Scripture reading – John 6
Though not named among the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), the Gospel of John will sometimes present us with events in Christ’s life and ministry that are parallel and in harmony with the Synoptics. After all, John was one of the Twelve disciples, and his Gospel and Epistles bear record that he was an eyewitness to Christ’s daily ministry. The Gospel of John supplements the record of the Synoptics, sometimes recording parallel events but more often presenting details that add a different dimension to Christ’s person, doctrine, and life. While the Synoptics announce “the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” John’s focus was to declare eternal life is through Christ alone (John 3:16-18).
John 6:1-14 chronicled Christ “Feeding the 5,000” and added details the Synoptics did not present (not as a contradiction, but as a supplement to those Gospels). John 6:14-21 presents the scene where the disciples were in a great storm on the Sea of Galilee, and Jesus came to them walking on the waves of the water, and said, “It is I; be not afraid” (John 6:20). The balance of John 6 gives the events that followed the day after Jesus fed the 5,000, and rescued His disciples at sea (John 6:22).
The People Came Seeking Jesus (John 6:23-27)
The day after they witnessed the miraculous feeding of the 5,000, those who saw the miracle came to Jesus by boat (for He crossed the waters in the night, while the people remained on the other side, John 6:22-24). Arriving in Capernaum, the people found Jesus and His disciples and asked, “Rabbi [i.e., teacher], When camest thou hither?” (John 6:25)
Jesus’ response to their question revealed that He knew they were not seeking Him because they believed He was the Messiah but because they desired food to eat. Jesus declared, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled” (John 6:26). Christ, knowing their hearts, understood that the people had an appetite for physical food but not for the spiritual food he offered them.
Remember that Jesus spoke figuratively to the people as you read today’s Scripture. However, they interpreted what He said literally. The LORD, therefore, reproved the people for their selfish motives and said, “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed” (John 6:27). The people, taking what was said literally, asked, “What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?” (John 6:28). Once again, their interest was in what they could do, and thereby obtain food that would give them eternal life.
Correct Answer, Wrong Focus (John 6:29-34)
Jesus’ answer to their questions moved the conversation from their wrong focus (works) to the only way a sinner might please God—Faith.
Jesus declared, “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent” (John 6:29). How did the people respond? They demanded a “show me” religion and said, “What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?” (John 6:30)
Though they had witnessed His miracles, they required a physical, miraculous sign before they would believe. Still desiring bread for their physical appetites, they spoke of the “bread from heaven” when their forefathers were in the wilderness (John 6:31). Jesus corrected their assertion and reminded them that the bread their forefathers ate in the wilderness was physical bread. However, “the bread of God” they were offered was “the true bread from heaven…which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world” (John 6:32-33).
Still blind to the spiritual and symbolic truth Jesus taught, the people answered, “Lord, evermore give us this bread” (John 6:34). Jesus responded to their request emphatically and declared:
“I AM the Bread of Life.” (John 6:35-51)
He was the “Bread of Life,” which is only obtained by faith (John 6:35). The people had seen Jesus’ miracles. Still, they did not have faith (John 6:36). Christ declared that like the manna that fell from heaven and fed the people in the wilderness, He “came down from heaven, not to do [His] own will, but the will of him that sent [Him]” (John 6:38).
Many of the Jews rejected Jesus’ reference when He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven” (John 6:41). They murmured, for they knew Him as “the son of Joseph” (John 6:42). Jesus, knowing their thoughts, rebuked them and warned, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44).
Speaking figuratively, Jesus declared again, “48I am that bread of life…51I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6:48, 51).
Jesus Reproved the People (John 6:52-66)
Tragically, the people’s hearts were hard, and their eyes were blind. When Jesus offered them His flesh and blood (John 6:53-58), He implied His Word and doctrine.
How can we know Jesus was speaking of His doctrine? The answer is revealed in John 6:63, where we read, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63b).
Jesus offered the people eternal life if they believed Him and accepted His Word and doctrine. Sadly, we read, “From that time, many of His disciples [i.e., not the Twelve] went back and walked no more with Him” (John 6:66).
Jesus then turned to the Twelve and asked them, “Will ye also go away?” (John 6:67)
Peter answered the LORD and confessed, “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:68-69).
Jesus then foretold, “Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?” (John 6:70) What a powerful, prophetic declaration! Who of the Twelve was “a devil”? The disciples no doubt marveled that Jesus would make such a powerful statement, and of course, no one suspected Judas! John later wrote in His Gospel, “He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve” (John 6:71).
Closing thoughts –
Besides the Twelve, many had considered themselves “disciples” [students] and followers of Jesus Christ. However, when they understood salvation was through Christ alone, they rejected Him and walked away (John 6:66).
Sadly, the same is true of churches and congregations today. Many have “religion,” but I fear many lack a genuine, sincere relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
I urge you to examine your heart and confess you are a sinner and believe Jesus Christ died for your sins and rose from the dead. (1 John 5:11-13)
Copyright © 2024 – Travis D. Smith
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