Following after Jesus #76

As Jesus' followers watched Him do miracle after miracle, occasionally the topic would keep returning to the question: "Had they learned the lesson of the loaves?" Finally, in Matthew 16, the disciples begin to understand, when this happens: 

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

The whole purpose of the feeding of the 5000 and the 4000, as well as His other miracles was to reveal to people Who He was: the Christ, the Son of the living God. He was not just a miracle worker. He was not only a prophet like Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah or John the Baptist. He was indeed God the Son, to be listened to, trusted in and obeyed more than any other. It was not the popular opinion. People wanted someone to give them handouts, to tell them they are okay, and to be there for them if and when they wanted Him to be. But He is far more: He IS the self-existent One, Who has always been there and always will be; He IS the all-powerful One, who gives life and whatever we need for it. He IS the all-knowing One, before Whom we all must stand.  And He came to let us know Him, trust Him, turn to Him, and follow Him.