disciples got into a boat to cross the sea. John does not tell us why, but Mark does, they were told to by Jesus to get in the boat and go across to the other side of the sea from Bethsaida (Mk. 6:45). John is telling us that they were headed for Capernaum.
STORM: As evening came strong winds erupt about 3-4 miles out and they see Jesus walking toward them. (Mark tells us that Jesus was intending to walk by them. Mk. 6:48-50 and Matthew records that this is the time when Peter walks on water. Mt. 14:24-33) The emphasis in John's gospel is not on the disciples, but on the multitudes and Jesus teaching on being the Bread of Life.
The multitudes had seen the disciples leave, but Jesus had not gone with them. He stayed to dismiss the multitudes and then go off by Himself. The next day the multitudes notice that Jesus in no longer with them and some how figured out that Jesus was on the other side of the sea with the disciples. They immediately get into their boats and follow.
The multitudes wanted to know how Jesus got to Capernaum, but Jesus exposed to them the real reason why they followed Him. They were hungry and wanted to be fed. Jesus' instructs them to not work for food that is perishable, but for the food that is imperishable. What kind of food is imperishable?
1) It endures to eternal life.
2) Son of Man gives it.
3) Sealed by God through Jesus (Sealed means to confirm, authenticate, place beyond doubt; to prove by one's tesimony to a person that he is what he professes to be.) In other words Jesus is truely who He says He is and you can trust Him explicitly.
FATHER, THANK YOU FOR JESUS WHO IS THE BREAD OF LIFE AND IN HIM WE CAN PLACE OUR TRUST WITHOUT FAIL. AMEN.

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