John 6:1-40 – “Jesus’ miracle keeps the people coming back for more”
(David Bacon)
John 6:1–40 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. 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?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 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?” 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. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 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!”
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.
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.
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. 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. 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.” 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.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 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.”
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. 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. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 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. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
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Today’s passage was rather long, but it is essential to tie two things together. First, it shows us Jesus’ amazing power through the multiplying of the bread and fish. Second, Jesus uses that example to point the people to himself for lifesaving power.
In the first part of the story, we read of the famous feeding of 5000 people using just five barley loaves and two fish. Jesus demonstrates his miraculous power over nature by multiplying matter. This fantastic feat is something that no human is able to do*. After this miraculous feast, the narrative moves across the sea. Other gospels include more details regarding the harrowing journey across the sea (or perhaps a different event altogether), but even in this abbreviated version, we know that Jesus is miraculously able to walk on the tormentous sea to get to the boat. Jesus’ presence aboard the boat allows them to get to the shore immediately and safely.
Finally we get to the pinnacle of this story. Jesus has shown his power through the miraculous feeding and then walking on water. Now the people have again searched for him and found him on the other side of the sea. They are hungry again and want Jesus to miraculously feed them again. When they catch up to him, Jesus gives them a very important lesson regarding who he really is and what he came to do. Jesus desires that the people would not seek him just to continue getting their fill of bread, because he knows that will not satisfy them. He instead shows them that they need to seek him for eternal life. This is much more than just daily bread, it is the life that enables us to live forever. This is only obtained by believing in Jesus. Read again verses 35-40:
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. 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. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 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. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
This is a wonderful passage because it is a scripture proof of our foundational belief that eternal life is through Jesus. That is why he refers to himself as the Bread of Life. It is also wonderful because it includes the promise that Jesus “should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.” In light of this and other similar passages in scripture, we believe that all who truly believe in Jesus Christ for their salvation cannot lose that salvation. This is a wonderful assurance to us as believers that though we may doubt our faith, Jesus will not lose us. If we truly believe in him, we will never be lost to destruction.
*David Bacon’s engineering notes: Through many scientific studies, we have observed the law of the conservation of matter, which dictates that we cannot create or destroy matter. We can only change it from one form to another. This can be through physical or chemical changes. For a simple example, when you boil water, it does not get destroyed but changes from a liquid to a gas that then dissipates into the air, increasing the humidity of the air. According to the conservation of matter, we cannot make bread without the proper ingredients. We need the flour, oil, and yeast mixed together and then baked to make bread. So, within the laws of nature that we humans are bound by, we cannot create bread from nothing. However, Jesus is God, the creator of all earthly laws. He is able to bend them to his will when he pleases. Jesus is proving that he is God by creating more bread than the whole crowd could eat! Only one who is above the laws of nature could bend them to his will like that.
Weekly Prayer Focus: Capital Campaign Plans
Daily Prayer Request: Gary Atcheson and LGA Partners. (Please pray for Gary and for the architecture firm that we have contracted, that they would have endurance and wisdom.)