John 6:25-51
Q.1. Why were the crowds looking for Jesus? What was Christ’s advice and statement to them? What did they make of His teaching? – (Jn.6:25-33)
The crowds suspected that the appearance of Jesus was supernatural. They quizzed Him about it (Jn.6:22 & 25). However, Jesus exposed their motives. They were impressed by the miraculous feeding of the five thousand but had failed to see to what this ‘sign’ pointed (Jn.6:26). Miracles and healings are only temporary. Jesus advised them – Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal (Jn.6:27). They asked what they needed to do to gain this eternal life, and what other signs He would do, to confirm His claim that His Father approved of His mission. The manna given to Israel came not from Moses, but from God in Heaven … just as Jesus had come down from Heaven to give His life for the world (Jn.6:32-33 c.f. Ex.16:4).
Q.2. What did Jesus offer the crowds? Are the Father and the Son on the same mission? How can His promises be realized? – (Jn.6:34-40)
Jesus spelled out His offer – … I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst (Jn.6:35). Though the crowds said that they wanted this eternally satisfying bread, Jesus pointed to their unbelief, and the need for His Father to bring spiritual life – All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out (Jn.6:37). The reason for His coming to earth was to fulfil His Father’s desire to save sinners. The path to such life, is the Son – For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day (Jn.6:40). Faith in Jesus is essential and indispensable (Jn.6:29, 40).
Q.3. How did Jesus contrast what He offers with the manna in the wilderness? What are the conditions for coming to Christ? – (Jn.6:41-51)
All Israel who were fed with Manna, but still didn’t believe God’s promises, died in the wilderness. The Jews similarly rejected Jesus, because they baulked at His lowly family, and because the Father had not drawn them (Jn.6:42-46). The Bread that Jesus offered would bring eternal life – 50 This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh (Jn.6:50-51). We cannot come to Jesus, unless we have a supernatural beginning from the good hand of the Father, Who is revealed to us by the Son (6:44-46 c.f. Jer.31:31-34).