The Bread of Life
Study No. Fourteen. Chapter 6.22-71
From our last study: 12 baskets of fragments, one for each of the apostles; anything significant about this?
Trivia? The Greek word for the type of basket used to distribute the food was of a common type used in travel. Luggage. The type of basket used in the miracle which follows where 4000 are fed was different in nature.
This miracle is called the ‘pinnacle’ of Jesus’ popularity.
Details mentioned by John
1. The disciples and Jesus leave together for the east side of the Sea of Galilee.
2. The multitude arrives shortly after:
a. Some coming on foot around the top of the sea of Galilee
b. Some coming on boats and tying them up right near where the miracle feeding took place.
3. The disciples leave without Jesus. (at night)
4. the crowd does not leave because they know that Jesus has not left and is spending the night up the mountain.
5. When Jesus is not seen in the morning, they leave for the west side … again, some walking some taking boats.
6. The disciples’ boat, with Jesus in it, arrives on the shore and it is morning.
7. Jesus and the disciples walk from Geneseret to Capernaum, arriving at the synagogue.
8. They attend the service.
9. By the close of the service the multitude is beginning to arrive from the Bethesda area.
10. The synagogue cannot possibly accommodate everyone: They are gathered all around the door.
11. At the close of the service, members of the crowd ask Jesus how and when he arrived, knowing he had not left with the disciples in the boat.
a. As a matter of course or protocol, people are given opportunity to speak at the close of a service.
b. Or Jesus may have been asked to speak, the leaders seeing Jesus’ (obvious) popularity.
c. Or Jesus simply speaks - without permission.
12. Jesus, ignoring their question entirely, takes this opportunity to teach them concerning everlasting life, using bread as an analogy.
Part One – Jesus and the Jews.
The dialogue begins at verse 26.
A. Jesus addresses the Jews
1. You are on the wrong track. You want more free food. This is temporal and temporary.
2. Labour … for that which is eternal.
a. They ask, “How do we do that; What works can we do that pleases God to the point of receiving this everlasting life?”
b. Jesus’ answer: There is only one work you can do which please God … believe … trust completely in the one God sent. (Believe God sent Him, and believe or trust everything He says v29 .)
c. They counter with a demand for proof.
i. What ‘sign’ do offer to verify your claims? Just because you fed us with bread is not proof. Moses also gave bread from heaven. That did not make him the son of God.
ii. Jesus corrects them by saying that it was not Moses who did the feeding, but it was God.
iii. He adds that God is doing it again, by giving ‘true’ bread from heaven … His own Son.
B. The Jews respond: They say, (glibly?) Ok, give us this bread (34-45). (Similar to the woman of Samaria, who said, Give me this ‘living water’ so that I do not have to come here to draw water in the future, ever again!) These people are proud, have erroneous opinions with reference to Jesus, obstinate, self-conceited, and have a deep-felt contempt for Jesus
C. Jesus says to the Jews:
1. The Father ‘draws’ persons to Me (Christ). He does this in a variety of ways:
a. He influences by addressing our motives.
i. Our desire for fairness or equity (just views of his law)
ii. Our desire to be loved and accepted. (He lets us know we are loved.)
iii. Our desire to give place to the One who knows the way.(security in his commands)
iv. Our fear of punishment (His law includes the ‘or else’.)
v. Our desire for happiness,
vi. Our desire to hide behind a protective shield from the enemy. (He gives us a consciousness of danger.)
b. God enlightens the mind John 6:45,
c. By the Holy Spirit applying truth to the mind, and urging him to yield himself to the Saviour.
2. The ones who respond to the drawing, God then gives to Me (Christ). Many are called but few are chosen. In other words, all who respond to the call are chosen. These are given to Christ. (37) Read John 17:6
3. I am the bread of life – eternal life. 48
What does it mean … for Jesus to call Himself ‘the bread which came down from heaven’?
Jesus is the only way to heaven. The Pharisees rejected that. Jesus put it to them in graphic detail … eat my flesh. Drink my blood. 49-59
That turned many people away. The very thought repulsed them!
Part Two – Jesus and the Disciples
Jesus senses that the disciples are have a problem with what He has just said (60-61).
What has he just said?
1. ‘unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood’ 56
2. ‘this is the bread which came down from heaven’ 58
Which of these two statements has offended the disciples?
The clue is in the next verse: 62
Jesus is opening the issue of
1. believing what He says
2. acknowledging that what He says may require a stretch of faith – Luke 14:28-33
3. Understanding that much of what He says is going to be ‘progressive’ truth. ^
1Co 3:2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;
Heb 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
Jesus calls for a re-statement of commitment 67 – 71
Peters statement: “We believe and are certain…” Peter seems to be speaking for the group. Jesus cautions him about the use of the word ‘we’.
Thought Questions:
What did Jesus learn from Peter’s answer?
What did God learn about Abraham’s faith and obedience when He asked him to sacrifice his son, Isaac?
When we are faced with a difficult cross road or a crisis situation it is always of great value in bolstering our faith, to re-state our commitment to God.
From our last study: 12 baskets of fragments, one for each of the apostles; anything significant about this?
Trivia? The Greek word for the type of basket used to distribute the food was of a common type used in travel. Luggage. The type of basket used in the miracle which follows where 4000 are fed was different in nature.
This miracle is called the ‘pinnacle’ of Jesus’ popularity.
Details mentioned by John
1. The disciples and Jesus leave together for the east side of the Sea of Galilee.
2. The multitude arrives shortly after:
a. Some coming on foot around the top of the sea of Galilee
b. Some coming on boats and tying them up right near where the miracle feeding took place.
3. The disciples leave without Jesus. (at night)
4. the crowd does not leave because they know that Jesus has not left and is spending the night up the mountain.
5. When Jesus is not seen in the morning, they leave for the west side … again, some walking some taking boats.
6. The disciples’ boat, with Jesus in it, arrives on the shore and it is morning.
7. Jesus and the disciples walk from Geneseret to Capernaum, arriving at the synagogue.
8. They attend the service.
9. By the close of the service the multitude is beginning to arrive from the Bethesda area.
10. The synagogue cannot possibly accommodate everyone: They are gathered all around the door.
11. At the close of the service, members of the crowd ask Jesus how and when he arrived, knowing he had not left with the disciples in the boat.
a. As a matter of course or protocol, people are given opportunity to speak at the close of a service.
b. Or Jesus may have been asked to speak, the leaders seeing Jesus’ (obvious) popularity.
c. Or Jesus simply speaks - without permission.
12. Jesus, ignoring their question entirely, takes this opportunity to teach them concerning everlasting life, using bread as an analogy.
Part One – Jesus and the Jews.
The dialogue begins at verse 26.
A. Jesus addresses the Jews
1. You are on the wrong track. You want more free food. This is temporal and temporary.
2. Labour … for that which is eternal.
a. They ask, “How do we do that; What works can we do that pleases God to the point of receiving this everlasting life?”
b. Jesus’ answer: There is only one work you can do which please God … believe … trust completely in the one God sent. (Believe God sent Him, and believe or trust everything He says v29 .)
c. They counter with a demand for proof.
i. What ‘sign’ do offer to verify your claims? Just because you fed us with bread is not proof. Moses also gave bread from heaven. That did not make him the son of God.
ii. Jesus corrects them by saying that it was not Moses who did the feeding, but it was God.
iii. He adds that God is doing it again, by giving ‘true’ bread from heaven … His own Son.
B. The Jews respond: They say, (glibly?) Ok, give us this bread (34-45). (Similar to the woman of Samaria, who said, Give me this ‘living water’ so that I do not have to come here to draw water in the future, ever again!) These people are proud, have erroneous opinions with reference to Jesus, obstinate, self-conceited, and have a deep-felt contempt for Jesus
C. Jesus says to the Jews:
1. The Father ‘draws’ persons to Me (Christ). He does this in a variety of ways:
a. He influences by addressing our motives.
i. Our desire for fairness or equity (just views of his law)
ii. Our desire to be loved and accepted. (He lets us know we are loved.)
iii. Our desire to give place to the One who knows the way.(security in his commands)
iv. Our fear of punishment (His law includes the ‘or else’.)
v. Our desire for happiness,
vi. Our desire to hide behind a protective shield from the enemy. (He gives us a consciousness of danger.)
b. God enlightens the mind John 6:45,
c. By the Holy Spirit applying truth to the mind, and urging him to yield himself to the Saviour.
2. The ones who respond to the drawing, God then gives to Me (Christ). Many are called but few are chosen. In other words, all who respond to the call are chosen. These are given to Christ. (37) Read John 17:6
3. I am the bread of life – eternal life. 48
What does it mean … for Jesus to call Himself ‘the bread which came down from heaven’?
Jesus is the only way to heaven. The Pharisees rejected that. Jesus put it to them in graphic detail … eat my flesh. Drink my blood. 49-59
That turned many people away. The very thought repulsed them!
Part Two – Jesus and the Disciples
Jesus senses that the disciples are have a problem with what He has just said (60-61).
What has he just said?
1. ‘unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood’ 56
2. ‘this is the bread which came down from heaven’ 58
Which of these two statements has offended the disciples?
The clue is in the next verse: 62
Jesus is opening the issue of
1. believing what He says
2. acknowledging that what He says may require a stretch of faith – Luke 14:28-33
3. Understanding that much of what He says is going to be ‘progressive’ truth. ^
1Co 3:2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;
Heb 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
Jesus calls for a re-statement of commitment 67 – 71
Peters statement: “We believe and are certain…” Peter seems to be speaking for the group. Jesus cautions him about the use of the word ‘we’.
Thought Questions:
What did Jesus learn from Peter’s answer?
What did God learn about Abraham’s faith and obedience when He asked him to sacrifice his son, Isaac?
When we are faced with a difficult cross road or a crisis situation it is always of great value in bolstering our faith, to re-state our commitment to God.