We find Jesus once more with his disciples passing through Galilee, ready for their journey to the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem.

The following morning Jesus and his three disciples moved camp.

Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Christ also identified his followers as the Church.

They arrived at Caesarea Philippi. It would have taken two days to get there.

His ministry in that Gentile district was about to draw to a close.

The Jerusalem Scribes, who had been relentlessly stalking Jesus, had been away celebrating the Passover during the recent healings.

Another miracle is recorded in these parts, also on a heathen

This miracle meant that Jesus would get no rest as the fame of the healing spread.

Jesus needed a break. Too many discussions and opposing voices, disappointments and defections.

Those who had wanted to take Jesus by force and make him their Messiah-King now caught up with him.

Let’s recap. Jesus and his disciples left Capernaum for Bethsaida on a Thursday and the miraculous feeding of the multitude took place that evening, followed by the passage of the disciples to the other side of the lake and him walking on the waters, in the night of Thursday to Friday.

An irresistible impulse seized the people. They would proclaim him King, then and there.

Jesus and his disciples needed to get away from Capernaum and rest

In these circumstances, we empathise with John’s disciples, as months of this weary captivity pass.

John would have been held in a tiny keep in a citadel.

The scene has changed and the Baptist has become the prisoner of Herod Antipas.

Meanwhile, having sent his disciples off on their mission trip, Jesus himself taught and preached for a short time in the towns around Capernaum.

From now on he will begin to send out his disciples to spread the Gospel, to share his task and mission.

So Jesus left Capernaum and from this time onwards it ceases to be the centre of his activity and is only occasionally visited.

There seems remarkable similarity between the two miracles of Jesus on leaving Capernaum and those which he did on his return.