Breaking the Word

The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples in the boat, but only his disciples had left. Other boats came from Tiberias near the place where they had eaten the bread when the Lord gave thanks. When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. And when they found him across the sea they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?" Jesus answered them and said, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal." So they said to him, "What can we do to accomplish the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent." (Jn 6:22-29)

The reaction of the crowds is beautifully narrated by the author. The crowds were puzzled like the disciples and the people also saw the moves of Jesus in detail. They followed him so closely. They knew that Jesus had not gone with the disciples but when they reached Capernaum they found him there already arrived. The author leaves puzzled with this situation and he does not answer. The answer is found only by those who believe in Jesus whom God has sent.

People who ate the bread and the fish were very factual. They accepted those facts that had taken place in front of them. But they did not proceed from that to the message that Jesus wanted to make them realize and be aware of. Jesus was giving them a wilderness experience: bread from heaven and fish for them to eat. He was leading them into a new exodus; a new Passover. The people did not see the signs they only saw the material food that perishes.

The lesson that Jesus taught the people was that they have to accomplish the works of God. They have to see God in life and live Godly life and reveal God to the world. This can be done only by believing in Jesus. Jesus, because he is the one sent by God. Jesus is Godly and that is why he speaks of God and does Godly things. To do the works of God belief in Jesus is essential. 

Now that very day two of them were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them, "What are you discussing as you walk along?" …

Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning (within us) while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?" So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, "The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!" Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. (Lk 24:13-35)

Jesus was very personal in dealing with his disciples and he never forced his way through. When these two were on their way home Jesus also took the same road along with them. He pretended even to go the same way and further on. He listened to their woes and allowed them to talk and express themselves fully. He did not straight away tell them that they were foolish or that they were wrong in their thinking and calculations.

Jesus was very obliging. When the disciples asked him to stay with them he took the chance immediately and stayed with them. Since his main concern was the disciples he was ready to go even that length to please them. He went along with them and he obliged them to make them feel that they were almost right. He let them do as they wished.

He vanished from their sight. As soon as the job was done Jesus was not there anymore. He did not go there to received honours and degrees but to make the disciples realize that the scriptures were fulfilled in Jesus. If he had continued there to be with them then they themselves would have continued in Emmaus. Since Jesus vanished from their sight they ran back to Jerusalem to announce to the other disciples what they had experienced. He walked with them; he obliged them and he revealed to them and then he vanished from them so that they could continue the same mission.