Page 77 - Advanced Life of Christ - Student Textbook

Though the nation rejected Jesus’ claims of being the Messiah, the Son of God, the Jews considered
Jesus to be a folk hero of the masses. They sought Jesus out for what He could do for them. He could
feed them and heal them, and they were fascinated with this wonder Worker, even though that
fascination was self-serving and shallow.

Only John records that mad dash of the crowds that ensued on the following day of the feeding. They
sought to find Jesus to make Him king. They found Him in the synagogue in Capernaum. It is here that
Jesus declares Himself as the Bread of Life which came down from Heaven. The people knew Him as the
son of Joseph and Mary who came from Nazareth, not from Heaven. Then Jesus shifted the discussion
to believing “in Him who He sent” (John 6:29). They talked about eating His flesh and drinking His blood,
all in reference to the sacrificial death, which was to come to pay for their sins, but they misunderstood
Him completely.

John 6: 60-71 records the massive desertion of Christ’s disciples as a result of this discussion in the
synagogue. Even Jesus’ twelve were grumbling about what Jesus told them. As his followers departed,
Jesus asked the twelve if they would depart also. Peter declared to Jesus, “Lord, You have the words of
eternal life. You are the Holy One of God”. His disciples remained steadfast, although one was to betray
Him.

Unsuccessful Attempts to Find Solitude with His Apostles (Mark 7:24-30 and Matthew 15:21-28; Mark
7:31 and Matthew 15:29-38; Matthew 15:39 and Mark 8:10-21)

At this point in Jesus’ ministry, His sacrificial death was imminent. At this point, Jesus’ ministry changed
dramatically. He had discerned that the hardness of the generation of Jews was fully mature and that
they had determined to disbelieve no matter what evidence Christ presented. Thus, Jesus set out to
find solitude with His disciples in preparation for His departure. They would represent Him to the world,
so He had to get them ready to stand alone for truth.

Jesus’ obstacle was that the masses viewed Jesus as a miracle Worker who could help them in amazing
ways. He was viewed as a spectacular magician, not as Messiah. But He was still wildly popular with the
common man, even beyond the borders of Judea. It was at this point in ministry that Jesus began to
inform His disciples that He was going to die at the hands of His enemies. Until this point, Jesus had
never openly spoken of dying. So, as Jesus moved forward, His concentration in ministry was to work
more closely with His twelve, preparing them for His departure, and in isolating Himself from the
unbelieving crowds.

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