Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the bread 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.” John 6: 26, 27, NKJV.
Holy Father, we thank You for feeding us with heavenly food, which will not perish. As we study, teach us how to assimilate heavenly food, and be blessed; for Christ’s sake. Amen.
Today, we will continue in chapter 6, of John, on the topic of bread. Yesterday, we looked at Jesus, as the Bread that came down from heaven. All who partook of His flesh and blood, would have everlasting life. Partaking of Jesus, the Word; makes us one with Him, and the Father. This is the result of a personal relationship with Him.
Today, we will be looking at physical bread, and how it became the reason why some people followed Jesus. The chapter begins by telling us of the multitude that started following Jesus because of all the miracles He had performed. Seeing that the Passover was drawing near, I imagine Jerusalem was becoming crowded with many of the Jews who were visiting from other areas. Perhaps some of them had heard from relatives and friends, of Christ, the miracle worker; and had come to see, and hear Him for themselves.
As Jesus saw the multitude coming toward Him, His heart of compassion was moved within Him. He understood their weariness and hunger. He desired to feed them, but wanted to see what would be the reaction of His twelve closest disciples. So calling Phillip, He suggested getting bread for all of them. Phillip’s reaction was typical of most human beings, Lord, “two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little” (John 6: 7). We tend to want to impose our limitations on the omnipotent God!
Andrew, who was standing close by, listening to the conversation between Jesus and Phillip, informed Jesus that there was a little boy, in their midst, who had five barley loaves, and two fishes. He, too, proceeded to add his limitation clause, “but what are they among so many” (9)? Jesus gave them instructions to seat the people in groups. He, the eternal Bread of heaven, was about to show them what can happen to temporary, physical, bread, when we place it in His Hands!
When the multitude saw that Jesus could feed five thousand men; plus women and children; and have twelve baskets of surplus; they decided that this was the kind of king they needed! He not only heals, He also feeds; we need Him! We will make Him king whether He wants to be king, or not! Surely, this is the One who was to come (14, 15)! But Jesus had not come to this earth to set up an earthly kingdom; so He carefully evaded the crowd, and went up into the mountains to be alone with His Father, and gather strength.
When this same crowd would hear about the nature of Christ’s mission to this earth, many of them would turn away from following Him, claiming, “this is a hard saying” (60, 66). Therefore, when they sought Jesus the following day, He told them quite frankly, “you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled…”
This might be a good time for us to take an inventory about our reasons for following Jesus! We will continue tomorrow.