John 6:23

A day goes by before the people on the far side of the sea realize the disciples’ boat is gone.  They also know Jesus had not boarded the boat before the disciples departed on their own.  John 6:23 EFP

This appears to be a parenthetical statement.  It says a lot about the perception of the people on the far side of the sea.  They are a perceptive bunch.  Nothing escapes them.  In short they summarize the disciples are gone, their boat is gone, and Jesus did not leave with them the day before.  These were the people who wanted to declare Jesus king the day before.  They had seen Jesus rebuff their advances and disappear.  They must have also seen the disciples’ reaction to Jesus’ decision and their subsequent departure.  Now what?

It doesn’t matter if we are at home or “on the other side of the sea,” people are looking and taking note of what we do and how we act.  We may not think that anyone is watching; but when you least expect it—expect it.  My words, my actions, and my reactions to situations that may not be to my liking are more powerful than any sermon I might preach.  It might be more prestigious to wax eloquent from behind a pulpit, a desk, or from behind the bench; but it is what I do and say in the heat of the moment outside the spotlight that will carry the most weight.  The ripples can spread quickly and create a tsunami of ill-will.  God help me.