(John 6:14-71)
This text demonstrates the claim, “I am the Bread of Life.” Thompson’s Chain Reference: 1308 (Christ – Bread of Life)
C. Jesus and the Multitudes
1. The Immediate Response of the Multitude
Look quickly then at the immediate response of the people to this miracle. The people said, in verse 14, “This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.” They said, “My! Look at this man, a prophet, the one we’ve been looking forward to seeing for so many years. We’ve been wanting to hear his voice – now we hear it. We wanted to see Him in action – now we see it because He has come with miracle signs and wonders. “
So they all came together, just one great surge, to just run and take Jesus by force and make Him King. Now you’d better watch it when a whole bunch of people run after you and you become so popular and they start to give you that King treatment. You better watch it.
2. Jesus' Response to the Multitude
You know what Jesus did? He went and slipped away alone into a mountain to pray. When the clamor and the cries of the people feed your ego for that popularity and that desire to be well known and to build your reputation, you’re on dangerous ground. It’s a subtle form of temptation and trial. It is a time to flee by yourself alone in a mountain and pray. Pray until the midnight hours. Because you see that same crowd that is so fickle that just follows you because of sensationalism and signs, when they’re put to the test they may turn on you and may cry – crucify you as they crucified Him.
3. The Response of the Multitude the Following Day
The next day, the people were looking for more bread. They came seeking for Jesus, but it was not because they saw or understood the meaning of the great sign. Jesus said, “You seek me, not because you have seen the miracles, and you’re seeking me not because you understood what I was doing and the purpose and the meaning behind that miracle, but because you did eat the loaves and were filled.”
When He blesses, it’s for a reason. When He anoints, it’s for a reason. When He heals, it’s for a reason. When He moves with miraculous power, it is for a reason. That men may see Him and believe on Him and have life and have life more abundantly. Hallelujah!
They said, in answer to that, “What shall we do to have life and work the works of God?” Jesus said, “It’s not a matter of what you can do or not do to do the works of God. To do the works of God is to believe in Him whom God hath sent.”
They said, “Well, if you want us to believe on you, then show us a sign.” It always has disgusted me. This fellow is about twice as fat as I am with his toothpick whittled out of a willow stick I guess leaning over here to the side picking out bread and fish out of his teeth and him so full of signs then he’s about to pop said, “Show us a sign if you want us to believe.”
Do you know what? There are a lot of spiritual gluttons around the church these days. God’s everywhere, but they don’t see Him. His hand is moving but they don’t feel it. The Holy Ghost is working, but they’re not aware. God’s working, but they’re not walking with Him. All they want is one more sign. One more great thing to heap upon them and glut their appetite for the sensational.
D. The Teaching of Jesus
Jesus then began to zero in on them with a little bit of teaching and theology. Now that’s where a lot of people get busy and they want to get up and they have to leave the church when you start teaching what the Word says. I get a little disappointed in some people. They can sing the house down and shout the house down and you start to preach the Word and they have to go get a glass of water, or do something, and they have to leave.
1. Jesus Is What He Gives
Jesus started saying, “Well now listen, if you want to know what that true bread is that your fathers ate and the true bread that comes down from heaven, you’re looking at him because I am the bread of life.” What John is saying is that Jesus is what He gives. He gives gifts but in the giving He gives Himself, hallelujah, so that you can’t get His blessings without receiving Him. You can’t eat His bread without receiving Him.
a. Jesus Is Not a Santa Clause Giver
Jesus is not a Santa Claus that just hands you out gifts, but He disrobes Himself of all the mythologies and He says, “Oh, if you’re going to receive my blessings and receive my gift and if you’re going to have life, then I’m life. You’ve got to have me.” Hallelujah! You can’t have God’s blessings, you can’t have God’s best unless Jesus Christ becomes your Lord and Master. Hallelujah! Praise Him!
b. Jesus Is Everlasting Life
You know what happened? He said, “If you receive this gift,” which indeed means you receive the giver as well, “you have everlasting life,” verse 40. Oh, this is the results of receiving Him and His gifts. It’s everlasting life.
2. The Murmuring of the People
But look quickly at the reaction of the people and the religious leaders what it said. When Jesus offered this way to everlasting life first of all the murmured at Him. You know murmur, murmur, murmur. Just rising up throughout the congregation.
You know I preach on people like that murmuring at you. He went a little bit
further and He gave them to understand that His own flesh was the living bread.
3. The Striving of the People
They began to strive among themselves pushing and pulling. “I can’t accept that. I don’t believe.” Striving among themselves. Then in a little bit when He said, “…Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.” They and the disciples said, “…This is a hard saying, who can hear it?” And Jesus said, “…Are you offended?” And that word offended means, “Are you scandalized at this?”
4. Levels of Rejection and Levels of Faith
You see, what John does throughout this great Gospel is show us levels of rejection. Levels of unbelief. And at the same time and sometimes in the very same story, he’ll show us levels of faith that move step by step into higher realms of enlightenment which we’ll perhaps see the next time as we look at Jesus the light of the world, and a young man emerging out of darkness step by step moving into realms of higher faith and light and enlightenment and understanding.
5. The Gospel Is Either Received or Rejected
You see, that’s the way of the Gospel and that’s the way of Christ and that’s the way of the Word. Every time you hear it, every time you’re into it’s presence, you either move into a higher level of faith and receptivity to God’s Word, or you sink to a lower depth of misunderstanding and confusion and rejection.
The Gospel is powerful. It’s no neutral ground. Every time the Word goes forth with power and the anointing of the Spirit you’re on the spot. You either move up or you move out. Go up in faith or sink down with a harder heart and a more confused mind. It’s always active, life giving.
So they murmured first and then there was strife among them and then they were offended. I’ve preached when people were offended and got their feelings hurt so bad they never came back to church. But think of Jesus on this day. The Bible says, verse 66, “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.”
6. The Testing of the Twelve
Finally, he tested the twelve. And in testing the twelve He says to them, “Will ye also go away? Are you going too? Are you offended at me and what I have taught? Then Simon Peter said, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.”
Listen friends, there is no other place to go. He is the bread of life and He has the words to eternal life and that’s the reason the pastor today almost shouted while he preached the funeral because he knew a saint of God was in the presence of the Lord with eternal life. And that’s the reason yesterday we had almost a worship service as Brother Walker went on. Eternal life. And you’ve got it abiding in you now. And if you keep believing on Jesus and eating that bread of life, you’ll never die. One day you’ll just change your dwelling place and move swiftly out of this world. Amen.