JOHN

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John Chapter 6

• John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 

I believe every move Jesus made was for a purpose. He preached and taught regularly everywhere He went. 

• John 6:2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. 

The crowds will follow the sensational and the miracles. People like to see miracles. The bible says that signs will follow those that believe. Yet our faith cannot stand very long in miracles alone. Sometimes the miracles cease for a season. Our faith must stand in the word of God taught and preached.

These same people who were excited about the miracles later were yelling for Jesus to be crucified. They liked the miracles but less followed Him because of the word alone proceeding from the mouth of God. How many of us go to church to hear the word of God taught or preached? That should excite us more than anything else. If it did, we would see more miracles. The word is what stirs up our faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. 

• John 6:3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 

Jesus didn't spend twenty four hours in ministry. Many times He went to the mountain to be alone and pray or rest with His disciples. 

• John 6:4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. 
• 5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 
• 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 

He wanted Philip to come up with the right answer. 

• John 6:7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. 
• 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, 
• 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 
• 10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 
• 11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 
• 12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 
• 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. 
• 14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. 

When people saw this miracle, many believed this to be the prophet that should come that Moses spoke about. Christ proved who He was by many miracles. Yet we know that the people that were just looking for the miracles didn't always last. The message to repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, was not the popular message. They wanted the miracles but not the repenting of sin. They desired military salvation, not spiritual. 

Yet we know Jesus didn't come in vain for many did believe on Him and many still do. 

This miracle also shows that God really cares for the needs of our physical body. Jesus had compassion on the crowds who came out to hear Him even to the point of neglecting the food and water they needed. 

Jesus was moved with compassion. We need to fight for a return to holiness and moral standards of righteousness. This should never be abandoned. In saying that though, I must emphasize the need for compassion. We must have compassion for the needy, the lost, those in prison and those that disagree with us. This is not easy but takes the spirit of God shedding the love of God within us by the Holy Spirit. 

Our trouble is that we can't seem to combine the two. We either go to the right and put away the things of the world to follow Christ. That part is good, but as the church in Ephesus, we can lose our first love. On the other hand those that emphasize love are right but true love also loves God's word. Its not a pseudo fake love that will tend to go to the left and stop preaching against sin. Yet what greater love can we show but to preach repentance of sin and save a soul from eternal death. 

We need both. We need to live in obedience to the word of God yet with compassion on those that do not yet see as we see and do as we do. 

• John 6:15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone. 

No doubt Jesus could have become king. He did not desire to be exalted to a high level at this time. He was here to make the way of salvation for all who would receive it and nothing else. His kingship is to come later. In saying that though, it's easy to see these people wanted Him to be king for the wrong reasons. Not for righteous leadership but for the miracles. How many almost lost this fervency for the Lord when He was crucified?

• John 6:16 And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea, 
• 17 And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.
• 18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. 
• 19 So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. 
• 20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. 
• 21 Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went. 

The disciples had many more proofs of who Jesus was than the multitudes.

• John 6:22 The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone; 
• 23 (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:) 
• 24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. 
• 25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? 
• 26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 
• 27 Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 

First Jesus fed the multitudes then He rebukes them for seeking Him for the wrong reasons. He saw the need to feed them food when they needed it but Jesus wanted to make it clear that the message of eternal life was far more important and should have been the main reason for seeking Him out. 

So many follow Christ because they are promised material wealth instead of the spiritual blessing that no one can take away from us. In fact, the spiritual things can't even be compared with the material things we acquire in this life. 

• John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 
• 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 

Here is the main message of the gospel. To believe in Him who God sent. We have to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the only way of salvation that God provided to save us from sin. Sin condemns us to hell. Faith in Jesus reverses that for all who believe to the point of repenting of sin.

To believe in Him means to believe His words, follow His ways and receive His spirit which He gives to those that believe. 

• John 6:30 They said therefore unto him, What sign showest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? 

When we believe just by hearing the word of God, our faith stands much stronger than when one believes by seeing a miracle although I believe in miracles and that they genuinely follow those that believe. 

• John 6:31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 
• 32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 
• 33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 
• 34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 
• 35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 

Jesus is talking of the spiritual food here, not physical. Naturally we still can get hungry and thirsty in the natural. He means something so much more. 

Eating the bread of life simply means to believe the doctrine of Jesus and that He is the bread of life that takes away the sin of all who believe. 

All the guilt of sin is washed away. We are given the living water Jesus spoke to the woman at the well about. The well of living water that springs up inside of all believers is the water than is to cause no thirst. This is the living water that brings eternal life and everlasting fellowship with God. 

After we pass from this life to our eternal life; then we also will not thirst or hunger in the natural realm as well as the spiritual, but right now it is the spiritual spring of living water that is put within the inner being of believers in Jesus as the Son of God and savior sent from God to save us from sin. This living water is the presence of the Holy Spirit.

• John 6:36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. 
• 37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 

Jesus will never cast out one who sincerely comes to Him even if they do not understand every point of doctrine. All who hunger and thirst after His righteousness will be filled. 

Naturally one can turn from Christ and refuse the abide in Christ and remove himself or herself out of the hand of God because we are free moral agents and God wants us to come willingly, but no one else no matter how great or small can remove us away from God's hands. 

Some however, believe that verse means that once you sincerely come to the Lord, you can never be lost. I'm not going to argue against that but I'm not sure a person can willfully sin and not be lost from other scriptures I read on that topic, but I do hope our Baptist brethren are correct. This controversy is where searching the scriptures in context, comparing, praying over them and asking God for the correct understanding comes in.

• John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 
• 39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 

Here is our hope for eternity. We who believe will be raised from the dead and live forever. Our soul and spirit live forever but our body will be renewed and changed never to die again. 

• John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. 

We don't have to physically see Jesus with our natural eyes but we see Him by the spirit and by faith. 

• John 6:41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. 
• 42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? 

If they had of searched the scriptures they would have seen that Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of the coming Messiah to the letter. 

• John 6:43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 
• 44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 

Actually no one can be saved unless the spirit of God is present to convict the sinner and draw Him to Christ. 

• John 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 

This is great. We now can be taught of God. This is prophesied of in Jeremiah:

• Jeremiah 31:34  And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. 

We can read and understand if we seek God with all our hearts. So many of us depend on once a week church services. That isn't nearly enough. We may obey the scripture which tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together but we need to learn to seek God daily on our own as well.

Our only intercessor between us and God is Jesus now. Before Jesus died on the cross and rose again, we needed one called of God to intervene for us and teach us. Now we have the Holy Spirit to teach us and lead us to all truth. We don't have to have a priest intervene and pray for us. We don't have to seek the saints that have died or even Mary, the mother of Jesus. Our only intercessor is Christ. 

We may need a pastor to gently lead us in worship services to keep the enemy from disrupting the public worship of God but we don't need an intercessor, between us and God. Hereafter we come to God through Jesus. We can pray ourselves and seek God. 

• John 6:46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. 

Those that see the Father are those that seek Him and abide by His word. 

To see Him means to see Him in the spiritual. Our natural eyes cannot actually see God at this time until our bodies are glorified. The flesh cannot physically see God. Jesus, however is the Son of God and is God in the flesh. He of course saw Him before coming to the earth to be born of woman. 

• John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 

Think about that for a moment. To Believe in Jesus as the Christ who God sent to us is to have everlasting life. 

Those that claim to believe in Christ and continue as they were before Christ without turning from sin, have not really believed in Him. To believe in something means that one lives by what he or she believes. We can't say we believe in Jesus and continue to ignore everything He had to say to us and to the world. It would be like a woman having a husband and believing she has a husband yet she doesn't live with him or have anything to do with him. If that is the case she is not really behaving like someone who has a husband. He may exist in the world some place but she is living like he doesn't exist.

We can do that with Christ. We can believe He once existed and even believe He exists now alive somewhere but if we never fellowship with Him by prayer or seeking understanding of the word of God, then we don't actually believe. We are acting like He doesn't exist if we never seek Him or seek to speak with Him. Sooner or later the fellowship would be broken.

• John 6:48 I am that bread of life. 
• 49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 
• 50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 

What could this mean? We all physically die at one point in our existence. At the point of death though, believers in Jesus Christ just simply pass from this life into eternal life with Jesus. We go to be with Him where He is at this present time. Jesus reverses the curse of death brought on us by Adam's disobedience. 

• John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

Jesus came in human flesh and was born of woman. He became man and one of us. He did no sin to deserve any physical death. He willingly gave His flesh and allowed Himself to suffer physical death. He flesh He gave for the life of the world. 

Without the sacrificial death of Jesus for our sins, no flesh would be saved. There is no other way of salvation. To believe in Jesus is the same as receiving His death as a sacrifice for our sins. To believe is the same as eating the flesh of Jesus. Eating something means to believe. 

When we eat up someone's words, we are listening. We are believing. To eat the flesh of Jesus simply means to believe to the point of receiving Christ as Lord of our lives and repenting of sin that was atoned for by His death on the cross. He gave His flesh, His life for our sins and for our salvation. This is why there is no other way for any person to be saved. Without faith in what Jesus did for our salvation, we can't possibly be saved for there is no other way or God would not have allowed this type of death for His only Son. 

• John 6:52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 
• 53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 

To eat the flesh of Jesus and drink His blood means to believe in Him, and believe His words. 

• John 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 

This doesn't mean the sacrament or partaking of the Lord's supper or communion. That is simply symbolic of what Jesus did for us and should be done in remembrance of His death, burial and resurrection. The partaking of communion does not save anyone from sin but brings to our remembrance His sacrifice for sin. 

Jesus means for us to simply believe in Him for our salvation. He saves by His spirit which is given to us. We are never saved by doing something ourselves such as baptism or sacraments. How could someone be saved on the battlefield with no one present but the Lord, no water to baptize, and no elements of communion?. To believe in Him is to eat and drink the flesh and blood of Jesus. 

Again I repeat, to believe in someone means to believe to the point of believing His word and what He commands us. We can't say we believe and break all His commandments and make light of His word. If we do not have respect to His word, we do not really believe in Him. 

• John 6:55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 
• 56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 
• 57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 

No person can physically turn a wafer into the actual flesh of Jesus that was once given for our salvation. No person can physically turn the fruit of the vine (grapes)  into the actual blood of Jesus. They are representations of what He did for us but are not the actual physical flesh and blood of Jesus. 

To eat and drink means to believe in Him with all our heart, soul, mind and spirit. That is what saves us, not eating and drink a wafer or a cup of wine. 

When a group of believers gather together and partake of this elements in remembrance of Him, that is a sacred time and should be done but, it isn't what brings our salvation. Salvation comes when we believe and when the spirit of God comes into us and we are born again by the spirit of God. We have to believe first and God saves the soul and grants eternal life. 

• John 6:58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live forever. 

He is more than physical bread to keep the body alive. Believing in Him saves the soul for eternity. 

• John 6:59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. 
• 60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is a hard saying; who can hear it? 
• 61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? 

Unless we understand by the spirit the true meaning of these words, we are offended. 

• John 6:62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 
• 63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 

The spirit of God makes alive and causes one to live and not die spiritually. The flesh can profit nothing. The words are life and the spirit. God saves, we can't. Nothing we can do such as rituals, ordinances, sacrifices, programs, baptisms, etc. can save the soul and make one have eternal life. God's spirit saves, not the will of man. 

Our part is to simply believe His words and receive this. His part is to save. 

The part of the preacher is to tell us these words if we don't have access to the written word. The preacher, priest or rabbi cannot do the actual saving and nothing they say or do can save anyone without the presence of the spirit of God there to cause one to be born again by the spirit of God. 

• John 6:64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
• 65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 

Not by the will of man.

• John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 

Here is one of the saddest verses in the bible. Some want an outward religion of outward works, rituals and icons that do not make an inner change in the soul. Some do not want a religion that requires them to repent of sin. Many also did not believe because they were looking for a conquering Messiah instead of a savior from sin. 

Something I noticed just today about John 6:66 is the number 666. I realize the bible was not originally written with chapters and verses but what a coincidence. It probably doesn't mean anything but I just thought I would throw that in.

• John 6:67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
• 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 

Some will follow Christ if it means they will prosper financially, be accepted by society, and have the good life. Less will follow Him if it means they will lose the approval of men, miss out on a promotion or out of a job altogether, lose their lands, houses and position or even their lives. DC

• Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 
• 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. 
• 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 
• 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 
• 38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.