Encourage Others to Seek Jesus

On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus (John 6:22-24).

Today, the Spirit of Truth directs our attention to the crowd that was left behind. They discovered that both Jesus and the disciples were gone, but there was no natural explanation for how the Lord caught up to the disciples. The night before there was only one boat there and they saw that Jesus did not get into that boat with His disciples. He had retreated up the mountain while they entered the boat. We do not yet know why they were seeking Jesus. We only know that after experiencing the miracle that fed their hungry stomachs they were looking for Jesus. When they discovered that He was not there, they could have given up and returned to their homes. Other boats from Tiberias came near and they jumped into the boats and headed toward Capernaum. Why Capernaum? Perhaps it was because they learned that Jesus lived in Capernaum… “And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali” (Matthew 4:13). Perhaps it was because they knew the disciples went there and they believed that Jesus would be wherever His disciples were… “When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum” (John 6:16-17). The Spirit does not reveal the reasons why the crowd chose to cross the Sea of Galilee, but He does teach truth seekers here about how to encourage others to seek Jesus.

When we became a disciple of Christ, He rearranged our priorities. Near the top of the list is the command to make disciples… “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). How are you doing as a soul winner and disciple maker? Many simply don’t know how to get started in this precious work.  We learn today that Jesus started His disciple making work by drawing a crowd and inspiring them to follow Him. In today’s text the Teacher reveals three divine ways Jesus drew crowds.

First, Jesus met the practical needs of others. This is how Jesus demonstrated His love. Paul urged the young pastor Titus to exhort disciples to imitate Christ by meeting the needs of others… “And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful” (Titus 3:14). Without responding to the urgent needs of others, the disciple’s life will be unfruitful. The Spirit moved John to echo this truth in one of his letters to the church… “If anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:17-18). When we serve others we show the love of God, and we attract a desperately needy crowd to Christ.

Second, Jesus performed miracles and signs to confirm His divinity and to attract crowds to follow Him… “The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign” (John 12:18). He gave His disciples the power to perform crowd gathering signs too… “He called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. Luke 9:1-2

Finally, the crowd followed the disciples. They were close to Jesus, embraced His truth, and loved each other. Disciples abiding in His truth and freedom still attract others… “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). Disciples sharing His love still attract others… “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Diligent disciples lift Christ up and He attracts others to Himself… “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32).

As we grow up into Christ abiding in His truth, trusting Him for miracles and signs, and loving others we will become fruitful disciples who attract crowds and…

Encourage Others to Seek Jesus.