SCRIPTURE: JOHN 6
JESUS FEEDS THE FIVE THOUSAND (vs. 1-15)
Jesus crossed to the Sea of Galilee (also known as Sea of Tiberias) and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. Jesus sat with his disciples on the mountainside, When he saw the great crowd coming, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat? (v. 5) Philip answered him, “Eight months wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” (v. 7). Andrew spoke up saying “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” (v. 9). Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down. Then he took the loaves and fish, gave thanks and distributed them to the people. After they have eaten, Jesus told his disciples to gather the leftovers. So they gathered with 12 baskets of leftovers. After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world” (v. 14)
JESUS WALKS ON THE WATER (vs. 16-24)
When evening came, his disciples got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. When they had rowed 3 or 3-1/2 miles,, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water and they were terrified. But he said to them, “It is I, don’t be afraid.” (v. 20). So they took him into the boat and immediately the boat reached the shore.
JESUS THE BREAD OF LIFE (vs. 25-59)
When the crowd knew that Jesus went to Capernaum, they went to search for him. Then Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” (v. 26-27). then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” (v. 28) Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (v. 29) Then they asked him, “What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our forefathers ate manna in the desert; as it is written: “:he gave them bread from heaven to eat.” (v. 31) Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who 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.” (v. 32-33). So, they asked Jesus to give them this bread. then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. (v. 35-40)
Upon hearing what Jesus had said, they began to grumble because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They knew that Jesus was the son of Joseph and Mary. How can he say, “I came down from heaven?” (v. 41-43) Jesus told them to stop grumbling and said: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: “They will all be taught by God. Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (vs. 43-52). The Jews were arguing among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” (v. 52) Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, 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 real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.”(vs. 53-58)
MANY DISCIPLES DESERT JESUS (vs. 60-71)
The disciples considered what Jesus said as Hard Teachings. So Jesus said: “Does this offend you? What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before? The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe. This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.” (vs. 61-63) From this time, many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. Then Jesus asked the twelve if they also wanted to leave or not. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” (vs. 68-69) Then Jesus replied: “I have chosen twelve of you, yet one of you is a devil.” ( Judas Iscariot was the one who later betrayed Him.) (v. 70)
THOUGHTS:
Jesus asked Philip where they could buy a great amount of bread to teach him that financial resources are not important compared to what God can do. If there are important tasks that God wants you to do, don’t let your estimate of what can’t be done keep you from taking on the task. God can do miracles. Trust him to provide the resources.
The boy gave what little he had to Jesus and Jesus used it to perform a spectacular miracle that was recorded in the Gospel. Age is no barrier to Christ. Never think you are too young or old to be of service to God. Offer what you have and let God turn it to something great.
The leftovers gave us a lesson. God takes whatever time, ability or resources we can offer to him and multiplies its effectiveness beyond our expectations. If you take the first step to make yourself available to God, he will show you how he can use you to advance the work of his Kingdom. Jesus appeared to his disciples during a storm, walking on the water. He told them not to be afraid. Oftentimes, we may face spiritual and emotional storms in our lives. In spite of terrifying circumstances, we can trust our lives to Christ for his safekeeping and he will give us peace in any storm.
Jesus criticized the people who followed him only for the physical and temporal benefits and not for the satisfying of their spiritual hunger. Today, many people use religion to gain prestige, comfort or political advantage for self-centered motives. True believers follow Jesus simply because He is the truth and His way is the best.
Jesus calls himself the Bread of Life because he is the one who can satisfy our spiritual hunger. We must invite Christ into our daily walk to sustain our spiritual life.
Jesus works in union with God the Father. His purpose was to do the will of God not to satisfy his own human desires. When we follow Jesus, we should have the same purpose.
Anyone who makes a sincere commitment to believe in Jesus Christ as Savior is secure in God’s promise of eternal life. And they will be resurrected from physical death to eternal life with God when Christ comes again.
To eat the living bread means to accept Christ into our lives and become united with him. To drink his blood means to let God’s life become our own. The apostle Paul later used the body and blood imagery in talking about Communion.
Many of Jesus’ followers had deserted him. Judas stayed but tried to use Jesus for personal gain. Many people today turn away from Christ. Others pretend to follow by going to church for status, personal gain or business contacts. But there are only two real responses to Jesus. You either accept Him or reject Him. How do you respond to Christ?