Jesus Fed How Many, With What?
If you have not done so yet, please read John 6:1-70
John 6:1-15
As we enter in to this passage of scripture we find that Jesus has crossed over to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee. There a great crowd of people followed him, because they ‘saw’ the miracles he had performed on the sick. He went up on the mountainside with his disciples. When Jesus saw all the people, He asked Philip, “where are we going to purchase food for all of these people”? The scripture says that Jesus did this to test him. (very sneaky of Jesus~~you already knew the answer). Well, another disciple found a small boy who had five small loaves of bread and two small fish. We all know what happened, don’t we? After Jesus gave thanks, for the food…..it turned into a-lot of food…..even some leftovers. After the people saw this miraculous sign, they said, “he is the Prophet who is come into the world“. (prophet is a reference to Christ; see Deuteronomy 18) In verse 15 we see Jesus gettin’ out of there real fast, those folks had thoughts of making him a king, by force.
Because I have read the entire 6th chapter, I feel that one of the (many) reasons John includes the miraculous feeding (in his Gospel), is to make way for the accounts that follow. Remember, Jesus has just supplied the people with physical food.
They Were Terrified!
John 6:16-24
Verse 15 tells us that Jesus went up to the mountain by himself. So, when the evening came, the disciples went down by the sea of Galilee, got into a boat and set off for Capernaum. It was very dark and spooky. The wind began to blow and the waves crashed into the boat, tossing and turning…..ooh!….are you scared yet? After a while the disciples saw a figure walking toward them (they were probably like a bunch of kids…big eyed…clutching onto one another…probably not screaming like a bunch of girls…..) Do you think they were surprised when Jesus spoke to them? Anyway, Jesus said, “it is I; don’t be afraid“. Jesus got in the boat, and they reached the place they were headed to. I think that the moment Jesus spoke to the disciples, they were comforted. Can you imagine actually hearing the audible voice of Christ?
The next day, when the people realized that Jesus wasn’t there (where He had blessed the food), they got into their boats and went searching for him.
Spiritual Food
John 6:25-59
I find it interesting that Jesus didn’t answer the question, “when did you get here”? I think He told them this…”you didn’t come here because you believe (spiritually), but because I filled your bellys (physically). Look at me for eternity, not the pacifiers of daily life. Work for food that gives eternal life.”
Jesus said to the people, “the work of God is to believe in the one he has sent”. The people still don’t get it, they asked for a sign comparable to the one Moses gave their forefathers in the desert….manna…bread from heaven.
I love to think about the disciples, standing back and watching all of this take place. It’s like Jesus is putting on a public display for the disciples, to teach them (and I’m sure trying to teach the people). Jesus tells them that the Father, who gave their fathers, food to fill their bellys, is the Father who is giving them spiritual bread for their souls. Jesus says, “I am the bread of life. Believe in me, and you will never be hungry or thirsty. You see me, but you don’t believe in me.”
Verse 40 is wonderful. It says, “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.” It is God’s will that no one who believes in Christ, should be rejected or lost.
Jesus is trying so hard to teach them that eternal life does not come from the physical food (something outward) that He gave them, but from who He is. God created us to find joy in life through a spiritual relationship, with Him. God sent His Son to give us back that joyful life that was lost through sin. I would encourage you (and myself) to re-read verses 25-59. Write down how many times Jesus uses the word(s) life or live. He is the ‘Bread of Life’.
This Is Hard Teaching!
John 6:60-70
“Jesus, you just told us that your flesh is the real food and your blood is the real drink! Do you really expect us to accept this (verse 55)”? Jesus just says,” does this offend you? The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life!” And the word says, many of these people turned back and no longer followed him. Then He asks the twelve, “Don’t you want to leave too”? Peter said, “Lord, where would we go? You have the words of eternal life. We BELIEVE and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
One question comes to my mind right now. Why do some people not believe? Is it the difference between being a student and a disciple. The student does a good job in the class just to get and “A”. The disciple wants to “B” like the teacher. Is it a matter of commitment? It’s one thing to hear the Word, it is another thing to apply it to life. Is it like the people in chapter 6, who find Jesus teachings hard to accept…because it was hard teaching? We should all pray to be like Peter, who put his faith in the Holy One, despite the difficulty. “Lord, to whom shall we go~~We Believe”?
Thought to ponder: Eliminate Other Spiritual Options ~~ Put Your Faith In The Holy One, Sent From God The Father
Tomorrow: John 7 & 8
This entry was posted on Thursday, February 18th, 2010 at 10:11 pm and is filed under Bible Studies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
