The Way - Day 187 (John 6)

Pastor Tom's Journal on Today's Reading:
JOHN 6:1-15
In his writing, John has provided three signs or miracles to prove that Jesus is the Son of God and promised Messiah. Jesus' turning water into wine (2:1-11), healing of the nobleman's son (4:46-54), and healing of the paralyzed man (5:1-9) all demonstrated His deity and love for people, but His next miracle would display His power in a unique way. This next miracle of Jesus is the only one, except Jesus' resurrection, documented in all four gospels and may be one of the most well-known miracles of the Bible.

Jesus went to the northeast side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberius, and meets with His disciples on the mountain (6:1, 3). Because of the miracles and signs performed by Jesus, a "great multitude followed Him" (6:2). When Jesus sees the multitude which has followed Him, Matthew’s gospel informs us that Jesus was "moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick" (Matthew 14:14). A big dilemma arises when Jesus asks Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?" (6:5) Actually, this was not a predicament for Jesus, but He posed this question to Philip to "test him" or to see if Philip had faith in Jesus to feed all who had gathered (6:6a).

Jesus already knew how He would feed the thousands of people who were gathered (6:6b). Philip responds by saying, "Two hundred denarii [eight months wages] worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little" (6:7). Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, adds this comment, "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?" (6:8-9) From the reaction of both Philip and Andrew, the reader can assume that the crowd was too large to feed. In fact, John writes that there were 5,000 men, which means that there may have been around 20,000 people (including women and children) gathered to see Jesus. Commanding the disciples to seat all the people (6:10), Jesus performs one of the greatest miracles of His ministry.

"And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted" (6:11).

After everyone had been fed, Jesus commands His disciples to collect the leftovers, which filled twelve baskets (6:12-13). Jesus takes five loaves of bread and two fish to feed about 20,000 people and has some food left over. This is truly amazing!

When the people saw Jesus’ miracle they said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world" (6:14). The statement is an Old Testament reference to Moses' prediction of a Prophet, similar to himself, being raised up from Israel (Deuteronomy 18:15). The declaration of the people exposed their desire for a king who would provide all of their needs, but they missed the fact that He had been sent to save them from sin. They wanted a king who would remove Roman oppression, but not the oppression of sin.

"When Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed to the mountain by Himself alone" (6:15).

Why did Jesus stop this process? Jesus knew that God's will was not for Him to be a political savior, but to be a spiritual Savior. A political or military king could only bring temporary deliverance, but a spiritual Savior could bring permanent deliverance from the power and penalty of sin. Which kind of Savior are you looking for? One who can get you everything you want or One who can give you everything that you need?

JOHN 6:16-40
John had just documented one of Jesus' most significant miracles. Jesus demonstrated His power and deity by using five loaves of bread and two fish to feed approximately 20,000 people (John 6:1-15). All four gospel writers wrote about this miracle, making it the only one (except Jesus’ resurrection) covered in every gospel account. The people's response to the miracle was less than desirable (John 6:2, 14-15) because they were only interested in what Jesus could do, and not in who He was. God the Father had sent Jesus Christ to save people from their sins (Matthew 1:21), not just bring physical healing of the sick and diseased.

The feeding of the 5,000 was the fourth miracle John wrote about so that people would "…believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name" (John 20:31). In John 6:16-21 John documents Jesus' fifth miracle - walking on water. As soon as Jesus finishes feeding the 5,000, He tells His disciples to depart and travel toward Capernaum while He goes up into the mountain to be alone (6:15b). Matthew and Mark indicate that Jesus went into the mountain to pray.

The disciples got into a boat and began rowing toward Capernaum, but a "great wind" arose in the sea causing them to be in great danger (6:16-18). After their attempts to control the boat failed, they saw “a ghost” walking out on the water (Matthew 14:26; Mark 6:49) and became very fearful. Jesus, the One walking on the troubled sea, spoke out to them saying, "It is I; do not be afraid" (6:19-20). When the disciples realized it was Jesus walking on the water, they brought Him into the boat "and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going" (6:21). In reality, two miracles were performed here -  Jesus walking on the water and the boat immediately arriving at its destination when Jesus got in. These two miracles not only proved Jesus' deity, but His power over nature and time.

The next day, many who had witnessed the feeding of the 5,000 were still at the place near the sea, but they noticed…

"…that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone..." (6:22).

The multitude of people did not know how Jesus had arrived in Capernaum, but they decided to follow Him to that place because many had seen and heard what He had done (6:23-24). When the people found Jesus in Capernaum, they began questioning Him about how he had arrived there since there were no other boats, but Jesus did not explain the miracle to them (6:25). Instead of explaining His miracle, Jesus begins what is known as His discourse on the bread of life, which John recorded in 6:26-59.

Jesus begins His discourse by pointing out that they had followed Him "…not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled" (6:26). The people were not interested in Jesus' identity as the Savior from sin, but only as the One who could provide food for them.

"Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him" (6:27).
Physical food would temporarily satisfy, but Jesus could provide eternal satisfaction to those who would believe in Him. The people listening thought there was something they needed to do to receive eternal life (6:28), but Jesus declared that everlasting life could only be received through believing in the One whom God the Father had sent as His witness (6:29). As if the miracles Jesus had already demonstrated were not enough, the people inquired about what further things He would do to warrant their belief (6:30). The people even referenced how God had given a miraculous sign (manna from heaven) to Israel through the works of Moses. This response of the people indicated that the signs Jesus had already done were not enough for them to believe in Him (6:31). They were declaring that Jesus' miracle of feeding the 5,000 was nothing in comparison to what Moses had done for the children of Israel. Jesus quickly responded to their distorted thinking.

"Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world" (6:32-33).

Still thinking that Jesus was speaking of physical provision, the people said to Him, "Lord, give us this bread always" (6:34). Since they did not understand that Jesus was the bread of life who could give eternal life (not just temporary life), He had to speak to them very plainly.

“I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day” (6:35-40).

JOHN 6:41-71
Jesus' feeding of the 5,000 (6:1-15) had caused a stir among the people in Capernaum, but many were only attracted to Him because of the miracles and signs (6:2, 14-15). God the Father had given Jesus power to perform supernatural signs to validate that He was truly the Messiah and Savior; however, the people wished to receive Jesus' physical blessings (healings and provision of food) without worshipping Him as their Savior. Jesus' feeding of the 5,000 with only five loaves of bread and two fish was a symbol for an even greater truth - Jesus is the bread of life. This meant that He would not only provide physical life through food, but also eternal life to those who would believe in Him (6:35-40).

When the Jews heard all that Jesus was saying, they complained against Him because He had declared that He was "the bread which came down from heaven" (6:41). Jesus' statement made Him equal with God, which the Jews could not accept. Instead of attempting to defend His deity, Jesus spoke to them saying -

“...he who believes in Me has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.  This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world” (6:47-51).

Still failing to comprehend what Jesus was saying, the Jews asked, "How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?" (6:52) The Jews had misunderstood Jesus' analogy. He was not speaking of literal food, but spiritual food. Food and drink sustain a person's physical life, just as Jesus' body and blood would sustain eternal life to all who would repent and believe. Jesus gave His body and blood on the cross so that the sinner could be given life through Him. Jesus tries to explain His teaching to them one last time.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 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 feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven--not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever” (6:53-58).

After Jesus spoke these words in the synagogue at Capernaum (6:59), His own disciples (not the 12) complained that what He had said was a "…hard saying; who can understand it?" (6:60) Jesus perceived that His own disciples had complained about His declaration of being the bread of life.

"Does this offend you? What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe" (6:61-64).

Jesus knew some were only following Him because of His supernatural works (6:64b). Rather than being frustrated by this, Jesus knew that not all people would believe in Him (6:65). As a result of Jesus' hard sayings, "many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more" (6:66). Turning to His own disciples, Jesus asks them if they also want to abandon Him (6:67). Simon Peter quickly responds.

"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (6:68-69).
Although Peter's statement was heartfelt, Jesus knew that not all of His twelve disciples believed in Him.

"'Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?' He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve" (6:70-71).
This is a very sad statement considering that Judas, who would eventually betray Him, observed and participated in Jesus' ministry, but his heart was never genuine. All of us must closely examine our hearts to make sure we are following Jesus because of who He is, and not just because of the benefits He may bring.

Dear God, I desire to be a genuine follower of You - not just so I can claim the benefits of being Your child, but to also receive You as the One who has provided eternal life.