Sunday: Jesus Withdraws from Galilee — Matthew 14:13-14; Mark 6:31-34; Luke 9:10-13; John 6:1-3
Jesus received word that His cousin, John the Baptist, had been killed. He asked His disciples to remove themselves to a quiet place away from the multitudes. They got into a boat and headed out across the Sea of Galilee. But when the people heard where Jesus had gone, they actually raced ahead of Him and met Him on the other side. Jesus’s miracles, teaching, and love drew them to Him. On seeing their need, Jesus had compassion on them and began healing them and instructing them. In His grief and weariness, He could have pushed the people away, but He again placed the needs of others above His own.
Monday: Feeding Five Thousand — Matthew 14:15-21; Mark 6:35-44; Luke 9:12-17; John 6:4-13
The disciples pointed out to Jesus that it had been a long day, and the people had nothing to eat, thinking that it would be a good time to end the meeting and send the people home. Instead, Jesus answered, “You give them something to eat” (Matthew 14:16; Mark 6:37). The disciples responded that it would take much money (eight months’ worth of wages) to feed all those people. But Jesus showed them that the entire situation was a test. The disciples needed to learn that in themselves they were inadequate, but with God, they lacked nothing, and that all things were possible.
Tuesday: Crowned by Man? — Matthew 14:22-23; Mark 6:45-46; John 6:14-15
The people were amazed at the miracle Jesus had done. They realized He was a prophet. But even more than that, they wanted to make Him their King. When Jesus perceived this in His spirit, He had His disciples leave by boat then sent the multitude away and went by Himself to a mountain to pray and rest. The people wanted to crown Him and declare Him their King. Jesus knew that His kingdom wasn’t of this world and His time had not yet come.
Wednesday: Walking on the Sea — Matthew 14:24-33; Mark 6:47-52; John 6:16-21
Jesus sent the disciples away and went to pray showing that spending time in prayer should be a priority. Yet, the Master was sensitive to the Holy Spirit and came to His disciples to save them from the stormy sea. When Jesus invited Peter to come to Him on the water, He extended to him an opportunity to share in spiritual authority. But Jesus had not made him self-sufficient, for when Peter got his eyes on the storm, he sank. Faith works but only faith that is planted in the source of all life, power, and authority.
Thursday: Healings at Gennesaret — Matthew 14:34-36; Mark 6:53-56
Gennesaret was a densely populated farming area west of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus’s fame had spread so that He was immediately recognized when He entered the area. Many of the infirm were brought to Him. The faith of those ordinary people was strong, and Jesus performed many miracles.
Friday: The True Bread of Life — John 6:22-59
How tragic that the people weren’t seeking the great spiritual blessings of Christ but only wanting to satisfy their physical hungers. Realizing this, Jesus made the connection between the literal need to be filled with perishable food to the figurative need to be filled spiritually with food that lasts eternally. Jesus said that He is that true, eternal bread of life. The Bible instructs us to seek God’s face, but so often we also are seeking only God’s hands, interested more in physical blessings and earthly riches.
Saturday: Turning from Jesus — John 6:60-71
When Jesus spoke about coming directly from heaven to minister life on the earth, many who followed Him turned away. The scripture, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29) explains what happened at this point. The people had faith in Jesus when they saw the miracles, but when He made claims they didn’t understand their belief waned and they abandoned Him. They wanted a king but not a savior.