The Picnic

Jesus, and his disciples, travel to the far side of the Sea of Galilee. (This quite possibly happened on the same trip, when Jesus freed the demon-possessed man The location described – the modern day Golan Heights – is approximately the same.) And, possibly, it is a different trip, and the people from the surrounding villages come to this area, because of that miracle.

The people come to a deserted place, and only one person brings any food. After discussing this problem with the disciples, he has people sit, borrows the one person’s lunch, thanks God, and proceeds to pull enough food from the one person’s lunch bag – with enough food for one person – and feeds 15,000 people with it. (The disciples only counted the men, and there were 5,000 of those. So, I am assuming an equal number of women and children.)

Somebody realizes that if they put Jesus in charge, he could provide for everyone. They were choosing to “follow” Jesus from self-interest, not love, or a realization of truth, that Jesus was God’s Messiah. So, Jesus withdrew from there.

And when the disciples returned by boat, Jesus walked on water to re-join them.

And the next day, the people also crossed the water by boat, to find Jesus. And Jesus calls them on it. The sought Jesus, not from love, loyalty, a commitment to truth, or even curiosity. They sought Jesus to avoid working to feed themselves.

Jesus urges them to seek “eternal” food. “Food” that will fill their spirit, and soul.

The people asked how to do God’s works. (Are they asking how to get right with God? Or how to do miracles?) Jesus tells them, God wants them to believe in, and follow, God’s Promised One. And they ask for a sign. This always amazes me. The just saw Jesus feed 15,000 people with one person’s lunch, and now they need another miracle. Gosh! Anything but give their hearts to Jesus. Or are they just fixated on themselves, and their needs? They cite God feeding Israel manna.

Jesus says He is true food. He is God’s provision for true life. Provision for the body is important. But it is a relationship with the Father that provides for the inner life, as well as eternity. We need that fuel at least as much as physical food. Giving our allegiance to Jesus gives access to the Father’s fuel. And mankind is short-sighted, self-indulgent, and motivated only by self-interest.