John 6:22-27 : On the next day, the multitude that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except the one in which his disciples had embarked, and that Jesus hadn’t entered with his disciples into the boat, but his disciples had gone away alone. However boats from Tiberias came near to the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. When the multitude therefore saw that Jesus wasn’t there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats, and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the sea, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves, and were filled. Don’t work for the food which perishes, but for the food which remains to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has sealed him.”

The masses that just got free food decided to stay around Jesus. From a world perspective, this makes good sense. In this world we have to work to eat, so we think. These people realized that it was probably cheaper to try to keep up with Jesus and eat food from Him than to go to work. It ended up being work to keep up with a Man who walks across lakes in storms at night.

What’s interesting is that Jesus doesn’t really fault the people for not going back to work and earning their own food. Instead, He accuses them of working for food!

These people were still working because they had to follow Jesus around to get fed. In their hearts they were still working for the physical benefits and Jesus knew it. Jesus was seeking those who would do the work that is required to get eternal life. That work is unusual, as the next verses explain.

Notice all the work that goes into getting “free” stuff? Here’s a list of the work people did:

• Noted the number of boats on the shore
• Noted the disciples got in the boat without Jesus
• Waited for boats from Tiberias
• Searched the boats for Jesus or His disciples
• Took a boat trip to Capernaum
• Search on the Capernaum side

Often, things that seem free really aren’t if you count the total cost. The main point is, though, that they were not seeking Jesus because He was the one to give them life, but because He gave them food and did pretty neat miracles.

Science and History: When faced with the supernatural, forensics don’t work on their own. In our world, evidence of this simple misunderstanding is widespread. Only historic evidence based on witnesses can be relied upon in a world in which miracles do happen. What would have happened if the disciples were called into a court of law in which only forensic evidence was permitted? Based on natural laws, these men would probably be considered liars or insane for asserting that Jesus came to them walking on water during a storm at night. Science simply cannot replace the eyes of a witness in the case of a supernatural event. If an attempt is made to do so, innocent people get accused, just as Jesus was. Science in a supernatural world can only be used to prove or disprove a witness. It cannot be used to fabricate truth. The theory of evolution is just such an attempt. If a witness exists, the forensic evidence can be used to discredit the witness, but it cannot adequately create history.