Smoodock's Blog

There is a sharp contrast between believers and unbelievers.[1] No matter what proof is shown, unbelievers will always find an excuse not to believe the next time (John 6:14; cp. verse-30). New signs are sought, and there is a constant hunger and thirst for more and more proof that what Jesus claims is really true. Hence, after feeding 5000 strong with only a few loaves of unleavened bread and two fish, and then filling 12 baskets with the leftovers, the multitude who once followed John the Baptizer needed yet another sign from Jesus to prove merely believing in him was all the work they needed to do in order to satisfy the will of God (John 6:29-30). No matter what Jesus said, no matter what Jesus did, no matter how impressive the miracle, unbelievers will always need just one more in order to believe what Jesus says next. In other words, no matter what they do, they are in a constant state of hunger in their spirits and cannot be satisfied.

On the other hand, believers who have seen Jesus once in the spirit, can never **unsee** what they have perceived (cp. John 3:3). Just as no one can **unlive** a single moment of one’s life, neither can he who is born again **unexperience** what he has witnessed in the spirit. Hence, Jesus is enough! Receiving him and believing him satisfies one’s spiritual hunger and thirst forever (John 6:35). Life in the spirit is new and forever. Just as one cannot enter into one’s mother’s womb a second time and become unborn (cp. John 3:4), neither is one able to become unborn again in the spirit. That rest, that feeling of satisfaction is enough and needs nothing more, ever. Nothing else could ever be said or done that would increase one’s spiritual rest and satisfaction in Christ. Persecution might cause the weak in the faith to deny their experience, but such a denial is forced upon the weak. That would be like bringing pain upon a child and forcing him to say he lied, when he didn’t. Pain or not, denial or not, he still knows he told the truth (cp. Acts 26:11). So, once the pain and persecution is removed, it remains that nothing further is needed for the believer to embrace Christ publicly once more. He may have great sorrow for denying the truth and regret his weakness, but his spiritual hunger and thirst remains satisfied (2Timothy 2:12-13).

Therefore, in the deserted place of Bethsaida, where Christ brought the Apostles to rest (Mark 6:31-32; Luke 9:10), their rest was real, despite the apparent interruption by the multitude (cp. John 6:1-2). The miracle of the six loaves and two fish was not so much to provide a meal for the great crowd, as it was to encourage and the Twelve. In the recent preaching and healing mission they conducted in the cities of Galilee (Mark 6:7-13, 30), they provided a spiritual meal for many; one might say they provided a meal for multitudes from an endless supply within them. Not only were they able to sustain the spiritual need of others searching for God, but they would be continually satisfied themselves. As they gave it all away, more and more of the spiritual supply would be added. It is the way of the Kingdom of God to be extravagant, to be more than enough. They had planted a seed in the hearts of many that would grow and be enough to satisfy the spiritual hunger of many who long after God. Folks may not always be fully aware of God’s provision, but they can be satisfied in knowing that, in Christ, he is taking care of them, and to be in Christ, JESUS, is enough!

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[1] An unbeliever is not the same as a non-believer. A non-believer is someone who hasn’t met Christ, so he cannot believe in him. An unbeliever is someone who has met Christ and, yet, does not believe.