Truly You are the Son of God

 

 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.  And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray.  Now when evening came, He was alone there.  But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.  Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.  And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!"  And they cried out for fear.  But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."  And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."  So He said, "Come."  And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.  But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"  And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"  And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."

 

 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.  And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment.  And as many as touched it were made perfectly well. 

 

- Matthew 14:22-36 

 

Yesterday we read that, when Jesus heard that King Herod Antipas now feared Him (Herod believed that Jesus was John the Baptist, raised from the dead), He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself.  But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities.  And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.  When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late.  Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food."  But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away.  You give them something to eat."  And they said to Him, "We have here only five loaves and two fish."  He said, "Bring them here to Me."  Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass.  And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.  So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.  Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.   

 

 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.  And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray.  Let us consider that Christ has just instituted a new change in His ministry, the feeding of the five thousand in the wilderness -- a "new" mighty work, and one with Eucharistic indications.  He withdraws at this point, up on the mountain by Himself to pray.   He has sent the disciples in a boat by themselves, to travel across the Sea of Galilee.

 

Now when evening came, He was alone there.  But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.  Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.  And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!"  And they cried out for fear.  But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."  My  study Bible comments that this is the second time Christ permits His disciples to be caught in a storm (see this reading).  The first time, He was with them; this time He has sent them across the sea alone.  In this way, my study Bible explains, Christ strengthens their faith that He will always be with them midst the storms of life.  It is I is literally translated "I Am," which is the divine Name of God (see John 8:58; Exodus 3:14).  This is a reminder to the fearful disciples of the Lord's absolute and divine authority over their lives.  The fourth watch of the night is approximately 3:00 in the morning.

And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."  So He said, "Come."  And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.  But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"   My study Bible says that it is Peter's faith that allows Him to walk on the water.  It asks us to note that Peter does not ask to walk on water per se, but to come to Jesus; Peter's desire is not to perform miracles but rather to be with the Lord.  Let us see that Peter is able to participate in this divine miracle as long as he keeps his focus on Christ.  As soon as he is distracted, my study Bible says, he begins to sink.

And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"   My study Bible explains that the Greek term for doubt used here means to waver, vacillate, or hesitate, indicating an uncertainty between two things.  The cause of Peter's sinking, it says, wasn't the storm, but rather his doubt.  So therefore Christ does not rebuke the wind, but Peter.  

 

And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."   This is the first time that the disciples confess that Jesus is the Son of God.   My study Bible says that knowing only God can be worshiped, they confess Christ's divinity by worshiping Him (the word translated as worshiped indicates a bow of prostration).   The boat is symbolic of the Church 

When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.  And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment.  And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.  They have crossed over to another area of Galilee south of His ministry headquarters of Capernaum, and so the people there have recognized Jesus.  We can see Jesus' fame by now, they've sent out into all that surrounding region, so that all who were sick were brought to Him.  My study Bible comments that Christ permits miracles through touch to show that His very body is life, and that that contact with His flesh is life-creating (see Matthew 9:20-22).

Perhaps the image of Christ walking on the water is the most iconic one we have of Christ's identity as divine being.  My study Bible comments that only God has dominion over nature; so, therefore, this miracle confirms the divinity of Christ.  Walking on water is the perfect image of the impossible -- the defiance of all known laws of physical life in this world.  But let us also note that Christ not only comes walking on the water to join the disciples (I mean, He could clearly have crossed over at another time by boat), but in order to assure them that -- no matter what -- He is there for them.  And, we might say, it tells them that He will do that even if He has to walk on water to do so.  This is a miracle that is specifically for them, for they are the only ones present.  Let us consider it in the context of yesterday's reading, that Christ has just fed five thousand people in the wilderness from a couple of fish and five loaves of bread.  Now that is an extraordinary miracle, and meant for several thousand people (five thousand men, and yet more women and children).  And yet, we know the time will come when the disciples will reveal that they haven't quite grasped that miracle in their minds (see Matthew 16:5-12).  But this miracle in today's reading -- this walking on the water -- this is something which makes its extraordinary impact.  We can possibly attempt to read St. Peter's mind and what he was thinking when he asked to walk on the water.  The disciples thought they were seeing a ghost (for how can a human being walk on water?), and so Peter demands some kind of proof that it really is the Lord.  Peter asks to be commanded to walk on the water too.  Let us first consider here that Peter by trade was a fisherman, working on the water for his livelihood, so this is quite a thing to ask.  But if it is really a command from the Lord -- the Lord who can walk on the water -- well, then that is a possibility after all, that by the Lord's command Peter could even walk on the water.  And he does, until he apparently takes his eye off of Jesus, focuses on the boisterous wind, and becomes afraid.  And then, Jesus saves him again.  After all of this, and the dying down of the wind, there is nothing more to say.  All the disciples can do -- to the last man of them (those who were in the boat) -- is to bow down before him in the pose of worship.  They tell Him, "Truly You are the Son of God."  Interestingly, these words will be nearly echoed by the centurion at the Cross (Matthew 27:54), after witnessing the earthquake and other things that happened at His human death.  This isn't the first time we've observed Jesus make extraordinary effort to get to those who need Him; in this reading we read of Jesus and disciples crossing the Sea of Galilee to reach men possessed by demons, although the people of the place simply wanted Jesus to leave them.  Here, in what we might think of as the dreams and fears of a rough and stormy windy night, at 3:00 in the morning, Jesus walks as if in a dream to the disciples.  It's a memorable image one can't forget, but it should serve for us to know He will come to us in ways we can't expect.  Let us not lose sight of Him in our fears.   We, too, may find our faith in the same way, and come to know that truly He is the Son of God.

Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him

 

 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum.  And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them.  Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing.  So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid.  But He said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid."  Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.  

On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone -- however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks -- when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.  And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, "Rabbi, when did You come here?"  Jesus answered them and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.  Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."

 

- John 6:16-27 

 

Yesterday we read that Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.  Then a  great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.  Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.  Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little."  One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?"  Then Jesus said, "Make the people sit down."  Now there was much grass in the place.  So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.  And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.  So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.  Then these men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."  Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

 

 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum.  And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them.  Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing.  So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid.  But He said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid."  Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.  In yesterday's reading (see above) we were told that it is the time of the Passover.  We have noted that John's chapter 6 contains parallels to the story of the Passover and Exodus of Israel from Egypt (Exodus 11 - 17).  This miracle of Christ walking on the sea is the fifth sign of seven recorded in John's Gospel.  In the Exodus, Moses leads the people across the Red Sea, walking on dry ground in the midst of the water, my study Bible reminds us (Exodus 14:15-31).  Here Christ sends His disciples across the sea and then walks on the sea as if it were dry ground.  

On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone -- however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks -- when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.  And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, "Rabbi, when did You come here?"  Jesus answered them and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.  Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."  The people who got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus, are the same people who wanted to take Him by force and make Him king in yesterday's reading (above).  Jesus had left them when He understood this, and gone to the mountain alone, presumably to pray.  

 

In today's reading, Jesus notes the people's motive in following after Him, and seeking to make Him king:  "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled."  This offers also a kind of explanation as to why being taken and made king by force is unsuitable to His mission:  they simply seek Him because they ate of the loaves and were filled.  Jesus wants people to seek Him not for some sort of material gratification, or because He promises us an easy life without work, but because the signs He performs are signals of the presence of the kingdom of God.  He wants those who will seek Him because they seek this Kingdom, and the life of the Kingdom it offers to us.  He says to the people who seek Him, "Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."  Once again, as we have noted in the past several readings, Jesus makes the connection between food and labor.  In His encounter with the Samaritan woman, Jesus told His disciples, after they encouraged Him to eat, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work" (see this reading).  In this sense, Jesus' statement asks us to think for ourselves about what work would "feed" us, feed our souls and spirits, giving us a sense of sustenance and satisfaction.  Here Jesus directly tells the people (and therefore us) what we should "labor" for, what food will truly sustain us and feed us, which endures to everlasting life which only Christ can give us, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.  Everything is related, and begins with Christ's relationship with the Father -- the Father who gives Christ the works to finish that He does to begin with.  We can see how the feeding of the five thousand men (and more women and children) "feeds" into a Eucharistic sense of communion, of how all is connected through Father and Son (and Spirit) and through us.  This food that feeds us is given by Father through Son and in the Spirit, but it also includes the works in which we may join in this Kingdom, the food of the Eucharist, and the communion that is inseparable from the everlasting life of which Jesus speaks.  Here in today's reading, Jesus is not simply giving us a direct appeal, but rather a direct command:  "Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."   This does not mean we're never supposed to think about putting food on the table or how our families will survive.  What it does tell us about is what comes first.  We first think about the kingdom of God, we first place ourselves in relation to that which supersedes the other in power and in lasting impact:  the food which endures to everlasting life.  And we place all things under that priority, including our orientation to what we work for:  what it is we are willing to put all our efforts and energy into.  Jesus asks us to consider what is more consequential and what will pay us a true lasting dividend that won't perish.  It's akin to His command to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (see Matthew 6:32-34).  It stands to reason that if Jesus had not understood perfectly well that people need food for physical sustenance, He would not have given us this fourth sign of John's Gospel, the feeding of the five thousand.  If He didn't understand our human need for physical security, we would not be given this fifth sign in John's Gospel, Jesus walking on the water to His disciples in the middle of a stormy sea, and telling them (and us), "It is I; do not be afraid."   But His concern is what we put as top priority  -- what we put first, that we understand what that priority must be, how its surpassing value makes it worthy of our efforts, beyond that of the food which perishes.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is I; do not be afraid

 Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.  Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them.  Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.  And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled.  But immediately He talked with them and said to them, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."  Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased.  And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.  For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.

When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there.  And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was.  Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment.  And as many as touched Him were made well.

- Mark 6:47-56

Yesterday, we read that the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught, after their first mission.  And He said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while."  For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.  So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.  But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities.  They arrived before them and came together to Him.  And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd.  So He began to teach them many things.  When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, "This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late.  Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat."  But He answered and said to them "You give them something to eat."  And they said to Him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?"  But He said to them, "How many loaves do you have?  Go and see."  And when they found out they said, "Five, and two fish."  Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass.  So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties.  And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all.  So they all ate and were filled.  And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish.  Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men.  Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away.  And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.

Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.  Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them.  Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.  And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled.  But immediately He talked with them and said to them, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."  My study bible teaches here that "It is I" (which is literally "I am" in the Greek (ego eimi), "especially used in the Gospel of John, is Jesus' own testimony to His deity.  It reflects God's name as revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Ex. 3:14).  Only God is self-existent, uncreated, the only being whose existence depends on no other but Himself; therefore He alone can truly say, 'I am.'"

Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased.  And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.  For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.    Another note says, "The knowledge of Christ is a matter of the heart.  When our hearts are illumined by God, they become the seat of divine presence, grace and knowledge.  In all the ascetic writings of the Orthodox Church, the heart is known as the 'seat of knowledge.'"

When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there.  And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was.  Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment.  And as many as touched Him were made well.  My study bible says, "Christ permits miracles through touch to show that His very body is life-giving" and refers us again to the story of the woman with the bloodflow, as written earlier in Mark's Gospel.  Here in Gennesaret, a place known for its abundance of fishing, Christ's very ministry seems to have multiplied like the fish and the loaves in the wilderness (yesterday's reading).

Let us think once again about faith and fear.  Repeatedly Jesus has contrasted the two, telling His disciples and others who would benefit from His healing, "Do not be afraid, only believe."   Previously, His disciples were rowing in the middle of the Sea of Galilee, in the middle of a storm.  Jesus at that time had been asleep in the stern, and they woke Him, as they feared for their lives.  He asked them then, "Why are you so fearful?  How is it that you have no faith?"  Repeatedly in Mark's Gospel, we are being given this admonition to faith, contrasting it, in some sense, as if it were at with within ourselves, with fear, with timidity or cowardice (the kind of fear implied in the midst of the storm by the Greek text).  Here in today's reading, a kind of deeper action takes place.  His disciples do not call to Him or for Him; this time, they are alone on the sea, and He is alone on the mountaintop in prayer.  But again, they're fighting the winds.  The fourth watch of the night is about three o'clock in the morning.  They row on in faith, following what they've been told to do.  But this time, it is Jesus who comes to them, walking on the water seemingly without a care in the world, so to speak, as if He would pass them by.  This time, their confidence is restored by His presence, and His words, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."  And so, there is something deeper to understand about our faith from this story:  His presence with us, no matter what the vast gulf that seemingly separates, and His awareness of us, becomes a part of the story of our faith.  We are not alone in simply cultivating faith on our own and combating our fears and doubts.  We have not only His presence with us but also we are known by Him.  In 1 Corinthians (8:3), St. Paul tells us that "if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him."  What does it mean that God knows us?  These apostles are those who have been sent out on their first mission, and they have just participated in the feeding of five thousand men (and more women and children) in the wilderness.  They are not at all "puffed up with knowledge" (as St. Paul might put it) because they haven't really understood about the loaves and the fish!  Their heart was hardened, the text tells us.  But Jesus knows them, and is with them.  This text is about the great power of God to overcome everything in us, all our deficiencies and defects, our imperfect understanding, everything.  The real key to God's presence and work in our lives, even to strengthening our faith, is the love of God in our hearts.  And this Christ knows about these men.  This is what truly makes relationship.  And I think that is what we have to take away from today's reading.  Everything else comes second to this love; every "task" and every good deed and every accomplishment can't add up to a measure of faith.  It is the measure of love in us that gives us our real relationship with God, and God does the rest.  The real abundance of this harvest is apparent on the lakeshore at Gennesaret, the abundance of those coming to this ministry, bringing others with them who cannot come to Him on their own.  It's another sign of the power of God carrying us forward, even through others, when we can't get there on our own.  Everything depends on the desire that is love; love is the key to everything in this relationship, the heart of where like meets like, and we are known to our Creator.  His power is ever so greater than ours; the spark of love is completed by God in whatever form that relationship will take on.

Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life

 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum.  And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them.  Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing.  So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid.  But He said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid."  Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone - however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks -- when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.  And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, "Rabbi, when did You come here?"  Jesus answered them and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.  Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."

- John 6:16-27

In yesterday's reading, we read about Jesus' feeding of five thousand men (and more women and children) in the wilderness.  Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.  Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.  Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.  Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little."  One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?"  Then Jesus said, "Make the people sit down."  Now there was much grass in the place.  So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.  And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.  So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.  Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."  Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum.  And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them.  Jesus has remained on the mountain by Himself alone.  The disciples are without Him.

Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing.  So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid.  But He said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid."  Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.  The very interesting thing about this fifth sign in John's Gospel is the dream-like quality that is evinced through the words that "immediately the boat was at the land where they were going."  In other ways there is a dreamlike quality as well.  It is dark, deep into the darkness before the dawn, and the sea arose with a great wind.  We can imagine the fear accompanying the disciples without Christ, in the boat on the sea.  Jesus walking on the water gives us another quality of the divine; in the previous reading He expanded the loaves and fishes to fill everyone with "as much as they wanted."  Here He walks across the water to accompany His disciples in the midst of the storm, telling them, "It is I; do not be afraid."  If we look beyond the miraculous quality of these two signs, one immediately following the other, what we see in common to them is God's great love, a love that gives not by measure but in abundance.  It is a love that is with us in our own wilderness or when we are alone in the dark in a rough and stormy sea.  My study bible points out that this sign "reenacts ancient Israel's passage through the Red Sea.  Moses led the old Israel through the sea to liberty.  Christ walks on top of the water and leads His disciples over the sea to the land where they were going.   Christ's walking on the sea is a sign of His lordship over creation."

On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone - however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks -- when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.  And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, "Rabbi, when did You come here?"   The disciples had left the mountain when it was dark, without Jesus.  Walking on the water to the disciples, Jesus has evaded the crowd that sought to make Him king, after they were fed in the wilderness.  But they anticipated His arrival at Capernaum and followed.

Jesus answered them and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.  Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."  My study bible tells us, "The multitude had continued to pursue Jesus in the hope that He might miraculously solve all of their earthly problems as He had miraculously provided them with food.  He tries to turn their minds to spiritual concerns, telling them not to labor for perishable food but for the food of eternal life, which is available in the Son of Man.  He does not chide them for seeking and working, but for pursuing temporary satisfaction rather than eternal fulfillment." 

Why do the people seek Jesus?  He's telling them that they chase after Him, anticipating His crossing of the sea and arriving at Capernaum looking for Him, simply because they were filled with the loaves in the wilderness (in yesterday's reading).  They're putting in a lot of effort to chase Jesus and to follow Him, but the toil isn't really worthwhile if they're only struggling for bread which perishes.  Jesus is offering something much more than merely food which perishes, and that is worth struggling and working for.  It is a food that will endure into everlasting life, something that will not disappear but remain forever with them.  And that is food indeed!  That is truly something that feeds the soul and spirit and will never leave us.  To work for this bread of Life, then, is to work for something truly worthwhile, a real treasure, something worth the value of our labor.  It's not that we're not supposed to live our lives in this world, but rather there's something that is more worthwhile, to value as most precious, to truly work for -- and that is what He is offering as Son.  The feeding in the wilderness is Jesus fourth sign in John's Gospel.  Importantly, it's an event that appears in all four Gospels.  My study bible tells us that "placed against the background of the Passover, this sign is a fulfillment of Old Testament messianic prophecies and types, especially the miraculous gift of manna which fed the Israelites in the wilderness after the Exodus."  Most clearly, it's a description with "eucharistic overtones" as my study bible points out.  That is the true "daily bread" we pray for, the one that feeds us and abides unto eternal life, and is not simply perishable food.  So, how do we work for that bread?  While we live our lives in this world, and God knows the things we have need of for our survival and our lives, what do we need to be filled with that fills a deeper need?  Let us remember to work for what is of true and imperishable value.  What fills you where bread alone cannot truly nourish a deeper need?  The Bread of Life is that which fills us in ways that will last and abide for all our lives, for an eternal life.  Especially when "the world" fails us, this bread abides and lives in us, and fills us in ways that the world does not.  In this way, we also understand Jesus' words of comfort, as He gives us His food which doesn't perish:  "It is I; do not be afraid."