Gospel of St. John
Feeding the Multitude – 06:1-13
Christ feeding the multitudes is the only miracle recorded in all four gospels. It must be of unusual importance. In most of Jesus’ miracles, something was amended or restored which already existed. This was the creation of something beyond what had existed before. The only other miracle of that nature was the making of wine out of water. These two miracles are in a class by themselves. One reminds us of his precious blood shed for us. The other reminds us of his holy body broken for us. They shadow forth the gift of Christ himself.
“And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.” We might get the impression that people followed Jesus because they knew he came for their redemption. Unfortunately, he was not instantly successful in converting his own followers. They followed him because they saw the miracles he performed. It was the Passover and they failed to recognize the Lamb of God. Is it any different when we attract a great many people to our social programs? The programs are important and part of our Christian mission, but do they detract from the importance of Christ’s message?
“When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, When shall we get bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him; for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.” How would you handle the question put to Philip? Children would answer simply, “I don’t know.” Trust in the Lord would bring us to say, “What will you do Lord?” We, like Philip, try to do the best we can with what is available. Phillip would have limited the people to a minimal piece of bread. It is a measure of Philip’s faith and we should take the measurement to heart for it reflects our usual approach to a crisis. We should indeed do our very best with the resources we have. But, we should not limit our possibilities to the things we can touch and feel. The Lord can do much with very little.
“Andrew saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down.” Andrew’s faith was not much better than Philip’s. He acknowledged the resources available but knew not how they could help. He, like us, was blind to the glory of the Son of God. Jesus ignored their unbelief and commanded them to sit down. They failed the test of belief, so he gave them a test of obedience. Their faith had failed but their obedience did not. They sat down because the Lord told them to. They didn’t know how it would help. They simply obeyed. If they had reasoned instead of obeying, they would probably have walked around arguing about the likelihood of getting something to eat. By obeying, they allowed the opportunity for their faith to be strengthened. We should remember that when our faith is weak. Obeying because God said so is the first step out of darkness into his light. The feast was more than needed but not wasted.
Walking on the Sea – 06:14-27
The people Jesus fed recognized him as a prophet and wanted to make him king. He went into the mountain alone to insure they didn’t take him by force.
“And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea, and entered into a ship, and sent over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. . . . They see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing high unto the ship: and they were afraid. But he saith unto them, It is I, be not afraid.” It is significant that it was dark. Without Christ in our lives, it is always dark. The absence of Christ and the darkness was a trial for the disciples. The longer they waited, the more anxious they became. They must have felt that the Lord had forgotten them. Surely the storm would not have arisen if Christ had been with them. We don’t understand why but we should realize the Lord does all things in good time. Isaiah 30:18 says, “Blessed are all they that wait for him.”
“When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? 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. Labour 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.” Outwardly, these people appeared ready to honor him. They followed him across the sea of Galilee, and sought him out again. John is showing the deity of Christ in his ability to read their hearts and understand their motivation. They completely missed the spiritual significance of the miracles. When Christ tells them to labour, he is not just saying they should work. They should work on their faith and be in dead earnest over spiritual things. The spiritual needs of our souls should override all physical needs and certainly our whims and desires.
The Son of man giveth everlasting life. The Son of man is the Son of God incarnate. Sealing is a manner of identification and attestation or ratification. Identification is necessary to separate God’s chosen from the mass of humanity. Christ is identified as God’s beloved son. The Father testified to the perfections of His incarnate Son and communicated official authority, by “sealing” him with the Holy Spirit. Believers are “sealed” as those who are approved of God. But it is only in Christ that we are distinguished. Christ was “sealed” because of His own intrinsic perfections; we, because of our identification and union with Him. Note that the Holy Spirit does not “seal” us. The Holy Spirit Himself is God’s “Seal” upon us; for sinners do not have the Holy Spirit.
The Bread of Life – 06:28-40
“Then said they unto him, what shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? What dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 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. For the Bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven and giveth life unto the world.” The people supposed they would have to do some work but did not know what work. How many people ask the same question? We are all willing to work for the Lord. But are we willing to come to the Lord, believe on him and follow his commandments with our hearts as well as with our hands? The people asked if Jesus was greater than Moses who provided manna from heaven. Jesus pointed out that manna satisfied a physical need while his bread satisfies a spiritual need.
“Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 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. But I said unto you, that ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 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. 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.” They, like us, wanted to be given the bread of life but were hesitant to put their lives in Jesus’ hands to get it. Jesus pointed out they saw him and believed not. Does this indicate that the Incarnation was a failure? There is no failure with God. As always, there is simply a failure on our part to understand his purpose. Jesus accepts that all the Father gives to him is part of God’s purpose and must be retained and returned to God. Are we as careful with our mission in the church? Do we do all we can to retain any who might be the elect of the Father? Do we accept non-critical differences? Do we work to help them understand the critical parts of our faith? Do we welcome everyone without allowing them to change our interpretation of God’s revelations?
Sea of Galilee, Tiberias, Gennesaret & Chinneroth
13 x 7 miles in area, 700 ft. below sea level
150 ft deep, fed by springs and the Jordan river