John 6
-Jesus, some time
later according to John’s remembrance through the Holy Spirit, went away to the
other side of the Sea of Galilee (in the region of modern day Tiberias). A
large crowd was following Him because they saw the signs and miracles He was
performing on those who were sick. His popularity for peaking for obvious
reasons. He went up on a mountain and sat down with His disciples. John gives
more information on the timing of this event, which would’ve been spring time,
with his comment about how “the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near.”
Jesus, seeing the crowd and its size, pressed Philip with an examination
question knowing what He was about to do, “Where are we to buy bread, so that
these may eat?” Philip responded with an earthly reply, “Two hundred denarii (a
day’s wage) worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive
a little.” Andrew came up and let the Master know that there was a lad who had
five barley loaves and two fish, but he certainly had his doubts that is could
fed this enormous crowd. Jesus now had the folks sit down. There was much grass
in that place, and soon 5,000 men were sitting down in preparation. Jesus simply
took the loaves, gave the Father thanks, and began to distribute to all who
were seated. He did the same with the fish. The people got all that they
wanted. When they were filled, the Christ spoke to the disciples, “Gather up
the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost.” Upon gathering up the
scraps, they were able to fill 12 baskets from the five loaves. This miracle
initiated a rapid response by the people, “This is truly the Prophet who is to
come into the world.” Jesus quickly perceived that they were about to come and
take Him by force to make Him their king, so He departed in withdrawal to the
mountain to be alone by Himself (John 6:1-15).
-When evening came, His disciples went down to the sea. They
got in a boat and started to cross over towards Capernaum, on the northern side
of the sea. It had become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them, though they
knew where He was telling them to go (Mark 6:45-46). A storm came out of
nowhere upon the disciples as they crossed the sea, which was not an anomaly
for this region. This stirred the waves up, and when they had rowed about 3 or
4 miles, they perceived Jesus coming to them walking on the water. This freaked
them out, naturally. But He spoke to them to calm their fears, “It is I; do not
be afraid.” From another gospel, we see that this was the incidence when Peter
also walked out on water briefly (Matthew 14:22-33). Immediately as the
disciples were willing to receive Him into the boat they arrived at their
destination (John 6:16-21).
-The next day, there was no small discussion about how Jesus
had crossed over when there was only one small boat that had arrived. They
wandered when He had gotten there and how. Jesus deflects the questions and
controversy with this statement, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not
because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do
not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal
life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has
set His seal.” The crowd wanted to know what they needed to do to achieve these
works of God. Jesus took this opportunity to express a blessed truth, “This is
the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” A discussion ensued
concerning bread and the manna that God gave His people in the wilderness for
survival from out of Heaven. Jesus conferred the true spiritual bread out of
Heaven, which was Himself and His Spirit. This was eternal life giving bread,
and the people were hungry for it. Therefore, Jesus said to them, “I am the
Bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me
will never thirst (reference back to Living Water, John 4:10-14; 7:38-39).” He
maintained that there was still some unbelief in His audience, but then He made
another important theological statement, “All that the Father gives Me will
come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” He then
reiterated previous comments that He had not come from Heaven to do His own
will, but the will of God who sent Him. He promised that He would not lose
anything that His Father gave Him, and that He would raise them up on the last
day. This is resurrection power foretold. Then, He summed it all up, “For this
is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him
will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day (John
6:22-40).”
-*Application*- Jesus
gives us miracles for sustenance sometimes, but His greater work is the
spiritual Bread He gives us in providing our nourishment for eternal life. Are
we hungry for the right kind of Bread today? If we have trusted solely in Him
by His work on the cross, He is faithful and just to keep us and resurrect us
in the eschaton. Praise the Lord!!!
-The Jews were grumbling about Jesus because of His comments
about Him being the Bread that came out of Heaven. They knew His family, that
He was the Son of Joseph and Mary, but their understanding was limited. Jesus,
perceiving their thoughts and words, rebuked them for their attitudes. Then, He
prophesied and taught on His Father’s drawing of people to Himself. He
continued to defend His authority as being One with the Father and sent by Him.
He never backed down, even when faced with a grumbling-complaining spirit. He
maintained that the one who believes in Him would have eternal life and that He
was indeed the Bread of Life. He began to talk of delivering up His flesh for
this purpose, which caused an argument between the Jews. Then, Jesus gave them
some more to think about, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh
of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. He who eats
My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the
last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. He who eats My
flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the Living Father sent
Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live
because of Me. This is the Bread which came down out of Heaven; not as the fathers
ate and died; he who eats this Bread will live forever.” These things were all
said in the synagogue, which still has foundation stones to this day, in
Capernaum as He taught on the Kingdom of God (John 6:41-59).
-After hearing these intense spiritual words, even many of
His disciples thought that these statements were too difficult and hard to
grasp. However, Jesus, conscious of their grumblings at this, made a remark, “Does
this cause you to stumble? What then if
you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? It is the Spirit who
gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are
spirit and are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” The God-Man
knew from the beginning those who would accept Him and those who would not. He
even knew who it was who would betray Him, referencing Judas Iscariot. The resulting
consequence from all this as Jesus began to reveal Himself is that many of His
disciples withdrew from Him and walked with Him no more. This necessitated a
question to His twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” Simon Peter,
being a leading spokesman full of faith, replied wisely, “Lord, to whom shall
we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know
that You are the Holy One of God.” Jesus then reveals more of His submission to
the Father by stating that it was not Him who chose the twelve, and then He
explained that one in the group was a devil, again referring to Judas the son
of Simon Iscariot, who would betray Him (John 6:60-79).
*Application*- The
omniscience of Jesus startles us as we read these verses. He goes straight to
the heart of the matter and dissects every intention. We see His unity with the
Father and obedience that He never drifts from. This should be indicative of
the Spirit-filled life of the believer. How perceptive are we in the face of adversity
and speaking the truth even when we know it probably won’t be accepted and that
we will lose favor with people, or popularity? Will we continue to speak the
word from the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit in a difficult time? Whether
people accept it or reject it, Jesus still has the words of eternal life.
Verses to Memorize:
John 6:35, 63, 68
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