John Ch.6

1 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 

2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick.

It is inevitable that people on mass were following Jesus, because of the signs and wonders he was working: Nothing has really changed between then and now; and the Bible makes it clear that it will be this way at the end - see Matthew 24:24-25 and Revelation 13:13-14 (It is worth noting that in Revelation 13, it appears that the one performing these signs, is the same one who sets up what Jesus called “the abomination of desolation” in the Holy Place) We must be so careful about pursuing signs, wonders and miracles…

3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 

4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.

5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?”

See vs.35 (and Isaiah 55:1-2) - the answer is coming:

The Lord will have compassion on these masses: It is the feast of Passover and yet they are like sheep without a shepherd. This next miracle will mark the beginning of the over-arching theme of this chapter: The Lord Our Provider - see Genesis 22:1-18. But as we read in Genesis 22, this provision is about so much more than food.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2022%3A1-18&version=ESV

7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” (One denarii was worth one day’s wages.)

This gives us an idea as to how many people were there. 

8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him,

9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”

Andrew’s question here, could be likened to the question asked by Isaac to his father:

Genesis 22:7-8

“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

The Lord is once again, about to provide.

{Note how the Lord uses a young boy in both these instances}

The disciples couldn’t feed the 5000 plus who were in need any more than we could provide our own sacrifice for our own sins: This is something that God - and God alone can do: And here, at this impromptu Passover gathering, is where we will see the first foreshadowing of YHWH Yireh - “The Lord our Provider. 

10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number.

11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. (See Matthew 26:26) 

So also the fish, as much as they wanted. (Psalm 146:7;)

{Note: Jesus didn’t “decree and declare” here; he didn’t demand…and he didn’t command: He simply “gave thanks”.}

12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 

*The Symbolism 

Because it is his will that none should perish and ALL should come to repentance. 2Peter 3:9 (Also see  Luke 14:15-24)

Here we see Jesus Our Passover Lamb…our life-giving blood…our Bread of Heaven: Feeding 5000 wandering sheep at Passover is symbolic of his  protection…his covering…and his provision - both physical and spiritual, which will ultimately come to fulfillment through his death on the cross. Remember Genesis 22:1-18

{For more on Genesis 22: The Lord’s Provision, see: http://sarahshalom777.blogspot.com/2020/12/where-is-jesus-1.html}

This huge impromptu picnic on a hill also brings to mind another major feast of the Lord: Tabernacles (read Leviticus 23) - which will see its fulfillment in Revelation ch.21 & 22: Where at the end of days, the Lord will come and dwell - not just in us - but among us forever and we will all sup with him! - Just as these 5000 were literally supping with the Lord and they didn’t know it…

Later on in this chapter, Jesus will give us a vital key as to whom this feast points to and how to prepare for it.

Whether or not we receive this key - which opens the Way to God - is up to us.

13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.

*The Symbolism:

Twelve baskets of leftovers; enough to feed all twelve tribes of Israel all over again! It is as if the Lord is saying to these Jews who have followed him “My mercies and compassion for you will never run out.” (Again, remember Isaiah 55:1-2) This could also be pointing to the Lord’s Remembrance of Israel at the time of the End: see Revelation 7:1-7

Here is a foreshadowing of two feasts of the Lord: Passover - pointing towards his first coming; and Tabernacles- pointing towards his second. So, maybe this is God’s way of directing the people’s attention - and ours - not to either the feast of Passover…or Tabernacles - but to the One who will fulfill them! (If we are celebrating these feasts today with our Jewish brothers and sisters - and especially if we are celebrating with non-believing Jews, we must never forget, whom they are pointing to - and who has, and will fulfill them.)

14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”

What would bring people to this conclusion? Remember the Pharisees’ question to John in ch.1:21? They could have been thinking of Moses (Deuteronomy 8:1-18) or they could have been thinking of Elijah (1Kings 17:7-16): Only Jesus truly knows…and he will take the appropriate action:

15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

These people perceived only the PHYSICAL sign of the loaves and fishes and therefore tried to physically make him King (thinking “he can physically feed us so he can physically fight the Romans”); not perceiving that his Kingdom was spiritual and not to be seen through natural eyes.

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 

17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 

18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 

19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 

20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 

21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

He has had to hide himself from the folly of those who as yet, are unable to understand: 

But gradually…one parable…one miracle at a time, he is revealing to his disciples who he really is.

When we are walking with the Lord it is never in our own strength: Just like the disciples in the boat, whose striving against wind ceased when Jesus entered their boat: Now Jesus invites us to enter His rest, by  inviting Him into our lives daily, that our striving too may cease. Because he has already finished the work.

22 On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 

23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.

Again, John places all the emphasis for this miracle on Jesus giving thanks.

24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 

26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.

The signs were supposed to help reveal to the people who Jesus was.

Yes, the body needs food: But so much more than this, does is the soul need Jesus Christ. 

Jesus is so patient here however; knowing full well that the hunger of these people is not for spiritual food, but physical: so he goes on to say this:

27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”(Matthew 6:19-34)

Again, Jesus is not concealing his identity, but piece by piece, through one miracle after another, he is showing the people who he truly is.

Just as Jesus promised the Samaritan woman living water; he is now talking to these people about living eternal “food”

{Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Matthew 26:26}

If we look at the above scripture, we start to get an idea of where Jesus is going with this: This symbolism has a much more serious connotation, as we will see later. 

28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 

29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

Again: Here is the Gospel: We cannot save ourselves; we cannot do enough works to earn God’s favor…we cannot offer enough sacrifices to atone for our sins: But the Lord did the work…The Lord provided the Sacrifice (remember Genesis 22:7-8). Jesus Christ will satisfy this huge demand on our behalf, through his vicarious death on the Cross: What is required of us? To believe on Him & trust in him - completely. (Genesis 22 is a foreshadowing of this event: as Abraham believed the Lord’s promise and trusted him, with even his only son, we must do the same.)

30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform?

Even though Jesus exhorts them to believe/have faith in him, their demanding a sign is evidence that they don’t - and for the time being, they won’t. Matthew 12:38-40

31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 

It seems from this verse that they are thinking and likely discussing among themselves: “Is he the prophet Moses spoke about…the one who would be just like him?” (See Deuteronomy 18:15-19).

 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 

33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

This statement is comparable to that of the Samaritan woman:

“Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” (Ch.4:15)

Once again, here is the reference to the “Bread of Heaven.” But what - or who is the Bread from Heaven, that gives life to the world?

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

What is Jesus saying here: That he was the manna from Heaven, provided by the Lord? Yes but more than that: This manna was a foreshadowing of the Lord’s provision for us, in a much more permanent way - one where we would never lack for anything we needed ever again: 

“God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” (Genesis 22:8). That provision…that sacrifice…is Jesus Christ.

Jesus is using the illustration of bread (vs.1-20) and water (ch.4:1-20) to show us, that through him the Lord is providing for us…not food or water, but Life itself: Without Jesus, we all, without exception, will die. (Genesis 2:17)

Again we are reminded of his conversion with the Samaritan woman: “Sir, give me this water…”

They are both wanting what Jesus is offering; but with one difference: the Samaritan woman’s heart was open to recognize Jesus, and humble herself before Him: the hearts of these people clearly are not.

36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 

37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. (See Hebrews 11:6)

38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 

In saying this, he is displaying yet again, the character of God, through the Perfect Man, Jesus Christ. He will do this to the very last. See Matthew 26:39

39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. (Compare with vs.12)

This is his promise according to the prophecy of King David in Psalm 16:9-11 ~ to all of us who would follow him: Once again, offending the Sadducees, who do not believe in a resurrection; 

and offending the  Pharisees, because he is saying that it is through him that the dead are raised. 

41 So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 

42 They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”

Because the greatest danger is when we think we already “know” See ch.9:39-41

43 Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 

44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. 

In other words Jesus is not going to give them a sign…he will not prove himself or attempt to persuade them in any way. He already knows the ones whom his Father has given him. (See again ch.4)

45 It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— 

See Matthew 5:3-8. 

Apart from the 12 apostles and the “women who followed Jesus” in Luke 8:2-3, examples of these include, the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4), the Canaanite woman (Matthew 15), the woman with the issue of blood (Luke 8), the Roman centurion (Luke 7), the man born blind (John 9), Zacheus the tax collector (Luke 19), Nicodemus the Pharisee (John 3 & 19:39-42), Jirus the synagogue leader (Luke 8) and the penitent thief on the cross (Luke 23).

46 not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father.

Jesus is again expressing his deity.

47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 

48 I am the bread of life. 

49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.

50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 

51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.”And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:18

The veil is being lifted from before the eyes of the Jewish people: many are astounded…many horrified. Jesus will continue to refer to himself as “I AM” throughout the Gospel of John: In no other Gospel do we see such a deliberate “revelation of Jesus Christ” at such an early stage of his ministry: 

52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

 53 So Jesus said to them, “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 you.

How can this possibly be? 

They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. See Exodus 12:1-13

Think on the spotless sacrificial lamb of the Passover, that must be fully and completely eaten by the people (with nothing left over), for atonement for their sins;

Jesus Christ, the perfect spotless Lamb of God (remember ch.1:29) must be fully and completely accepted by us, if our sins are to be removed. Eating his flesh and drinking his blood are expressions of this.

54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 

55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 

This again goes back to the woman of Samaria in Ch.4: We need Jesus Christ more than we need food or water.

"For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, 'You are not to eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off'.” Leviticus 17:14

The blood could not be consumed along with the flesh. Why? Because the blood is the life of a creature. 

But according to the words of Jesus, there is about to come a change - a radical change…not centering around flesh…or blood - but eternal life itself: 

Jesus is freely laying down his life for us  - giving his life to us; Jesus’s blood is pure, perfect, eternal resurrection Life for all of us. And must be in a sense “consumed”. (See also vs.63)

56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 

57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. 

Jesus again uses this metaphor of “feeding on his father” to show that, as the Son of Man, his soul needed communion with the Father in order to live, like the body needs water and food: He then opens up this invitation to the people (See Isaiah 55:1-2)

58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”

 Not to be taken literally, this is an incredibly powerful…almost shocking metaphor of how we daily “take Jesus” into our lives…how we make Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior…of how we “abide” in him - vs.56. And that only through doing this, can we receive eternal resurrection life.

This would have been equally shocking to his disciples, who as yet, have no concept of the horrifically shocking…shameful death he is about to endure for them - and all humanity.

Jesus will however, make this all very clear to his disciples when he eats his final meal with them; which just happens to be the Passover: 

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Matthew 26:26

Here, Jesus will leave his final instructions: Ordinances to abide by and follow; first for them…and then for followers of Jesus everywhere.

These ordinances have spanned time and space; and are still as real and relevant to us today as they were to those first disciples…at that last Passover supper…

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 

for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 

I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.” Matthew 26:27-29

59 Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.

60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?”

61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 

62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 

63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (Remember Ch.3:6-7)

Jesus again openly declares his deity, while challenging their unbelief. In speaking and revealing such Truth, he is exposing and bringing to the surface, the sin and unbelief in everyone. Why? Because only when sin is exposed for what it is, can it be dealt with ie, repented of. It could be that many of these followers will become true disciples following his Resurrection from the dead (See Acts Ch.2).

What was the sin? 

Not believing or recognizing the One whom the Father sent…and of all people, these “children of Abraham” should have been the first to believe. (see ch.5:18-47)

64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 

65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

How sobering to realize that not only the faithful disciples were brought to Jesus by the Father, but also the disciple who would epitomize sin completely, by willfully betraying the his Master who loved him, up to death. See Psalm 41:9-10

66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 

67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”

68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,

69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

Whether we follow Jesus Christ truly and sincerely or not, will depend upon this one factor: Do we believe he is “the Holy One of God.” and that he has “the words of eternal life”? If the answer is yes, than like these disciples, though we do not understand…though we fail…though we fall…we will follow to the end: Because, like Peter, we will recognize that we have nowhere else to go…

70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” 

71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.

Again, this is pointing to the ultimate act of  betrayal:

“Even my close friend in whom I trusted,
    who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
10 But you, O Lord, be gracious to me,
    and raise me up, that I may repay them!” Psalm 41:9-10