Today I read John 6, where Jesus multiplied food to feed 5,000, walked on the sea and was called the bread of life. Today I considered that traveling with Jesus is safer and easier. I also considered that Jesus wants us to focus more on feeding the spirit than feeding the flesh.

Five Thousand Fed

Jesus’s miracle of expanding food to feed the 5,000 (John 6:1-14). Jesus asked Philip about buying food for the people that came close to the Passover and Philip said they did not have enough money. Andrew told Jesus of the boy with 2 small fish and 5 loaves of bread. Jesus had the disciples get the 5,000 men sit down (more people if you included women and children). Jesus prayed over the food, and the disciples shared it. When they gathered the leftover food, there were 12 baskets of fragments. People believed in Jesus when seeing the miracle of multiplication of the food.

Jesus Avoids Being King and Walks on the Sea

Jesus went alone into the mountain to avoid being made a king by the people before going to find the disciples (John 6:15-21). The disciples went on a ship toward Capernaum and the wind was blowing hard. During the night, Jesus walked on the sea toward the boat, and the disciples were afraid. Jesus calmed them and they received him on the boat and immediately the boat landed where they needed to go.

Bread of Life Statement and Explanation

Some people stopped following Jesus after the bread of life statement (John 6:22-71). The people were looking for Jesus everywhere and even took a boat to find him. The people were working hard to be fed food again and talked about the manna from heaven given to the Jews. Jesus told them they should work hard for the spirit. Jesus explained that the manna was food that people ate and died but Jesus’ bread of life you will eat and not die. Jesus explained only those sent by God can eat of the living bread. The disciples were confused so Jesus explained he was referring to the spirit but the people were focused on the flesh. Some disciples left but the 12 continued to follow Jesus. Jesus warned them that one of the 12 was of the devil.

Questions and Thoughts for Today

When Jesus enters the picture for your travel, everything goes smoother and quicker. They were traveling and facing strong wind, but when Jesus arrived the disciples got to their destination safely and quickly.

Have you ever seen a positive difference in your travel when you prayed to God and let God guide you?

Jesus shows us the spirit needs to be fed. The world is full of things focused on feeding the flesh from food to excitement to romance to drama to action, etc. While we have to feed the flesh food so that we keep living physically healthy, but we need to remember to also feed the spirit. Feeding the spirit keeps our souls alive and healthy.

What are you doing daily to feed your spirit and grow closer to God?