Read The Signs Or Die

We're still talking about discipleship and the work of the church. In earlier posts we took a look at Jesus' feeding thousands in the wilderness along the northern shores of the Sea of Galilee or, as the
Romans called it, the Sea of Tiberias. As a result, the crowd wanted to make him their king, their Bread King. With him in charge the problem of food would be settled. But Jesus would have none of it. He hid himself back in the hills. We pick up the narrative in John 6.

When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened.
But he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid."
Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. - Jhn 6:16-21 ESV

In Matthew's account Peter boldly asks Jesus for permission to join him on the water. But then Peter loses his faith and has to be rescued from drowning. When they step into the boat Jesus remonstrates Peter, saying, "O you of little faith. Why did you doubt?"

Once in the boat, the wind ceased and shortly after that they made it safely to land. All this made a deep impression on the disciples. They knelt before him and said, "Truly you are the Son of God!"(Matt. 14:24-32)

Later Peter repeated his conviction that Jesus was God's Son. On the Mountain Peter, James and John saw Jesus transfigured and shining as bright as newly fallen snow. They heard the Father proclaim Jesus His Son (Matt.17:5). When the Sanhedrin tried Jesus they pronounced him guilty of blasphemy for declaring himself to be God's Son. This was a crime worthy of death (Matt. 16:63-66).

What has all this to do with the primary questions of Bread and healing raised by the crowd? Just this. Jesus is indeed the Son of God. As John wrote in the beginning of his Gospel,

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. - Jhn 1:1-3 ESV

Jesus gave them plain and obvious signs of this fact. He fed thousands with a five barley loaves and two fish. He walked on water amidst a raging storm and calmed the sea. Once again the LORD God had come among His people to feed them in the wilderness and take them safely through the fearsome waters of the sea, just as He did in the days of their Exodus from Egypt to the Promised Land. Truly He is the Son of God, Immanuel, God with us! The psalmist pulls this history together as he invites praise.

Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you. All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name." Selah

Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man. He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in him, who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations-- let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah

Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard, who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip. For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance. - Psa 66:1-12 ESV

Jesus is indeed the Son of God, King above all kings, Maker of heaven and earth, Master of wind and seas. All the signs pointed to this fact. But Jesus would not allow the crowd to declare him king. Why not?

Because they had no faith in him and his promises. They were not ready to be his disciples. Yes, they were concerned about their fundamental needs. As I pointed out in earlier postings, Maslow is correct. There is a hierarchy of needs and, as in the case of the hungry crowd and the frightened disciples on the sea, the need for food and safety are fundamental. Nothing wrong with that. But there is so much more.

The crowd was concerned only about themselves, their needs for healing, for food and drink and for personal safety. But that was all they thought about. As in the case of the Israelites in the wilderness, God was testing them again, trying them as silver is tried. As the proverb says,

The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the LORD tests hearts. - Pro 17:3 ESV (see also Isaiah 48:10)

He tested them and they all failed the test. They did not give God the glory. They did not bless and praise Him. All they thought about was themselves. What's in this for me? You give us bread. You calm the storms. Great. We are well fed, healed and safe. Now that's the kind of king we want.

And that is the very nature of sin. Instead of keeping first things first, the focus is always and only upon me, my wants and my needs. The first and greatest of all God's commandments is this:

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. - Deu 6:4-5 ESV

Here, right here in the wilderness near the Sea of Galilee, here was the LORD. All the signs all pointed to Him. But they would not see them. Their hearts were hardened. They worshipped only themselves. Peter and the disciples saw Him for who He is. They worshipped Him and acknowledged Him to be the Son of God. Weak as their faith was, it was still faith. They were his disciples, but the rest failed the test.

John continues. The crowd Jesus fed followed him and His disciples to the other side of the sea. Puzzled at how he got there they approached him.

They said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?"Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal." - Jhn 6:25-27 ESV

We must take a very careful look at this statement. As disciples of Jesus we are concerned about the whole person, about the needs of the body, but our central and primary task is to lead men to Christ. Fail to do that and we have failed to be the church. More on this next time as we learn more about Jesus' two kingdoms, those often called the kingdoms of his right and left hands.