John 6:1-59

HIGHLIGHTED PASSAGE John 6:22-40 22 On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”   COMMENTARY The first eleven chapters of John's gospel have one basic theme: Jesus is one with Yahweh and sent by Him to deliver God's people from their slavery to sin and death. For this reason there are many parallels between John's gospel account and the book of Exodus, the foundational story of salvation for the Jews. For John, the way in which Jesus performs similar miracles and deeds as Yahweh in the exodus serves as a powerful and persuasive argument that Jesus is indeed from Yahweh and one with Him. Jesus has come to fulfill Yahweh's promise of true and eternal salvation. In John chapter 6, the events recorded in Exodus 16 come into direct focus. After God delivers the Israelites from Pharaoh and his army through the crossing of the sea, the Israelites begin to grumble about their hunger. God hears their grumbling and sends them quail by night, and a fine, flake-like substance in the morning, which He commands them to gather and eat. God Himself describes the purpose of His miraculous provision in Exodus 16:11-12:   "And the LORD said to Moses, 'I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, "At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God."'"   Whenever the English Bible uses "the LORD" in capitals, the name translates "Yahweh" in the original Hebrew. Thus, Yahweh Himself says that His miraculous provision should make the Israelites know who delivers them, and enable them to respond in trust and obedience. Moses also tells the people that they see the glory of Yahweh as they witness this miracle. When the crowd finds Jesus in Capernaum, he takes the conversation in the same direction God does in Exodus 16. Jesus multiplies the bread and fish so they know that He is Yahweh, the giver of life to those who trust in Him. Jesus also makes clear that there is a difference. The difference is that the sign in the wilderness points to the future fulfillment of a promise, that Yahweh will give eternal life to His people. Jesus tells his hearers that He has come to fulfill this promise. He is the true bread of life sent from heaven.   QUESTIONS 1. John connects the miracle of Jesus feeding the crowd to Exodus 16 in an unmistakable way. Compare Exodus 16 and John 6. What similarities can you find?   2. How does the background of Exodus 16 help us understand Jesus' words in John 6:26-59, to those who sought him in Capernaum?   3. In your own words, what difference does receiving Jesus as the bread of life make in comparison to those who ate manna in the wilderness...