On the other side of two miracles!

“Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one He has sent.”-John 6:29

Jesus spoke these words shortly after performing two miraculous signs! The first miracle we read about in John 6:1-14 is the feeding of the multitude where Jesus took two fish and five barely loves and fed over 5,000 people:

“Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted.”-John 6:10-11.

The second miracle that Jesus performed happened upon the Sea of Galilee, just hours after Jesus fed the multitudes. Jesus had gone off to a solitary place to pray. The disciples waited for him to return but when it appeared He would not come back they decided to return to Capernaum:

“They had rowed three or four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified.”-John 6:19

When they had rowed out about three or four miles, strong winds caused the sea to become very rough and the waves began to beat upon the boat. At that moment the disciples saw Jesus walking towards them on the water. The disciples were terrified, but Jesus quickly calmed their fears and brought them safely to the other side.

Although these miracles are very different from each other, both of them work together to drive home an important point. The least common denominator in both these miracles is the presence of Jesus. Regardless of the situations we face whether it be hunger, nature, sickness, enemies, or ourselves; what we need more than anything is for Jesus to be with us.

When the people realized that Jesus and His disciples were gone, they boarded boats and came to Capernaum looking for Him. When they found Him they asked: “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus replied:

“I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs.”-John 6:26

The people responded, “We want to perform God’s works too. What should we do? Jesus told them:

“This is the only work God wants from you; Believe in the one He has sent.”

What are you looking for in Jesus? Someone to fill your belly? Someone to keep you safe? Someone to get you out of trouble? Jesus came to save our souls, not buy us lunch! They were on the flip side of two miracles and still didn’t get the fact that He is the miracle! He is the answer for our souls!

Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church