Verse 1 After these things.
What things?
Luke 4:14-30 The Lord in the Synagogue at Nazareth
Verse 31-37 Casts out demons
Verse 38-44 Heals Peters wife’s mother
Chapter 5
Verse 1-11 Miraculous draught of fishes
Verse 12-16 Heals a leper
Verse 17-26 Heals a paralytic
Chapter 6
Verse 6-11 Withered hand healed
Verse 12-19 The twelve chosen
Verse 20-49 The Sermon on the Mount
Chapter 7
Verse 1-10 Centurion Servant healed
Verse 11-18 Widows son raised
Chapter 8
Verse 1-3 Healing of Mary Magdalene
Verse 4-15 Parables of the Kingdom
Verse 22-25 Stills the storm
Verse 26-39 Demoniac Healed
Verse 40-56 Woman healed
Jaurus daughter raised
Chapter 9
Twelve sent forth
Sign No. 4
Feeding of the 5,000 men, plus women and children.
Note the Omnipotence of God Verse 6.
Verse 5-8 See the dilemma of Philip & Andrew.
Ponder what God used—one wee laddie—five small cakes—two diminutive fish Verse 9.
Little is much if God is in it.
David & Goliath.
Gideon Judges 6:7.
Verse 11 The loaves were miraculously multiplied in His hand—the fish too.
Verse 12 They were all “filled.”
Verse 13 Twelve baskets left over. Enough and to spare—this was a feast.
Verse 14 The consensus of opinion. This if of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. See Deuteronomy 18:15.
The Lord thy God shall raise unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, like unto me.
Moses is speaking here.
They evidently knew the prophecy.
Moses gave their forefathers bread in the wilderness—he also was their great leader.
So they reckoned that Christ was that prophet spoken of—he could give them bread so they wanted to make Him King by force if necessary. For selfish reasons and motives.
Keep these things in mind as we enter the great discourse.
Sign No. 5 Verse 15-21
Verse 15 Christ on the mountaintop alone with God. “Communion.”
Watch the development of the story.
The disciples were elated at the prospect of Jesus being made King.
Note now their despondency.
Verse 17
From the mountaintop of Prosperity to the valley of Adversity.
Verse 18
From the prospect of being rulers in a kingdom to the possibility of being victims of the storm.
The night was dark and stormy; they were at their wit’s end.
Verse 19
They were making no progress.
The seas were threatening to engulf them when suddenly they see a figure walking on the water.
Evidently “Master of the circumstances.”
They were afraid. Matthew 14 says that “they cried out in fear.”
Verse 20
Jesus spoke to them at this point. It is I, be not afraid.
Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity.
At this point of recognition Peter leaves the boat.
They willingly receive Him into the ship.
Please note Verse 21. They were half way across the lake Verse 19, but it says that as soon as Jesus entered the boat immediately they were at land.
Lessons
1. The period following a victory is one of the most vulnerable and dangerous in the Christian’s life.
2. We cannot progress alone.
3. The difference when Christ is in the boat.
4. Immediately they were at land.
The Discourse
Verse 22-59
The Bread of Heaven.
Verse 26 The Lord, who knoweth the hearts of all men, revealed the true motive of their hearts. See John 2.
Verse 27-29 Divine instruction for those who would do the “work of God.”
“Believe on Him whom God hath sent.”
Verse 29 The work of God is that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
The will of God—That nothing should be lost. That those that believe should have everlasting life.
Note the repeated use of the word “Believe.”
Verse 30 Note the contrast. They were told to believe Verse 29.
Note their flagrant “unbelief.”
Though they had come fresh from the feeding of the five thousand they said “What sign showest us that we may believe?”
Verse 31 What Thou hast done in feeding the multitude is not new.
Moses fed our fathers in the wilderness with manna.
Using O.T. words they said He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
Verse 32 The Lord reminds them that it was not Moses who gave them bread, it was God.
Verse 33 The Lord speaks of the true bread of God, which cometh down from heaven, and giveth eternal life to the world—not only to the Jews.
Verse 34 They expressed a desire for this bread.
Verse 35 Christ declares Himself to be “The Bread of Life.”
He that comes to Him shall never hunger.
He that believes in Him shall never thirst.
John 6:36-59
Verse 36 Blind unbelief.
The blessing for believing without seeing. John 20.
Verse 37A The completed plan.
Verse 37B The clarion call of the Gospel.
Verse 38 The Son’s devotion to the Father’s will.
Verse 39 The Father’s will revealed.
John 17:12 Lose nothing—no one. Eternal security.
The resurrection of life Chapter 5:29.
Note the phrase “I will raise him up at the last day.” Verse 40-44-54.
Verse 40 The Fathers will continued God purpose in Christ. Those who hear—believe—should have eternal life. The resurrection of life.
Verse 41-42 The murmuring of the Jews because He said I am the bread of life “which came from heaven.”
Then their question Verse 42.
Note Jesus was not the son of Joseph.
Verse 43-51 is the Lord’s reply to their question.
Verse 44 Except the Father draw him.
See John 12:32.
Note the recurrence of “I will raise him up at the last day.”
Verse 47 Notice the positive statement.
Truly—truly—Believeth—hath everlasting life.
Verse 48-50 The contrast between the “manna” and “Christ the living bread.”
Verse 51 Introduction to the sacrificial death of Christ.
Verse 52 The strive of the Jews.
The question “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
Verse 53-59 Jesus answers their question.
Verse 53-54 It is essential to eat the body and blood of Christ for salvation.
This is figurative language.
This is not the “Lord’s supper.”
By flesh and blood He meant the sacrifice of Himself on the Cross.
By eating and drinking he meant the act of faith by which the soul participates in the blessings of His substituting any sacrifice.
Verse 53 Would be the initial act.
Verse 54-56 Would suggest the continual feeding on Him—the living bread.
Verse 56 Eating and drinking of Him we become one with Christ.
1. Sealed
2. Authorized
3. Certified
4. Endorsed
5. Accredited
Sealed by the gift of the Holy Spirit with power to give eternal life.
See John 17:2.