John 6

1 – 2

After this, Jesus went across Lake Galilee (or, Lake Tiberias). Many people followed Him because they saw the miracles He did to heal the sick.

People are interested in Jesus for different reasons. Some reasons are selfish and some are because of an emergency.

3 – 6

Jesus went up on a hill and there sat down with His followers. It was almost the time for the Jewish Passover Feast. Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward Him. He said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread for all these people to eat?” Jesus asked Philip this question to test him. Jesus already knew what He planned to do.

Sometimes Jesus told a story to teach, other times He created a story out of a situation.

They forgot that Jesus had already asked them what they planned to do about the problem earlier in the day. No store would have enough food for this many people. Matthew 14:15, Mark 6:35

7. Philip answered, “Someone would have to work almost a year to buy enough bread for each person here to have only a little piece.”

One day's pay for 5000 men is a lot of money. God is always preparing us for impossible situations.

8 – 9

Another follower there was Andrew. He was Simon Peter’s brother. Andrew said, “Here is a boy with five loaves of barley bread and two little cooked fish. But that is not enough for so many people.”

Maybe the boy was planning to sell this food, but he gave it away. Here is Andrew bringing people to Jesus again. Ecc. 11:1-2

10. Jesus said, “Tell the people to sit down.” This was a very grassy place. There were about 5,000 men who sat down there.

Mark 6:39, Psalm 23:2

11. Then Jesus took the loaves of bread. He thanked God for the bread and gave it to the people who were sitting there. He did the same with the fish. He gave them as much as they wanted. They all had enough to eat. When they had finished, Jesus said to His followers, “Gather the pieces of fish and bread that were not eaten. Do not waste anything.”

The original language says that they ate until they could eat no more.

13. So they gathered up the pieces that were left. They filled twelve large baskets with the pieces that were left of the five barley loaves.

Maybe they gave the leftovers to the little boy who was hoping to sell his fish? The twelve baskets were also a lesson to the twelve disciples that God can give us what we need.

14 - 15

The people saw this miracle that Jesus did. They said, “He must truly be the Prophet who is coming into the world.” Jesus knew that the people planned to come and take Him by force and make Him their king. So He left and went into the hills alone.

God has planned some things that He wants to do. Our job is to work with His plan, and not our own plans.

An example would be when Moses was told to speak to the rock, but instead he hit the rock. God wanted to show the people that He was going to send a rock (Jesus) to them that they could speak to. Moses destroyed this picture by hitting the rock. Numbers 20:12

In the same way, God was planning to reveal Jesus as their king on the exact day that Daniel had seen. Jesus left the area because this day was not the day which God had chose. We need to ask God what His plans are before we jump ahead of Him. Daniel 9:25

16 – 18

That evening Jesus’ followers went down to Lake Galilee. It was dark now and Jesus had not yet come to them. The followers got into a boat and started across the lake to Capernaum. By now a strong wind was blowing, and the waves on the lake were getting bigger.

Jesus told them to go without Him. He knew there was a storm coming. Other Gospels show that the disciples fought against this storm all night. If the Lord sends you into a storm, you have nothing to worry about.

Immediately after this, Jesus told his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while He sent the people home. Matthew 14:22, Mark 6:45

19 – 21

They rowed the boat about three or four miles. Then they saw Jesus walking on the water, coming toward the boat. The followers were afraid. But Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. It is I.” Then they were glad to take Him into the boat. At once the boat came to land at the place where they wanted to go.

Sometimes when we are in trouble, the Lord waits to see if we will keep trying to fix it ourselves or ask for His help.

He saw them working and rowing; for the wind was against them: between three and six o'clock in the night. He came to them, walking on the water, and would have passed by them. Mark 6:48

22 – 25

The next day came. Some people had stayed on the other side of the lake. They knew that Jesus had not gone in the boat with His followers but that they had left without Him. And they knew that only one boat had been there.

But then some boats came from Tiberias. They landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.

The people saw that Jesus and His followers were not there now. So they got into boats and went to Capernaum. They wanted to find Jesus. The people found Jesus on the other side of the lake. They asked Him, “Teacher, when did you come here?”

The wind had been blowing the wrong way so they thought that He could not have taken a boat. Notice that they were not looking for Him like other people who asked for His help. They were curious about what He was teaching, but what they really wanted was to see a miracle and be fed.

26. Jesus answered, “Are you looking for Me because you saw Me do miracles? No! I tell you the truth. You are looking for Me because you ate the bread and were satisfied.

They took the bread because you were hungry, not because they were looking for God. There are many people today who say that they are interested in Jesus but they are not wanting Him to make a change in their lives.

27. Earthly food spoils and ruins. So do not work to get that kind of food. But work to get the food that stays good always and gives you eternal life. The Son of Man will give you that food. God the Father has put His seal to show that He is with the Son of Man.”

You did not have to work to get the bread I gave you. In the same way, (without your own work) I will give you another kind of food that lasts forever.

28. The people asked Jesus, “What are the things God wants us to do?”

They are saying, “You said not to work to get bread, so what kind of work should we do?”

It is interesting to see others who asked what they should do. Luke 3:14, Luke 18:18, Acts 16:30

29. Jesus answered, “The work God wants you to do is this: to believe in the One that God sent.”

Our work is to be available to God and to trust Him completely. This is more like James' idea of how doing good things do not help you get to heaven but works are things we do for Him and offer to Him on the altar. James 2:18

30. So the people asked, “What miracle will you do? If we can see a miracle, then we will believe you. What will you do?

This shows they forgot about the miracle of the day before. Babies in faith always want more miracles. Unbelievers would ask for a miracle and then say that they do not believe it until they see another miracle. God does not do a show for our entertainment.

31. Our fathers ate the manna in the desert. This is written in the Scriptures: God gave them bread from heaven to eat.

They are saying, “Moses did more miracles so we want you to do some more. Moses also fed people, so we need to see some other kind of miracle. Exodus 16:21

32. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth. Moses was not the one who gave you bread from heaven. But My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.

I came to do spiritual work not just feeding people actually Moses did not feed the people God did. I am giving you bread just like God did.

33 – 34

God’s bread is the One who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” The people said, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

They were still thinking of the manna.

But some of them did not listen and kept some of the manna until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Exodus 16:20

35. Then Jesus said, “I am the bread that gives life. He who comes to Me will never be hungry. He who believes in Me will never be thirsty.

There are things that people think they cannot live without, but these things never make them happy after they get them.

36. But as I told you before, you have seen Me, and still you do not believe.

Sometimes God's light comes to us after it first shines on something else. We might read a life story of a strong Christian and then the light is reflected on us. Sometimes we can only see the light clearly, after we put ourselves in the right position to see it. The more we are willing to do things God's way and get in the right position, the more light we will see. Light received brings more light, light rejected brings darkness.

37 – 40

The Father gives Me the people who are mine. Every one of them will come to Me, and I will never throw them out. I came down from heaven to do what God wants Me to do. I did not come to do what I want to do.

I must not lose even one of those that God has given Me, but I must raise them up on the last day. This is what the One who sent Me wants Me to do.

Everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him has eternal life. I will raise Him up on the last day. This is what My Father wants.”

Everyone is asking, "What is God's will?" God's will is to see people healed from all evil. God wants us to be trained in spiritual warfare so that He can set people free from darkness and the problems of life.

41 - 43

The Jews began to complain about Jesus. They complained because He said, “I am the bread that comes down from heaven.”

The Jews said, “This is Jesus. We know His father and mother. He is only Joseph’s son. How can He say, ‘I came down from heaven’?” But Jesus answered, “Stop complaining to each other.”

Some people live their lives completely inside of their own minds and cannot receive any other words or ideas. This means that when they read the Bible nothing sticks in their brain.

The Jews twisted the words of Isaiah to say that nobody can know where the Messian came from. “And who will declare His generation?” Isaiah 53:8

Some churches teach that Joseph and Mary did not have any more children, but the Pharisees lived during the time of Jesus and here is what they said:

Then they mocked, “He is just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, His mother, and His brothers—James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. Matthew 13:55

44. The Father is the One who sent Me. No one can come to Me unless the Father draws him to me. And I will raise Him up on the last day.

The first thing that brings people to Jesus is when they see or hear that He died on the cross for them.

And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to Myself. John 12:32

45. Isaiah said, God will teach all the people. Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from Him comes to Me.

Jesus is saying, “Since you are not coming to Me then you are not being taught by God, you are being taught by the devil or your own mind.” Isaiah 54:13

46 – 49

No one has seen the Father except the One who is from God. Only He has seen the Father. I tell you the truth. He who believes has eternal life. I am the bread that gives life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert. But still they died.

You want to eat some more bread that does not give you eternal life, but you do not want the bread from heaven.

They began to speak against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this manna! Numbers 21:5

50 – 51

Here is the bread that comes down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh. I will give My flesh so that the people in the world may have life.

Jesus is clearly saying that He is giving His own flesh and blood body, so that anyone who believes what He is saying will live forever.

52. Then the Jews began to argue among themselves. They said, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”

They confuse the difference between the physical and the spiritual.

We do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, comparing spiritual things with spiritual truths. 1 Corinthians 2:13

53. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth. You must eat the flesh of the Son of Man. And you must drink His blood. If you do not do this, then you will not have real life in you.

Do we need spiritual food every day? If you do not think you need it then you are heading in the direction of death. Death can happen to relationships and many other things before we leave this body.

54 – 57

He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life. I will raise him up on the last day. My flesh is true food. My blood is true drink.

Whoever eats My flesh and drinks my blood lives in Me, and I live in him. The Father sent Me. The Father lives, and I live because of the Father. So he who eats Me will live because of Me.

The early Christians were accused of eating babies and drinking blood. If somebody wants to know the truth, they will ask someone who knows the truth. If they do not want to know the truth, they will make up some stories.

He could have said, "I sent the person of God into a human body that has flesh and blood. If you believe the fact that He came in a body of flesh and blood and receive this truth completely inside of yourself, you will have eternal life."

God did not say it this way. As with many things in life, He puts a stumbling block in the way and then He asks, "How much do you want to know?" Matthew 26:27 – 28

58 – 59

I am not like the manna the fathers ate. They ate that bread, but still they died. I am the bread that came down from heaven. He who eats this bread will live forever.” Jesus said all these things while He was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

He was explaining spiritual things for spiritual men, but since the people were not spiritual men they could not understand.

60. The followers of Jesus heard this. Many of them said, “This teaching is hard. Who can accept it?”

They were saying, “If He is going to die then maybe He is not the Messiah.” If you try to describe an elephant to a blind man he can only guess at what you are saying.

You can also explain an elephant to a man who can see. But if he closes his eyes and tries to use his ears he still will not understand you. You cannot understand the things of God unless you use your spirit. Light will only shine on somebody who opens the door. The amount of light depends on how far he opens the door.

61 – 62

Jesus knew that His followers were complaining about this. So He said, “Does this teaching confuse you?

Then will it also confuse you to see the Son of Man going back to the place where He came from?

Jesus is getting them ready for His death and resurrection. Romans 10:6 – 7

63. It is not the flesh that gives a person life. It is the spirit that gives life. The Words I speak to you are Spirit, and so they give life.

Jesus is saying, “Even if I die, My life would still be in My Spirit and not in the body.”

People who do not read the Bible with their spirit have a problem understanding it. They might understand the geography or the history in the Bible, but they will not understand the real message. After you are saved you will understand the Bible with your spirit. The Bible is not a book of words and letters. It is a book of the Spirit. We have to read the Bible with our spirit. John 4:24

Be careful of worshiping God with your mind or your emotions. Colossians 2:23 warns us about worshiping our our will. When you are not able to read the Bible for some reason -you feel that something is missing in your life.

64. But some of you do not believe.” Jesus knew who did not believe. He knew this from the beginning. And He knew who would turn against Him.

The Jews could not understand because they were focused on two things at once. They did not want to give up the things that they were used to. If you decide to do things God's way you will immediately know if what you are doing is from God or not. If you have not made up your mind to do it God's way, you will never understand. John 7:17

It is a very serious thing to read or hear the Words of the Bible and not understand what you just read or get any light from it. When a man does not want to humble himself, he will always try to make himself look good with some excuse. When he tries to understand the things of God without his spirit, he will try to hide from the things that make him see his guilt.

65. Jesus said, “That is the reason I said, ‘If the Father does not draw a person to Me, then he cannot come.”

This verse is used by some teachers to say that only certain people can be saved and other people cannot be saved no matter what. God has already shown us that anyone who hears the Gospel and believes it will be saved.

When Jesus says the Father “draws” people it means that He gives them a taste of the truth, and opens their eyes. People can taste the truth and then decide that they do not want it.

When someone does this, then God will not keep on drawing them to Jesus. It reminds us of Paul kicking against the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:5). Paul finally responded as the Spirit kept drawing him to Jesus. Pray that God will draw the ones that He has put in your life to Himself.

The Jews could not understand, but we understand what He meant. We bow our heads and say, “Lord, if You would have not come with flesh and blood in a body, I would not be alive today.”

If a man has everything in his house ready for electricity, but he does not have any wire, then he can try wood, cloth, or some other thing, but it will not work. Once you have the wire you will have the electricity. In the same way, once you have God's Spirit living in you then you will understand His Words.

66. After Jesus said this, many of His followers left him. They stopped following Him.

These people were not disciples but followers. Which are you? Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not ready for the Kingdom of God. Luke 9:62

67 – 69

Jesus asked the twelve followers, “Do you want to leave, too?” Simon Peter answered , “Lord, who would we go to? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe in You. We know that You are the Holy One from God.”

When there is trouble in your life, the devil says, “Where is your God now?" The enemy tries to pull us down into a dark pit of depression with no hope. We bow our heads and say, "Lord, where else can we go? You are our only hope!"

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

70 – 71

Then Jesus answered, “I chose all twelve of you. But one of you is a devil.” Jesus was talking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Judas was going to turn against Jesus.

If “chose” means that only certain people are called to be saved or “elect” then one of the “elect” fell away.