John 6 - Jon Courson's Application Commentary

From Mark 6:31, we know that as the crowds began to gather around Him, Jesus didn’t have time for leisure or even to eat. That is why He said to His disciples, “Come with Me and rest awhile.” It’s an invitation still needful today-for if we don’t come apart with the Savior, we’ll fall apart at the seams.

Although the disciples and Jesus ascended a mountain, the crowd tracked Him down-not so much because they wanted to be with Him, but because they were curious about Him. Having seen His miracles, they no doubt looked at Jesus either as a magician to entertain them or as a physician to assist them. The crowd followed Jesus for the wrong reasons. And it still does. The crowd mentality is still to manipulate the Lord for a personal, private agenda-to get something from Him rather than simply to be with Him.

I love this about our Lord! Even though the crowd followed Him for the wrong reason and would, in the space of the chapter, turn away from Him completely, Jesus still has compassion on them, for, as Mark’s Gospel tells us, He looked on them as sheep without a shepherd (6:34). If you’re a mom or dad, you know how this works. You know when your kids are coming to you for the wrong reasons-when their priorities are amiss or their motives are not right. But you also know you still love them and are there to tend them. So, too, every pastor, elder, or spiritual leader must realize that no matter how wrong people might be, it is never right to beat up on them, to come down on them, or to point a finger at them. When those in ministry say, “If it wasn’t for these immature believers, things would really be happening at my church,” it only shows that the speaker is not really a shepherd. A true shepherd will never beat the sheep, for he knows he is there to feed the flock. And anyone who tries to beat up on you will feel the wrath of this under-shepherd. I will not stand for it.

“Where shall we buy bread?” It’s the only time Jesus appeared to ask for advice. Why did He ask Philip? In order to test him. So, too, Jesus puts us in situations where we feel there’s no solution in order to show us our progress in the arena of faith.

Like a New Deal Democrat, Philip’s first thought was that money would solve the problem. But after a quick survey of the situation, he knew the disciples didn’t have enough money in their treasury to buy enough to even give folks a crumb.

Our country is $3.5 trillion in debt because we have the “Philip mentality” that money is the key. But there will always be a deficit because he who looks to mammon instead of to the Master will always come up short.

Good job, Andrew! Andrew’s a people person-always bringing folks to the Lord.

Andrew almost has it. “There’s a boy here with some loaves and fishes, but…” How easily the word “but” creeps into our thinking. We are aware of the provision, but we start raising an objection when we look at the situation practically. I wonder how many times the Lord has brought us five barley loaves and two small fishes, but we failed to use them because we thought they were too small.

God used a small stone in a small sling to slay a huge giant (1 Samuel 17:50). He used a little maiden girl to lead a mighty Syrian general to the prophet Elijah (2 Kings 5). He used a little child to teach His disciples (Matthew 18:2). The Lord seems to delight in using a little to do a lot. If you’re feeling the need for a miracle-for something to break loose or something to take place-perhaps it’s already in your hand. Perhaps it’s already been entrusted to you. Yet, like Andrew, perhaps you are saying, “Let’s be practical. How’s this really going to work?”

Jesus didn’t say to His disciples, “You bozos. Get out of the way and let Me do a miracle.” No, He met them where they were and said, “Even though you don’t have the faith to see what I can do with the little given to Me, I’ll use you anyway. Could you make the people sit down? Could I use you in that way?” Luke’s Gospel tells us the people sat down in groups of fifty (9:14). When the Good Shepherd feeds His sheep, He does so decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40).

Not only does Jesus feed His flock decently and orderly, but He feeds His flock carefully. Too often we have a “drive-thru” perspective of devotions. “Okay, Lord, I’ve got six minutes before I have to be out the door,” we say as we flip open the Scriptures and expect to be fed. It doesn’t happen that way. Not usually. As He did here, the Lord would have us not only sit down, but slow down.

The bread kept coming and coming. And the disciples kept serving and serving. It’s astounding to me how many commentators try to nullify this miracle with ridiculous explanations. Some suggest it wasn’t a genuine feeding of five thousand, but rather a kind of Communion service, where everyone was given a tiny piece of bread and a tiny piece of fish. Others say that, because in Jesus’ day men had long, billowing sleeves wherein they would carry their lunches, when they knew Jesus was looking for some food to share, they tightened their sleeves. Then, when they became convicted by the willingness of a little boy who shared his lunch, everyone opened his sleeves and shared in a big potluck. Nonsense!

For topical study of John 6:5-11 see “Facing Frustration,” turn to page 488.

The Greek word translated “filled” means “glutted.” What Jesus did wasn’t a trick, a gimmick, or a potluck. It was a miracle.

I like this because it is true that even when our faith is faltering or lacking, if we will simply obediently do what the Lord tells us to do, even our small and insignificant actions will be multiplied and blessed. In obedience to the Lord’s command, the disciples simply made the multitude sit down and then distributed the food. The result? Not only were the disciples fed along with the multitude, but there were twelve baskets left over-one for each of them. That’s why we’re always encouraging each other to get involved in serving, in sharing, in ministry. It’s when you do what the Lord sets before you-no matter how mundane it might appear-that, along with those you serve, you receive a full basket as well.

In Deuteronomy 18, Moses prophesied that a prophet would come who was like, but greater than, himself. Those who witnessed the miracle that had just taken place thought surely Jesus must be the prophet of whom Moses spoke.

Although the crowd referred to Jesus as a prophet in verse 14 and they desired to make Him a king in verse 15, what they failed to acknowledge was that their real need was for a priest. Jesus, the Christos, the Christ, the Anointed One would not only be the promised Prophet and the King of kings. He would also have to be the great High Priest who would lay down His own life as a sacrifice for the sin of mankind. Thus, perceiving the crowd’s misconception as to who He was and what He was about, Jesus withdrew.

Perhaps it was to turn the focus of His disciples to a spiritual rather than an earthly kingdom that Jesus distanced His disciples from the crowd by sending them to Capernaum.

Maybe, like the disciples, you’re at a point in your life where it’s dark and you don’t sense the presence of the Lord at all. Know this: Omnipotence can afford to wait.

Jesus is not only the Savior in the storm but also the sender of the storm. And, just as He did with His disciples, He will send you into a storm knowingly and lovingly if He sees you’re about to get pulled into the mentality of the crowd.

In the midst of your own struggling and toiling, Jesus knows the perfect time to come to you and whisper in your ear, “It is I. Be not afraid.” But it won’t be a minute too early, and it won’t be a moment too late.

If the Lord has sent you into a storm and then seen you through that storm, don’t go back to the same stuff that caused the storm to be sent in the first place. Turn away. Say, “Lord, that storm almost sunk me. My marriage almost dissolved. My business almost went under. My kids were almost wiped out. It seemed so dark and impossible. But You came my way and told me to be of good cheer. You said You were still there, and You saw me through. Lord, I acknowledge that it’s You who sent the storm, and it’s You who stilled the storm. Therefore, I will not continue on that course one more day.”

For topical study of John 6:15-21 see “Sender of the Storm”.

Jesus didn’t jump into the disciples’ boat. He didn’t force Himself on board. The disciples received Him willingly. So, too, I can either say, “Nice to see You, Lord, but I’m going to bring this thing to shore myself,” or, like the disciples, I can willingly and wisely welcome Him into my boat.

Realizing Jesus was no longer among them, the day after the feeding of the five thousand, the multitude began to look for Jesus in Capernaum-not to simply be with Him, but, as we will see, to get something from Him.

The multitude asked Jesus when He had come. Rather than answering them directly, Jesus dealt with the issue of why they had come, as if to say, “You came here not because you saw the meaning of the miracle, but because you wanted another free lunch.”

In Jesus’ day, a baker would put his seal on the loaves of bread he baked. Thus, in using this terminology, Jesus is saying, “I bear the imprint of God the Father.”

All of us realize material things are going to perish eventually, but Jesus says they’re perishing even presently. If you’re laboring for something in this world-be it anything from a reputation to some kind of physical satisfaction-it will never work. It’s cotton candy. You bite into it but there’s no substance. Whatever it is you’re striving for won’t fill you up because everything this side of heaven lacks solidity.

Ninety-six percent of your body is nothing, zip, zero. It’s true. Your body is made up of atoms, which, in turn, are made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Considering that the distance between the protons and neutrons of the nucleus, and the electrons outside the nucleus is proportionately greater than the distance from the sun to the farthest planet, Pluto, we’re talking a lot of empty space!

Our bodies are space. Yet we pamper them, all the while wondering why we’re so spaced-out and discontent. The materialistic person doesn’t understand that reality lies in the spirit. He doesn’t understand that if, instead of looking to the physical, he would labor for true spiritual food, he would be satisfied presently and rewarded eternally. Next time you feel a craving for something earthly, let me suggest something infinitely better: Get in touch with reality. Spend time seeking that which is everlasting. Come into the presence of the Lord with praise and worship. You’re not truly craving the video or the hot fudge sundae. You’re not craving the sporting event or the bigger car. What you’re really craving is the everlasting food found only in the pursuit and enjoyment of God.

The Lord isn’t sternly pointing His finger, saying, “Labor not for the meat that perishes.” He’s saying, “To live life fully, don’t get caught up in laboring for things-physical things, relational things, material things. Instead, put your energy and focus on that which leads to life everlasting.”

“What must we do to do the works of God?” the crowd asked.

“The work of God is singular,” Jesus answered. “It is that you believe on Me.”

“What sign can You give us to prove You indeed are the One whom the Father has sent?” asked the crowd. Only the day before, Jesus had miraculously fed five thousand. But the crowd asked for another sign because miracles never produce lasting faith.

Could it be that, as their stomachs were growling after their journey to Capernaum, the crowd is saying, “We’re hungry. Give us something to eat-as Moses did”?

“Moses didn’t provide the manna in the wilderness. It came from My Father,” said Jesus.

Jesus was speaking of something infinitely greater than manna. He was speaking of Himself.

Like the woman in John 4 who asked for living water in order that she would no longer have to draw from the well, the crowd failed to understand that Jesus was not speaking in terms of the physical, but of the spiritual; not of the temporal, but of the eternal.

“I understand who Jesus is,” you say, “and I understand what’s being said. But I’m one who has been laboring for meat that perishes.”

I have good news for you! Jesus says, “Of all which has been given to Me, I will lose nothing.” Check out verse 12. Jesus said, “Gather up the fragments-the crumbs.” That’s me. You might feel “crumb-y,” insignificant, or fragmented. But Jesus says, “The called will understand My message, and none shall be lost.”

You gotta love the Lord for speaking the truth in not only telling us how to live, but also saying, “Even when you fail, I’ve still got you and I’m going to see you through.”

For topical study of John 6:35 see “Jesus: the I AM”.

When the manna was given in the wilderness, what did the people do? They murmured (Exodus 17:3). And now they’re murmuring once more in response to Jesus’ statement that He is the “bread sent from heaven.”

The crowd was, of course, wrong. Jesus wasn’t Joseph’s son. He’s God’s Son.

“Murmur not,” Jesus said. We have a saying that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Consequently, murmuring and complaining are sort of acceptable to us. First Corinthians 10:10, however, teaches otherwise-for sometimes rather than getting the grease, the squeaky wheel gets replaced.

When the crowd said, “We know Him. He’s the son of Joseph,” Jesus didn’t correct them because the real issue was that they simply believe that He is the “bread sent from heaven”-an impossible feat for them unless the Father drew them.

The human being can survive longer on bread than on any other substance. Although it is baked in different ways and fixed in different forms, bread is truly cross-cultural. It’s also extremely palatable, for most of us eat some sort of bread every day. But the most intriguing aspect about Jesus’ identification with bread is the process by which bread is made. That is, a seed of grain is planted in the ground. After some weeks, it springs up and grows into maturity. Then it is cut down, ground up, and placed in the fire. After it is thoroughly baked, it is enjoyed by humanity.

That’s exactly what happened to Jesus. A seed was planted in the womb of Mary miraculously. God Incarnate came forth and grew to maturity. He was cut down as He was pinned to the Cross; ground up as He was cursed and spat upon; and placed in the fire of God’s wrath as He absorbed all of our sin. And because He had been planted, cut down, ground up, and burned in the very fire of God’s wrath, you and I have the opportunity to eat of Him daily-never tiring of Him, always receiving strength and sustenance for the challenges of any given day. Truly, Jesus is the Bread of Life. The analogy is perfect.

As the Jews wondered what He meant, Jesus began to explain the absolute necessity of their taking this teaching and applying it personally. In other words, they would have to eat of His body or they would not live.

Biblically, we can understand what it means to eat of Jesus when we understand what happened to Adam and Eve when they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It was after they ate the forbidden fruit that they fell because they no longer were completely and constantly dependent on the Father. You see, prior to the Fall, whenever they had questions, whenever they had problems, whenever there might be confusion, they said, “Father, what should we do?” But once they ate of the forbidden fruit, they became independent. They no longer talked to their Abba, their Papa, their Father. They said instead, “We know what’s good. We know what’s evil. We know how to handle this or accomplish that.”

Here, Jesus says, “You’ve eaten of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and it led to your fall. Now eat of Me, the Tree of Life. Internalize Me. Allow Me to come into the deepest recess of your being. Allow Me to take control of your life.

Practically, we can understand what it means to eat of Jesus, when we realize that, although we can get by without exercise, excitement, or education, we can’t get by without eating. We may not do a lot of things we think we should do. But there is one thing we make sure we do: We eat. And here the Lord, in using this analogy, gets very practical when He says, “I want to be the priority of your life. Make it a necessity to eat of Me daily and consistently.

Mystically, we can understand what it means to eat of Jesus when we come to Communion. Paul wrote that many in the church at Corinth were weak, sick, and had even died unnecessarily because they had not given worth to the Lord’s table (1 Corinthians 11:30). The same, in a sense, is still true. I believe the reason so much of Protestant Christianity is sterile, boring, and impotent is because a lot of Protestants, in overreaction to Catholicism, have reduced the importance and necessity of the Eucharist. There is a tremendous power in the Lord’s Supper. While I do not believe that the elements are literally transformed into the Lord’s body and blood, neither do I believe they are nothing more than symbols, for I have experienced grace and power at the Communion table that I have found nowhere else. Perhaps that is why Satan seems to try to keep people away from Communion even more than from Bible study.

The Greek text makes it clear that the disciples found Jesus’ saying hard not because they couldn’t understand it, but because it was offensive.

“If this offends you,” said Jesus, “how will you feel when you see Me ascend to heaven by way of a Cross?”

We’re not able to comprehend intellectually the mystery of the Lord’s table or what it means to eat of Him personally. It is only by the Spirit that we can receive revelation.

Jesus didn’t plead with those who left. He didn’t say, “Let Me explain further.” He neither ran after them nor reasoned with them because He knew they could not understand unless the Father had drawn them. Sometimes we spend hours talking and days dialoguing when we should be following the example of Jesus-realizing that unless the Father is drawing, no one can come. I sense such a “relaxed-ness” in the ministry of Jesus Christ. Not striving, not struggling, not straining to persuade, He simply shared the truth, knowing the Spirit would give application in the hearts of those the Father had drawn.

“Where else can we go?” asked Peter. Too often, our answer is, “Cinema 5, Blockbuster Video, Red Lion.” We could fill in the blank all too easily, I’m afraid. But Peter had already done all the world’s stuff. He knew it was bankrupt.

Although they were no doubt excited and inspired by Jesus’ works, Peter and the boys were converted and committed by Jesus’ words. May this be a place corporately, and may we be people individually who understand that conversion and commitment are based not upon signs or miracles, entertainment, hype, or hoopla, but upon the Word of God. I’ve heard people say, “We don’t want to study the Bible. We just want to move in the Spirit.” Yet I don’t know how much more Spirit-filled a meeting can be than one in which the words of Jesus Christ are proclaimed, for the words He speaks are Spirit and life (verse 63).

Note the order: We believe and are sure. People often say, “I would believe if I could be sure.” But the way of the Lord is always believe first and then you will be sure, for it is only through faith that we can understand (Hebrews 11:3).

After seeing the crowds walk away from Him, I’m sure there was a momentary smile on Jesus’ face as He looked at the twelve who stood beside Him.

As He corrected Peter’s misconception that all twelve “believed and were sure,” the smile must have slowly faded from Jesus’ face.

For topical study of John 6:70-71 see “Why Jesus Chose Judas”.