The feeding of the 5,000 was a miracle of such magnitude that it is recorded in all four Gospel accounts. A great multitude had been following Jesus for several days, listening to His teaching and seeing His miracles. And, while Jesus tried to get away to get some rest, the needs of the multitude pressed him (Mk. 6:31-34; Jn. 6:1-14).
Feeding this size of a group posed an obvious problem and so, the disciples suggested that Jesus send the people away (Mk. 6:35-36). But Jesus knew that the hungry people would faint on the way if somebody did not feed them. So, it was suggested by Philip that the Lord raise enough money from the people to buy food (vs. 6). But, that would not satisfy the hunger of them all (Matt. 14:21). Next, Andrew found the solution in a little boy who had a small lunch: two little fish and five barley cakes. Once again, Andrew is busy bringing somebody to Jesus (Jn. 1:40-42; 12:20-22). Now, we don’t know how Andrew met this lad, but we are glad he did because out of it, the Lord showed the true solution in which he took the little boy’s lunch, blessed it, broke it, handed it out to His disciples, and they fed the whole crowd! The Lord multiplied the food and looked up to heaven when he gave thanks (vs. 11); reminding the people that God is the source of all good and perfect gifts.
Well, eventually Jesus leaves the multitude (vs. 15-21) and compelled his disciples to get into a boat (Mk. 6:45) because He knew they were in danger. The crowd was now aroused and there was a movement to make Jesus King. But, this was not the will of God. So, while the disciples were crossing the Sea towards Capernaum, up comes a great storm (vs. 18) and they would learn to trust the Lord even more than before the feeding of the 5,000. During this they were afraid, and then saw Jesus coming to them, walking on the water. Jesus stilled the storm, and instantly the boat was on the other shore. And, from these two miracles we see that Jesus leads people to green pastures (Jn. 6:10) and brings them into the still waters (Ps. 23:2) giving eternal life to all those who want it (Jn. 5:40).
On the next day (vs. 22-27), the people who had ate with Jesus wanted to know how he got to Capernaum (vs. 24-26). They knew he did not go with his disciples and certainly, he had not walked around the lake, and there was no evidence that He had taken another boat. But, there he was and began to teach them in synagogue (vs. 59). This sermon on “the bread of life” would be between Christ and the religious leaders. And, we see four responses of the crowd to the Lord Jesus in John 6: seeking (vs. 22-40), murmuring (vs. 41-51), striving (vs. 52-59), and departing (vs. 60-71).
As the people were seeking Jesus, he knew their hearts. He knew that the people originally followed Him because of His miracles (Jn. 6:2). But now, Jesus pointed out that there are two kinds of food: food for the body, which is necessary and food for the inner man, the spirit, which is essential. What the people needed was not food to sustain life, but spiritual food which gives eternal life.
Well, the people wanted to know what they had to do to work the works of God (vs. 28). In their legalistic religion the Pharisees made, they thought they had to “do something” to merit eternal life. But, Jesus said that if they believe on him meaning, if they had to have faith in him, they would have life. But instead of developing faith in him (Rom. 10:13-17), they started seeking a sign (1 Cor. 1:22). But faith based on signs alone, and not on the truth of the Word, can lead a person astray; for even Satan is able to perform “lying wonders” (2 Thess. 2:8-10). Thus, our Lord sought to deepen the people’s understanding of the truth in that it was God, not Moses who gave the manna and it is God who gives the true Bread in the person Jesus Christ, which was referred to seven times by our Lord and His “coming down from heaven” (Jn. 6:33, 38, 41-42, 50-51, 58).
Now, the people needed to believe in him, meaning to come to Christ and yield themselves to Him (vs. 37-39). It is the Father’s will that sinners be saved (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9) and that those who trust Christ be secure in their salvation. But, when the Lord said that he came down from heaven, murmuring took place because it disturbed the religious leaders, for they knew it was a claim of deity. They thought they knew Jesus, who He was and where He came from (Matt. 13:53-58; Jn. 7:40-43). Well, Jesus told them not to murmur (vs. 43) and that the sinner can come to God through Him. And, it is through the truth of the Word that all shall be taught (vs. 44-45). Thus, it is through God’s word, that he draws people to the Savior.
Well, Jesus begins speaking of manna, which was a mysterious thing to the Jews; in fact, the word manna means “What is it?” (Ex. 16:15) and as manna came at night and came to a rebellious people, so too the Bread of Heaven came when sinners were in darkness and were rebellious people (vs. 51). Of course, Jesus was speaking in this verse of how he would give his life for the world (Jn. 3:16), for His sheep (Jn. 10:11, 15), for the nation (Jn. 11:50-52), and for His friends (Jn. 15:12) and how they would eat his body and blood. But while speaking, this brought about strive (Fighting) because the listeners knew you could not eat human Flesh (vs. 52-29; Gen. 9:3-4; Lev. 17:10-16; 19:26). They found it repulsive. But, the people misunderstood the spiritual truth here, just as Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman did. Spiritually, being crucified with Christ, we no longer live, but Christ lives in us and the life we live in the Flesh, we live by faith in the Son of God (Gal. 2:20).
Now, because of his words, in vs. 60-71, we find that the Lord’s teaching was not hard to understand but hard to accept once you understood it. The religious leaders were offended by what he taught. But, if they were offended by this, what would they do if they saw Him ascend back into heaven? (vs. 62). So, Jesus tells them that what he spoke was Figurative and spiritual (vs. 63), but the result of this message was the loss of most of our Lord’s disciples. Alas, they went back to the old life, the old religion, and the old hopeless situation. Jesus Christ is “the way” (Jn. 14:6), but they would not walk with Him (vs. 66). This was no surprise to the Lord, because He knew the hearts of the people.
When Jesus asked His 12 Apostles if they planned to desert Him too, it was Peter who spoke up and declared their faith: Where else could they go? “Thou hast the words of eternal life.” The preaching of the Word of God always leads to a sifting of the hearts of the listeners. God draws sinners to the Savior through the power of truth, His Word. Those who reject the Word will reject the Savior. Those who receive the Word will receive the Savior and will desire a new birth of water and spirit, eternal life.