Jesus and Bread An Exposition from John 6

Reading: John 6.1-21

A Miracle for the Many. - the feeding of 5 thousand
6:2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing
the sick.
The people followed Him out into the country. Not necessarily for the right reasons because they were
following the miracle healer, but they came.
6:3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples.
This was a perfect place and the traditional position for teaching.
6:4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near.
This is important because of the unleavened bread. This teaching about bread was at the time people
gathered to remember the Exodus from Egypt.
6: 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated;
likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted.
Nothing like this had ever been performed through a human being. There were hints, such as Elijah and
the widow's oil, but this was on a grand scale with thousands of witnesses who would tell people what
they had experienced.
6:14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, Surely this is the Prophet who is
to come into the world.
God was revealing Himself in these wonders proving that Jesus was sent by God. God had sent His
Prophet to Israel!
15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain
by himself.
Making Himself King was one his temptations He had already overcome in Himself, and it would
be one of the false accusations against him - but this time, it coming from a mob that was starting
to form.
He could have made Himself King, but that would be outside the timetable of God. Those who saw the
signs and recognized Him as a prophet decided on their own He should be their King. But it was
not the right time, and it was not for the right reason, and Jesus walked away.
Now there would be A miracle only for the disciples.
6:18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough.
6:19 When they had rowed about three or four miles they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on
the water; and they were frightened.
now it is just the disciples, and they witness power beyond understanding
this also defied the physics of the natural world
in case they had any doubt, here was one greater than Elijah (who made an ax head float,
and crossed the Jordan walking on dry land), one greater than Joshua, one even greater
than Moses!
The people had seen a great wonder. And before it could sink in, the disciples were shown an even
greater wonder. They must be wondering what Jesus might do next.
III. The Very Next Day.
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Jesus and Bread An Exposition from John 6

6:22 The next day6:24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got
into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.
6: 25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, Rabbi, when did you get here?
The multitude woke up the morning after being fed, and Jesus was gone. Perhaps they heard the
disciples had left by water, so they crossed the lake to find him again.
26Jesus answered, Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I
performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.
They had eaten of bread that perishes, and now they were hungry again. They came looking for
more bread, a little something to eat! They woke up, crossed the sea and came to Jesus hungry.
Wasn't it time for breakfast? Where's Jesus?
Now here is the point
6:27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of
Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.
Jesus tells them he will give them eternal life, as surely as He gave them the bread.
5,000 people were fed from five loaves of bread. That's one loaf of bread for a thousand people. This
was not an everyday event. Not even for Jesus! "The Feeding of the 5,000" is the only miracle (apart
from the resurrection) which is present in all four Gospels: Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:10-17
and John 6:5-15.
This was a unique day in history that was so burned into the apostles memory that hey could record it in
detail more than 20 years later.
Please note that Jesus did not seek them out; He was not a crowd-chaser seeking an audience. They
came out seeking Him. People had traveled a distance in order to hear this man Jesus. Jesus did NOT
multiply the loaves to draw a crowd of random people!
Jesus had already faced the temptation to show Himself in a public spectacle. If He would throw Himself
off the pinnacle of the temple, the angels would appear to catch Him, and the Son of God would be
revealed to the world. This was a temptation He had overcome in the wilderness. The miracles were not
provided as a magic show; miracles were God's public approval of the message Jesus preached.
We can be certain that Jesus was not a Bread Messiah who went around the land passing out
bread. This was the messiah the people wanted, but not at all what Jesus did. Jesus did not feed this
crowd again.
They had followed Him for some distance, and they were weary. They were not prepared for a journey.
Jesus saw they were in need, and so He gave them bread.
But the next morning, Jesus was gone. So they pursued the disciples to the other side of the lake where
they found Jesus again. And they asked, v25, Rabbi, when did you get here?.
Jesus ignored the peoples questions about crossing the lake, which would have amazed them, and
addressed their motives instead:
V26 Jesus answered them and said, Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs,
but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
By calling the bread a sign rather than a miracle, Jesus is pointing to a deeper meaning.
Of course they had seen his miracles. By this time they had seen many miracles. But the people did not
see them as anything but wonders. They were blind to any greater significance.
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Jesus and Bread An Exposition from John 6

There is iron in the way Jesus phrased this rebuke, for he used a word that was normally used for feeding
farm animals, implying that they were interested in him only because he had filled their bellies.
This was the first of about ten allusions to Psalm 78 and God's response to the unspiritual attitude of
Israel to the marvels of God demonstrated in delivering them from Egypt at the first Passover, and caring
for them in the wilderness.
People today are guilty of the same thing. They want Jesus to be a Santa Claus who dispenses
whatever you ask for because of His great compassion. They only want a vending machine that
dispenses blessings in return for a specially formatted prayer.
But let's look again at the real Jesus in this scripture.
Jesus did not create bread every day. This was a one-time event, possibly targeting the gentiles
of the Decapolis. There is a possible second event feeding 4,000 more, but at another time.
Jesus refused to feed them again. The people wanted to be fed the next day, but Jesus would
not make bread for them on demand.
Jesus condemned their selfish motives, which would become more evident as the discussion
progressed.
So the Jesus of the Bible is not the popular Jesus of myth. Jesus did not pat sinners on the head to
make them feel better and send them on their way. The fact is that Jesus did not provide more bread
for them. But He gave them something far more valuable. He taught them about the Bread of Life.
The desire for bread was a temptation Jesus had faced Himself.
MAT 4: 2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. 3 And the tempter
came and said to Him, If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.
And what was Jesus' answer?
V4 But He answered and said, It is written, MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON
EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.
This passover theme about bread, manna, and the Exodus, became the dominant theme in the Lords
teaching on this day. His tone was austere and reproving. It seems that the previous days experience
had come as a shock to Him. It startled him to find that the higher appeal of his teaching had made no
impression on the multitude. It had apparently gone right over their heads. All they could think of was the
immediate material gain from the miracles of Jesus, and a political revolution, another material
advantage, which could only succeed if they could get him to lead it.
But from here on out, its question after question, challenge after challenge. It becomes clear that they are
opposed to His teachings, but every question they ask gives Jesus a chance to offer another timeless
truth.
6:28 Then they asked him, What must we do to do the works God requires?
6:29 Jesus answered, The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.
6:30 So they asked him, What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you
do?
They had heard Jesus, and had seen God's signs and wonders, but they refused to believe this was
the Messiah. This is why Jesus challenged them to believe. Jesus was not creating an easy way out
for the lazy and the ignorant who would do nothing more that believe. He was calling the willful
disbelievers to account. They needed to act on their faith, but they called Jesus to do another sign,
as if they could still be persuaded.

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Jesus and Bread An Exposition from John 6

They had seen five thousand people fed by five loaves of bread, and they did not understand; they
would never see Gods power and mercy even when it was right in front of them.
Miracles are lost on people whose hearts are focused on the things of the world, and whose minds
are prejudiced against the truth of God.

6:31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to
eat.
They still want their breakfast from Jesus! Moses was a true prophet, and Moses fed the people. If
you were a prophet like Moses, you would feed us, too!
Moses fed more than a million people in the desert day after day. We would believe in you if you did
something like this. Feed us!
6:32 Jesus said to them, Very truly I tell you, 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.
Here the Lord unravels the argument of the Jews, and all the errors it reveals:
1) It was not Moses who gave the manna, but the Living God who gave them food.
2) The manna was not the true bread, but merely a type or symbol of it.
3) But now, God had now given them more excellent bread.
4) And Jesus Himself is the nourishment, and He was symbolized by the manna in the desert.
Then Jesus said:
6:33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.
Jesus was the true bread from heaven:
1) His teaching and his example were displaying the character of God Himself. In this sense, Jesus
Himself can be said to be from heaven.
2) He would give his own body and His own life to give life to the world: just as bread supports the
natural life of man, so the salvation obtained by his death offers believers eternal life in Him.
6:34 They said therefore unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
They said, in effect:
"Let the daily miracle of the manna be renewed, and continue among us for ever:" or,
"Let that bread of which you have spoken become our constant nourishment."
>>They might still mean it in a literal sense, but they might be getting some traction.
35 Then Jesus declared, I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever
believes in me will never be thirsty.

Jesus reveals that He is the true Bread; He is to life what bread is to the body; He is the Bread of
God, the bread of life given by God the Father.
The figure of the bread reveals the divine origin of Christ's authority; and how good things flow to us
through Him.
May we be found among those who seek the true bread.

6:36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me will
come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.

The problem is that they saw and heard these things, but would just not accept that God was
working in Israel through the man right in front of them.
But all who believed will belong to Jesus, and He will work with them to bring them eternal life.
Jesus will never drive away someone who is sincerely seeking Him.
ROM 8:14 For as many as are LED by the Spirit of God, are the children of God.

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Jesus and Bread An Exposition from John 6

And the Spirit continues to lead people to this day;

but these people, uncircumcised in heart, resisted the Holy Spirit, just as their fathers did < Acts
7:51 >

Jesus continues:
38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this
is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the
last day.
To paraphrase: It is the Father's will that, as the bread of heaven, I will give you eternal life.
Even Judas heard these words. God the Father wanted Judas to be saved, but Judas himself
rejected that as a possibility.
6: 40 For my Fathers will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal
life, and I will raise them up at the last day.
Lets summarize whats been said.
The Living God who gave their fathers that food from heaven to support their natural lives, now gave
them the true Bread for the salvation of their lives.
Jesus tells us that he is the true Bread; He is to life what bread is to the body; He nourishes and
supports spiritual life. He is the Bread of God, the bread of life given by the Father.
The doctrine of a crucified and resurrected Christ strengthens the believer. This is how He becomes
Bread which came down from heaven.
The figure of the bread points to the divine origin of Christ's authority; and how good flows to us
through him.

When He says: "This is the will of him that sent me" Hes telling us this is the unchangeable will
of God!
When He says: "Every one that sees and believes" we are reminded that the multitude saw, but
they did not believe.
When He says: "I will raise him up" We are assured that this is the will of God, and Jesus will be
sure to perform it.

At this point, our minds are blown. Jesus has taken our own hunger for bread, and taught us how we
can live forever. Jesus tells us to look to Him, to listen to what He said, and to look at what He did.
This is why we read the scriptures! In an ignorant world, Jesus is reinvented every day, but those who
want to live will go back to their Bibles to find the Word of God that leads to eternal life. Anyone who fails
to seek for the real Jesus will be deceived. We must go back to the book or everything else we do will
become worthless.
Moses was not the greatest prophet any more! Yes, God worked miracles through Moses, and Moses
was a friend of God, but now the greater Prophet had appeared. And Jesus would not just get them
through the day, He would lead them to everlasting life.
But those who just wanted another free meal would be disappointed. And the most vocal of them would
try to make Him King, but finally began to whisper and complain, hoping to turn the people away.
Think about it! We spend years pondering Jesus teaching that He is the Bread of Life, and we see more
and more of what God is doing. Israel was the center and focus of Jesus' salvage operation, but Jesus
Himself was the key to all His teaching. You could eat the miraculous bread and die just the same; but if
you turn to Jesus, the rest all falls into place.
How would they respond?

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Jesus and Bread An Exposition from John 6

6:41 At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, I am the bread that came down
from heaven. 42 They said, Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?
How can he now say, I came down from heaven?
They had seen miracles, but they would not believe. Didnt they believe their eyes? Did they think it
was an illusion even after their bellies were filled? Did they change their minds and decide it was just
talk? Or did they just reject the possibility that God still cared enough for Israel to send them their
promised Messiah?

In Conclusion
As much as we want to see miracles like so many others, miracles were never enough. To those who
believed, a miracle was God's stamp of approval to the message and the messenger. The people who
quit following Jesus had heard the word of life and eaten the miraculous bread just the day before, but
immediately fell away at the first difficulty. And Judas had seen more than they had. Being one of the
twelve, Judas had seen Jesus walking on the water, but even that wasnt enough.
For them, as well as for us, following Jesus is a matter of faith. But faith can waver or weaken, or weaken
from prolonged testing. And our faith needs to grow!
So God provided nourishment for us. He gave us the Lord Jesus. Jesus said I am the bread of life, and
demonstrated that the eternal life He gives is better than the manna which perished and which could
never offer eternal life.
There were some who followed Jesus for another free meal. In fact, they volunteered to follow Him if He
would feed them again. Jesus was not the Santa Claus they were looking for, but He gave them
something more valuable, something that would nourish them for a lifetime.
John 6:27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting
life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."
Jesus teaches us:
God has now given us a more excellent bread.
And Jesus Himself is the food, who was symbolized by the manna in the desert.
It is the Word of God that gives life.
Jesus teaching and example were the true nourishment for those who were to inherit the
blessings promised.
So the manna in the dessert is not what we seek, but the food given to us by the Son of God.
He would give his own body for the life of the world: just like bread supports the natural life of
man.
The letter to the Corinthians compares His burial to a seed that is planted so that many more
seeds might come to life.
It is the exercise of faith that is the most important, but this is not blind faith or ignorant faith. We
are told and we are shown, but we have to read the scriptures to find it. When we are enabled to
live a life of faith in the Son of God, character and acceptable service will follow.
We don't just do what sounds good to men. We start thinking His thoughts after Him, and we
start doing our part of His work.
The Living God who fed their fathers food from heaven, now gave them the true Bread for their
eternal salvation.
Coming to Jesus in faith and believing in him means we commit ourselves to picking up the
work He was doing. When you start with yourself, you get the wrong answer. When you start with

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Jesus and Bread An Exposition from John 6

the world, you get the wrong answer. When you start with the Jesus of the scriptures, you discover
what He was doing.
John 6:37-38 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by
no means cast out. NKJV
The Holy Spirit is still at work, drawing people to Christ. We are still led by the Spirit of God
today.
God draws people by showing them who He is - merciful and gracious, longsuffering, abounding
in goodness and truth, bringing justice to the earth, and forgiving those who love Him.
Those who seek justice, seek God. Those who seek truth, seek God. Those who seek
forgiveness, seek God.
And God has revealed Himself in the Savior He has provided, even Jesus.
The bread is Jesus life, His teaching and behavior.
The bread and the wine are symbols, just as they were symbols under Moses. Those who
have lost the Spirit of Christ have nothing left but a perverse desire for the symbols which can
do them no good.
Jesus said I am the bread of life. If Jesus is not at the center of everything, we are lost.
Jesus said I am the bread of life, and whoever eats of this bread will live forever. Jesus was speaking
as the voice of the bread, the voice of the word of God, who descended from heaven like manna, that the
people might eat and live.
When Jesus said you must eat his flesh to have life in yourself, he was speaking at the Passover, one
year before he would sacrifice himself. He was speaking as the voice of the Passover lamb.
Those who partook of the Passover sacrifice sat in a house marked with its blood, and were saved from
death. When we take on His name thru baptism, we are marked as His by the blood of the lamb that we
might be saved from death.
Jesus said you must drink his blood, so we must partake of Jesus life and teaching and make them a part
of ourselves that we might inherit eternal life.
And as an assurance of that hope, we have the good news that Jesus returned from the dead to
strengthen his disciples, as absolute proof that God will remove the curse of death, and raise mortals from
the grave to inherit everlasting life.

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