Lesson 5 - Jesus the Life-giving Bread

After these things - The things from last chapter

And a great multitude followed him - apparently this was on foot around the northern I wish the verse stopped there

Because they saw his miracles - I believe in miracles, but I don't ever want to follow Jesus because of the miracles.

What are miracles? (a) They are works of supernatural origin and power (Gk dunamis; see Ac 8:13; 19:11). (b) They function as a sign or mark (Gk semeion) of authority from God (see 2:11, note; Lk 23:8; Ac 4:16, 30, 33). The central and greatest miracle of the NT is the resurrection of Christ (1Co 15).

Miracles serve at least three purposes in God’s kingdom.

They honor Jesus Christ, verifying the truth of his message and proving his identity as God’s Son and our Savior (2:23; 5:1-21; 10:25; 11:42). They express Christ’s compassionate love (Mk 8:2; Lk 7:12-15; Ac 10:38). They signify the opportunity for salvation (Mt 11:2ff), the coming of God’s kingdom

Fire Bible.

This is the only miracle besides of course the Resurrection that is recorded by all four Evangelists.

Matthew 14:13-21 Mark 6:30-44 Luke 9:10-17 John 6:1-15

This is the fifth of the seven signs of the Savior by John.

It happened on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee v.4

As far as timing it was right before Passover this would place it in the spring possible around March -April and which would be perfect for sitting on the grass. v.10

In this case, Jesus superseded the law of conservation of matter by creating a great amount of bread and meat for the multitude. This law, considered one of the most basic and universal laws of physics, states that matter (or "mass") can neither be created nor destroyed

The Defender's Study Bible.

“The Jewish festival of the Passover was near.” There are three Passovers mentioned in John's Gospel

2:13 6:4 11:55

Jesus was present at the first and third but not the second (see 7: 1). The Passover is mentioned here because it accounts for the crowds (vv. 2, 5), pilgrims bound for Jerusalem.

Harris, Murray J. (2015-10-15). John (Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament) (Kindle Locations 4318-4320). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Verse 6 - When Jesus Tests our faith - Our faith is tested in seven different ways from these seven miracles

Mary was told "Woman, what have I to do with thee, my time is not yet come" He told the ruler "Except you see signs and wonders you will not believe." Asked the crippled - "Wilt thou be made whole?" Asking for a human solution to a superhuman problem (like verse 5 the question to Philip)Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? To those in the boat - "It is I be not afraid" 6:16-21 To the blind man in chapter 9 "Go wash in the pool Siloam" In Chapter 11 he seemed late - but was just in time.

Two-hundred pennyworth verse 7 - pennyworth is another word for Denarii - constituted roughly 8 months wages.

Verse 10 - Men were about 5 thousand - some have speculated that with women and children there could have been about 20,000 people.

12 baskets left over - this was customary for gatherings or parties people would make enough food to last through the event - and have some left over.

Verses 25-71will make it clear that John sees in this event Jesus behaving like a 'new Moses', who once again provides bread in the wilderness. As he was the fulfilment of the Sabbath in chapter 5, in chapter 6 Jesus fulfils the Passover (cf. Carson 1991:269).

Historical Reliability of John's Gospel, The: Issues and Commentary.

Jesus’ request for them to have faith on him whom God hath sent caused them to challenge His authority (cf. 2:18; 4:11). Why should they believe in him? What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? (30) Their resort to traditional but meaningless religion is typical in John’s record. Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat (31; cf. 4:12, 20; 5:10; 9:16). It is as if these people were saying to Jesus, “Yesterday You fed us. Today we have sought You out for another meal and all You give us is talk about having faith. Moses did better than that. The manna was fresh every morning. So either produce or we will not follow You any longer!” At this Jesus set the record straight. Even the gifts, manna, of the old covenant were not from Moses but from God—Moses gave you not that bread from heaven (32). And even God’s gift of the old covenant, here the manna, was intended but to foreshadow the true bread (cf. Heb. 10:1). For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world (33; cf. 4:14).65 Just as the Samaritan woman had asked, “Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw” (4:15), so these people said, Lord, evermore give us this bread (34).66 b. “True Bread” (6:35-40). What had been hidden in sign and symbol Jesus now declared to them openly. If they really wanted the bread He would give, they must know that He is that Bread. I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst (35; cf. 4:14; 6:48, 58; 7:37-38).

various (2011-01-01). Beacon Bible Commentary, Volume 7: John Through Acts (Kindle Locations 1476-1489). Beacon Hill Press. Kindle Edition.

Tonight we see Jesus as the Life-Giving Bread from Heaven