John Chapter Six
For 21 days we will be looking at the 21 chapters of John as a church while we go through 21 days of prayer and fasting.
Today Ted Hiatt walks us through John chapter 6.
Feeding the 5,000
Chapter Context
John 6 brings the storey to approx. one year prior to Jesus' crucifixion. but focuses on Jesus' as God incarnate. This chapter continues to expand the list of Jesus' miracles and to His divine nature.
The main event of this chapter is Jesus' feeding thousands of people with the contents of a boy’s small lunch (John 6:9–13). This was the most public of all the miracles Jesus performed, and the one which propelled Him to notoriety.
The crowd's need for food shows different reactions from the disciples.
• Some just want the problem to go away.
• Some are worried with the amount of money.
• Some simply bringing whatever they can find to Jesus, trusting Him to do the rest.
This practical, outpouring of power is first met with amazement and praise. However, Jesus recognizes the crowds’ hearts in their reaction.
Rather than seeing the miracle as a sign of who he is, the people are merely pleased with getting free food.
Jesus attempts to clarify the spiritual meaning behind His recent miracle.
The day after feeding thousands and hearing their praises, Jesus tells people that He, Himself, is the Bread from Heaven (John 6:51). By explaining that His ministry is essentially spiritual, not material.
Jesus alienates most of those who had been eager to follow Him.
This of course, only goes to prove Jesus' accusation: that the people were not there to learn or to receive truth, but once again to be given free food (John 6:26). This shows the spiritual barriers which keep us from properly seeking God. In response to His goodness.
John chapter 6 includes the fifth of his seven miracles, and a bonus miracle. Jesus is seen walking on the water after the disciples' boat encounters a storm (John 6:19). The hidden miracle is the one mentioned in an almost as a side note: when He is taken into the boat, it is immediately at its destination (John 6:21).
The end of chapter 6 features the third of seven instances where in the gospel of John professes belief in Jesus' divinity. Here, Peter will refer to Jesus as the "Holy One of God" (John 6:68–69).
