Determination

John 6: 22-24

” The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.  Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.”

We should really admire the persistence of the people in this crowd. First, they follow Jesus out into the hillsides of the Sea of Galilee. According to the map, the area they were in would have been on the east side of the Sea of Galilee about 80 miles north of Jerusalem. That would be 80 miles as the crow flies, and probably many more miles by foot. 

In chapter 5 we last see Jesus defending himself before the Jewish leaders in the temple court. In chapter 6 we are at least a five day journey north on foot and maybe longer. John doesn’t tell us specifically where the crowds came from but if Jesus has been in Jerusalem healing people, it is likely that many of them came from that area. When they finally find Jesus he feeds all of them and then he seemingly disappears.

Still determined to find this incredible man called Jesus, the crowd heads for Capernaum. After all, what is walking six or eight more miles after walking a hundred? The leaders of the crowd commandeer the few boats that are nearby and they head for Capernaum across the water.

Q: Does a crowd of thousands walking over eighty miles on foot to see Jesus inspire you to make an effort to see Jesus, too?