Anchor My Faith

Introduction to the Bread of Life Study

Scripture: Mark 6:53-54; John 6:16-17

We are at lesson 300 out of 766, which means that we are approximately two fifths of our way through our harmonization study. I have found this to be a very important and meaningful time in my life and look forward to what lies ahead for me as I study the Scriptures.

In our journey we just recently watched Jesus feed approximately 20,000 people (5,000 men plus women and children) by multiplying five barley loaves and two fish. After the people saw this they wanted to make Jesus king to deliver them from Roman oppression. Jesus saw this development and immediately ordered his disciples into the boat and sent them away while he dismissed the crowd and went up on the mountain to be by himself and pray. As time progresses, a strong wind stirred up the sea and buffeted their small boat with dangerous waves. In the darkness of the night, which was broken maybe by lightening, the disciples see someone like a person walking toward them on the water. Thinking it to be a ghost, they cry out in fear, but Jesus shouts out that it is he and not to be afraid. As Peter watches him walk on the surface of the water, he asks Jesus to command him to do likewise. Peter’s walk started out well but do to his wavering faith he realized he needed Jesus to help him back to the boat. As they get into the boat, Jesus calms the wind and sea and immediately they find themselves at their destination, which according to both Matthew and Mark was Gennesaret.

We began this lesson with a reminder of Jesus feeding the five thousand plus with bread and fish. Now on the other side of the sea, Jesus is going to present himself as the bread of life. This is a large section and a rather deep topic, so prepare to spend some interesting time here.

^{Mk 6:53} “When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. ⁵⁴ And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized [Jesus].” When working from a harmonization narrative, one sees things that might be otherwise missed. Here this results in problems for us. After feeding the five thousand plus, ^{Jn 6:16} “When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, ¹⁷ got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.” The designation appears to be Capernaum.

During the night, Jesus comes to the disciples, walking on the surface of the water, enters the boat and calms the rough sea and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. According to our text that location was Gennesaret, but when the disciples left they were headed to Capernaum. When they arrived at Gennesaret it should have still been dark because once Jesus got into the boat he calmed the sea and immediately they arrived at Gennesaret. Did a few fishermen happen to be there and recognized Jesus?

As day started, the people Jesus left on the other side realized he had also left. Some of these people got into boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. When they arrived at Capernaum they apparently were informed that Jesus was at Gennesaret. We now find ourselves at Gennesaret with Jesus, the disciples, and as usual, a growing crowd, some of which had been fed bread and fish provided by Jesus the day before.

Conclusion

As we end this lesson we find Jesus and the disciples together in Gennesaret (Mark 6:53), not Capernaum (as in John 6:17) or even Bethsaida (as in Mark 6:45), on the morning of the day after feeding the five thousand plus, and as usual the crowds were beginning to form.