John 6

Verses 1-11

• See teaching on Matthew 14 and Mark 6 for commentary.

• Verses 5-6. Tests of our faith come whenever we're faced with a problem or need that we cannot provide a solution for on our own. In any situation, to pass these tests of your faith, pray immediately. Pray should be your default reaction to every challenge. When we pray, we exercise our faith in God rather than relying on ourselves. 

  • ​The disciples of Jesus here resorted to focusing on the impossibility of the situation rather that trusting in God to do a miracle. 

 

Verses 12-13

• Jesus wasted nothing, not even leftovers of food that He could create out of thin air.

• God doesn't waste, and we shouldn't either. Anything leftover in your life—excess beyond what you need—think about how else you can use it for something productive. This could mean leftover time, money, or food. Don't be wasteful! This is good stewardship.

 

Verses 14-15

• Jesus did not come to the first time to be enthroned as a King on earth. It was not yet time for this exaltation to take place, so He avoided it.

• This also speaks to Jesus' purpose. He is not a military leader of an earthly kingdom. Jesus Christ's kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36).

  • ​As such, we grow God's kingdom by winning souls, not by striving through politics to make every nation on the world "Christian". Christian nationalism is not the way of Christ. Jesus avoided taking a position of political power.

• Jesus also drew no pleasure from the adulation of the crowd. Instead, He preferred to go and be alone with His Father.

  • Like Jesus, pray to the Father in the secret place, and do not desire to be known or praised by people (Matthew 6:5-6).

 

Verses 16-21

• See teaching on Matthew 14 and Mark 6 for commentary.

 

Verses 22-27

• Even though they put forth great effort to seek and to find Jesus, Jesus knew that they sought Him not because they had seen the signs from God that Jesus was the Christ, but only because they were astonished at His miraculous ability to create food and fill their stomachs.

  • Don't live to satisfy appetites, nor follow Christ simply for personal benefits. There are some that purport to seek God, but they are only looking for their next emotional or spiritual fix, or looking just to feel better.

    • And how often are we motivated by food? How many events will we inconvenience ourselves to attend, and simply because we know there will be food? 

  • Jesus said that His food was to do the will of the Father (John 4:14). Living for nothing but to know and be obedient to God is the food of everlasting life. Live for this!

  • As hard as we are willing to work to provide natural food and finances, we should just as hard, if not harder, to grow in the faith and in obedience to Christ.

 

Verses 28-35

• The Jews here, just like the Israelites in the days of Moses, were only looking to satisfy their cravings, while Jesus was trying to teach them that their one need was to believe in Him.

  • ​Verses 28-29. The gospel is so simple (repent and believe) that most dismiss it, thinking that there must be some secret doctrine, complex theory, or magic words that will empower us to become more spiritual, accomplish great works, or make ourselves famous. Jesus teaches us this: the one and only work we should be concerned about is believing and strengthening our belief in Christ. That's it. Keep it simple, and you will prosper. Live to repent and believe more and more each day. Focus on simply doing what pleases God.

• They thought that, since Moses gave the Israelites physical bread to eat, which came from heaven, that Jesus also needed to create physical bread. But Jesus clarified that He Himself was the bread of life—and they would have life if they believed in Him.

  • It was never about actual bread; it was about believing in Him. Christ did not come to satisfy the cravings of the flesh.

 

Verses 36-40

• God knows those who will be saved, and He keeps them saved. Jesus is not responsible for anyone falling away because He loses nothing. 

  • However, we can choose to fall away (Hebrews 6:4-6, 2 Peter 2:18-22).

• But God's power is enough to carry you through to the last day, so trust Him with your salvation! “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

 

Verses 41-45

• Only a person that God is drawing to Christ will be saved. You can't force a person to be saved, nor do you have the power in yourself. 

  • Therefore, like Jesus, don't worry or be concerned about those that are rejecting Christ. God knows those who will be saved, and He will draw them in His time. You do your part to spread the gospel and love others.

 

Verses 46-63

• Overall, Jesus teaches that His flesh—His body—is the bread of life because He was giving His body to die on the cross, so that we could have eternal life.

  • Verse 47. And as the result of belief in Jesus, we receive that eternal life—we never die.

• Verses 54-63. Feeding on Jesus' flesh and blood is as simple as keeping our faith in Him and nourishing ourselves with His Word constantly.

  • His words are spirit and life. Even if we do not understand them all, they give us life. So don't be offended by the words that give you life! Feed on His Word daily and you will be feeding on His flesh and blood.

    • Even as we eat and drink, we should do so in remembrance of Him, so that we keep our minds fixed on the fact that we live by the body and blood of Christ, not by natural food.

 

Verses 64-71

• Jesus was not afraid to offend people, nor was He afraid of losing followers because He knew that He would only be able to retain those that the Father was drawing to Him anyway. He didn't want followers that God hadn't drawn—ones that were not sincere.

  • And the spiritual truth that He preached sifted out those who were only after carnal gratification.

• Always preach the truth, including the hard truths, and don't be afraid of losing people. Be bold. This is necessary to expose the impure motives of those who only appear to be followers of Jesus, but have selfish motives.

  • Know that people who chase miracles, experiences, and fleshly sensations are often insincere. Those who follow the Word and remain faithful in obedience to the hard truths are the ones that are sincere.