The Miracle or the Man?
“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?” (John 6:66–67)
Teeming thousands roamed the Galilean countryside. They were filled with wonder and amazement at Jesus. His stories captured their imaginations, and His love drew them in as they hung on every word. Compassion moved Jesus to heal the sick, and the people rejoiced.
After a full day of Jesus satisfying their spiritual hunger, the multitude grew physically hungry. Jesus told His disciples to feed the people, but the task was too enormous. They were discussing what to do when Andrew produced five loaves and two fish from a young man’s lunch. The disciples scoffed at such a small amount, but this was exactly what Jesus was looking for. The Master had been waiting for something like this to do a miracle.
He told the crowd to organize themselves in groups. This was to create lanes within the multitude to distribute the bread and fish. It was also a demonstration of faith. Expectation began to fill the air—and then the miracle happened! The five loaves and two fish suddenly became overflowing baskets of fish and bread. Jesus gave the disciples the baskets. The food kept multiplying as the disciples served the people. It was undeniable! Jesus had supernaturally fed more than five thousand people. The people were joyful as Jesus sent them away. Their spirits were high and their bellies were full.
Miracles like this, where five thousand men (not to mention women and children) were fed, caused messianic fervor to grow. The multitudes wondered where Jesus and His disciples were headed. In the meantime, Jesus told His disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee while He stayed behind. That night, Jesus walked on the water to join His disciples, yet another miracle, but this one was just for His disciples. This miracle also made it hard for the multitude to find Jesus the next day, but somehow they did.
When the multitude showed up, Jesus taught a much bigger lesson about Him being the Bread of Life, in which He exposed the shallowness of the crowd’s fervor. “Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled” (John 6:26).
The multitude had placed emphasis on the wrong things and Jesus was calling them out. After a long discourse about who He was and where He came from (I am the Bread that came down from Heaven), Jesus brought them to a place of decision. “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you” (John 6:53).
The bottom line of this entire discourse could be summarized with the following question of Jesus: “Why are you following me?” He was asking, “Do you want Me, or are you here just because of what I can do for you?”
Jesus was asking for a commitment to Him and who He truly was. Sadly, many of the disciples went away and didn’t follow Him anymore. But Jesus didn’t change His message or apologize for asking too much. Instead, He turned to the twelve and said:
Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. (John 6:67–69)
In other words, I want more than the miracles. I want the Man. I stand with Peter. Where else can we go? Take a moment today to appreciate who Jesus is. Knowing Him, following Him, and being transformed by Him is the greatest miracle of all.