John 6:1 "After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias."

John 6:2 "And a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His miracles which He did on them that were diseased."

Notice why this great multitude followed Jesus Christ. They followed Him "because they saw His miracles which He did on them that were diseased." Jesus' credentials was His power to heal. It does not necessarily mean that they believed in Jesus but they were captivated by Jesus' power to heal.

John 6:3 "And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there He sat with His disciples."

Jesus and His disciples are on the hill, with this huge crowd below.

John 6:4 "And the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh."

It would be about two years from this date that Jesus would be making preparation for their last supper. The Passover feast that was once the most special feast in remembrance of the death angel passing over the homes of the children of Israel, while they were in Egypt. Until the captivity in Babylon, this was the most sacred of feast days, for it marked both the salvation in Egypt, and the promise of the future Messiah.

When the house of Judah came out of the Babylon a Millennium later, the entire religious order of the scribes and priests had been taken over by the Kenites. These were the Nethinims [foreigners given to service] that twisted the laws and added their own set of laws and traditions to entrap the house of Judah. Malachi prophesied of this decay of the priesthood, and the pitiful condition these sons of Cain would bring upon the people and upon His Temple.

Malachi 1:6; "A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a Father, where is Mine honour? and if I be a Master, where is My fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise My name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised Thy name?' "

As we have seen in past chapters of John, where ever Christ performs His miracles, these Kenite religious leaders plotted to murder Him. They knew the signs of the times of the coming of the Christ child, yet when those signs appeared they valued their traditions and twisted laws over the teachings of Christ. When Jesus told them who He was, their hatred of Jesus made them mad with hate.

As we continue in John, when we read of the "feast of the Jews", and see the hatred of this so-called religious bunch. Keep in mind that these Kenites are at the center of the trouble, and this hatred goes all the way back many centuries prior. The Kenites are not descendants of Israel, but are the offspring of Cain, who was the son that came from the sexual union between Satan and Eve. If you have trouble with this statement and understanding just who the Kenites are, you will find the entire Bible very confusing.

So now you can understand why the reference here to "the feast of the Jews". Two years after this writing Christ will become our "Passover", and the feast that we celebrate is called, the Communion, where the bread and the cup represent the pure body and blood of Christ. Jesus is the bread of life that is offered to us, that if we take of Him, we will have eternal life.

John 6:5 "When Jesus then lifted up His eyes, and saw a great company come unto Him, He saith unto Philip, "Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"

There were five thousand men, coming with their families with them. Philip was from this area, and that is why Jesus addressed the question to Philip.

John 6:6 "And this He said to prove him: for He Himself knew what He would do."

Jesus knew what Philip would say before He even asked the question. There simply was no place that could feed all these people, and Jesus wanted to stress this point to His disciples.

John 6:7 "Philip answered Him, "Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little."

A "pennyworth" was a silver coin, worth about 17 cents, in the late 1800s. This would be worth the value of forty dollars, not of today's standards, but the 1890s, when that value was set to standards. There was no place in the area that could possibly provide sufficient bread that all these men and their families could eat.

John 6:8 "One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto Him,"

John 6:9 "There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?"

Don't miss the biblical numerics, nor the ingredience that is given in this verse. Number five in Biblical numerics stands for grace, there is five barley loaves. "Grace" is unmerited favor, and that is the only way that man can approach our heavenly Father and have salvation. Note also that this is "barley" bread, which is a poor man's bread. The good bread is the wheat bread. Barley ripens about thirty days before wheat, and is considered "first fruits". This is the spiritual significance of the bread of Christ becomes the first fruits of the body of Christ.

If you spell "fish" in the Greek, it becomes an "acrostic", which spells out the meaning of"Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God". Therefore in the early church the shape of the fish became the symbol of all things that represented Christianity, because it identifies Christ.

John 6:10 "And Jesus said, "Make the men sit down." (Now there was much grass in the place.) So the men sat down, in number about five thousand."

Notice the order that this multitude kept themselves in. In a mob scene, people run all over each other in a panic, but Jesus kept them in order and sitting in groups together.

John 6:11 "And Jesus took the loaves; and when He had given thanks, He distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would."

Jesus took the loaves and blessed them, and His disciples served the food. We should always give thanks for the food we eat, and Jesus set the example here. Though Christ does the providing, He sends forth His disciples to do the teaching, and feeding of His flock. This is the example of how it is today, Jesus gives us the Word, the bread of Life, and we are to do the feeding.

John 6:12 "When they were filled, He said unto His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost."

Christ didn't want one piece of bread to be lost. In this lesson the people who represent the crumbs being gathered up is important. This is a spiritual lesson to His disciples.

John 6:13 "Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

After Christ had fed the multitude, there was enough left over for a basket for each of Christ's twelve disciples. In other words, God through the Son is able to provide for everyone and have a lot left over, for those that would accept His bread of life.

In Matthew 16:5-10 it is recorded, where following this gathering of the bread, the disciples got into their ship, and went to the other side of the sea. The problem was, they forgot to take the baskets of bread that were gathered. Though this is talking of physical bread that you eat, Jesus is using this as a spiritual lesson to teach His disciples.

Then Jesus taught them a lesson. Anytime you gather a multitude together and you pick up fragments or the crumbs of information here and there, and then you put it all back into one basket, it is going to be polluted. The truth will be polluted by what men say. In that sixteenth chapter of Matthew Jesus warned them, when you are in a large group, be careful of the doctrine of the scribes and the Pharisees that would slip in and contaminate the pure truth of the bread of life.

Jesus first miracle was the wine, in turning of the water into pure fermented wine that would represent the blood of Christ that was shed for the sins of all those that would receive and through repentance believe on His name. Now here we have the other miracle concerning the bread, the other part of the Communion table. The body of Christ that was broken for us, that we may find healing through Christ's broken body.

John 6:14 "Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, "This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world."

When the men saw the feeding of the five thousand men and their families with the five barley loaves and two fishes, the recognized Jesus as being the Messiah that was prophesied in the Old Testament. Remember back in Deuteronomy 18 where Moses wrote of Christ.

John 6:15 "When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take Him by force, to make Him a king, He departed again into a mountain Himself alone."

When Jesus heard the words of these men and understood their minds, that they wanted to make Him a king, He left their location so that this would not happen. It was not time for His ride into Jerusalem where they would lay palm branches and their coats before Him, and cry out, "Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the Highest." [Matthew 21:9] This was the first advent of the coming of Jesus Christ.

These people wanted to make Jesus the King for the wrong reason: Because Jesus filled their stomachs and healed their children from sickness and diseases. Jesus provided them with a welfare system, food and medical, and their minds were not on Jesus as the Son of God, but one that could satisfy their physical needs. This is the very nature of many Christians in our country today. They will follow anyone that pampers their physical needs.

John 6:16 "And when even was now come, His disciples went down unto the sea,"

John 6:17 "And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them."

Jesus had gone to the mountain alone to get away from the multitude of people that wanted to make Him a king. While He was gone, the disciples got into their ship, and headed out towards Capernaum. More then likely this was determined where they would go before.

John 6:18 "And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew."

This sea of Tiberius, or Galilee was situated amongst the hills and mountains so that when the wind came up, and would be sudden and fierce. It would come from many directions and stir up the waves. Remember that amongst the disciples were some fishermen, and even they were concerned over their safety.

John 6:19 "So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid."

When they were about three to four miles out at sea, they saw Jesus walking on the sea. As Jesus walked towards the ship they became afraid, not of the storm, but of this one that they did not recognize. We know from Matthew that Peter wanted to walk our there with Him. As long as Peter stayed in the Spirit, He walked, but when He looked at the tempest, He went under.

Jesus was preparing these men for the time when He would no longer be with them. That is why Jesus did not get in the boat and leave when they left. There is a time coming when Jesus would not be with them. They had to learn to be strong in their faith.

John 6:20 "But He saith unto them, "It is I; be not afraid."

When you get to one of those places where things look very difficult, and insurmountable; don't be afraid. God will be there with you. That is the time to praise Him, and watch the workings that He will provide for your way out. When the disciples understood that it was Christ, then all fear left them.

John 6:21 "Then they willingly received Him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went."

Keep in mind what is happening here. Jesus had fed the five thousand, and healed their sicknesses, and these people intended to keep Jesus around for their needs. That is why they were pacified when the disciples got into the boat, and set sail, they saw that Jesus was not with them. They knew that Jesus was still there with them. They didn't care about the disciples, but only the one that produced the bread, and healed.

John 6:22 "The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto His disciples were entered and that Jesus went not with His disciples into the boat, but that His disciples were gone away alone:"

This took place the next morning, and the people that stood by the sea were the ones that had been fed. They saw that there was no other boat in the entire area that Jesus could have taken to get away. They felt secure in the fact that Jesus would be there to fix breakfast for them that morning. This multitude of people simply did not care that the disciples had left, for it was Jesus that they were relying upon.

John 6:23 "(Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)"

These people stayed close to the feeding place, and some other boats came to that location from Tiberias. This shows us the way that their minds were working. They could not see the spiritual side of the multiplying of the food, only the immediate gain to themselves. The Messiah had come and this thought was fresh in their minds, but they only saw Jesus for what they could get out of Him. They all got excited over their fish dinner.

John 6:24 "When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither His disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus."

These people finally figured out that Jesus wasn't coming back there that day. When these boats from Tiberias came to shore, the people jumped in the boats and headed for Capernaum to find Jesus.

John 6:25 "And when they had found Him on the other side of the sea, they said unto Him, "Rabbi, when camest Thou hither?"

When they finally found Jesus, they asked Him how He got over here? They saw the disciples ship leave but Jesus was not with them, and no other ships were around; so how did He get to Capernaum? To go by foot would have taken several days of walking, and they expected to arrive there before Christ did. It puzzled them, How did you get here?

John 6:26 "Jesus answered them and said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek Me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat the loaves, and were filled."

Verily, verily is truly truly for emphasis. Jesus is stating a fact here.

John 6:27 "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for the meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him hath God the Father sealed."

This is the reason for Christ coming; not to fill their bellies, but to pay the price to seal everlasting life for all that will believe on His name. The meat of the Word, is the spiritual food which builds your faith to know that Jesus paid the price for us, that keeps His Word fresh in our minds. It allows the Holy Spirit to lead in our lives after repentance, whereby through faith we can do the Will of the Father. That faith and hope in Christ is what will see you through the dangers of this life.

These people still cannot see that the miracle of the massive feeding was to document that Christ was not just another man, but that He was Messiah, sealed by the almighty Father.

John 6:28 "Then said they unto him, "What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?"

So after Jesus told these people that simply feeding them was not what God had intended the miracle to be for; these men then wanted to know what works they had to do to please God?

John 6:29 "Jesus answered and said unto them, "This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him Whom He hath sent."

The Scriptures had written of the coming of Jesus the Messiah in many places. The entire Old Testament was a witness to Christ's coming. Jesus is telling them, to please the Father, the one who sent the Son, you must believe on the Son, Jesus Christ. If you want to please God the Father, then listen to the Son.

Jesus said, I and the Father are one, when you please the Father you please Me. When you believe on Jesus Christ then you have pleased the Father.

John 6:30 "They said therefore unto Him, "What sign shewest Thou then, that we may see, and believe Thee? what dost Thou work?"

You talk about some thick headed people; they sat by and watched how Jesus took a small basket of bread morsels and two fish, and fed over fife thousand men and their families with it. In this miracle before their eyes the food multiplied as Jesus touched it, and now these beggars are asking for another sign so they can believe. They saw the miracle, and had actually eaten from that miracle that took place.

Now compare today with this time. Many times when blessings are given to people to be a sign, they just don't see it. They watch the Special healings, or intercessions in financial matters, or even impossible things that have come to pass. Even though they call themselves Christians, and witnessed these things come to pass, they still are amazed when Jesus does a work in their lives. They call it luck. There is no such thing as luck, for you set your own pace. Luck is the blessings of God, and giving any form of the worship of God, devotion to luck is idolatry.

John 6:31 "Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, "He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' "

These people had just witnessed the same thing as the children of Israel did in the wilderness, yet they could not see the handiwork of God in this miracle. They did not attribute the miracle as a sign, but asked for another. They looked to Jesus as some sort of a magician that could expand the bread from human powers.

The point is that they did not see the spiritual thing that took place as being the manna from heaven or a gift from God. They looked right at it and tasted of it, and their spiritual eyes were blind.

John 6:32 "Then Jesus said unto them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven."

It wasn't Moses that gave you that spiritual bread from heaven, but My Father giveth you the true bread from Heaven. All bread comes from the office of the Father, and all that you get comes from Him. These people had witnessed the same thing as the miracle of manna in Moses day, and they sit here in total ignorance.

John 6:33 "For the bread of God is He Which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world."

Christ is telling them that; I am that bread that comes down from heaven, and giveth life to the world.

John 6:34 "Then said they unto Him, "Lord, evermore give us this bread."

Do you think they asked here for the spiritual bread Jesus was talking about? Of course not; they are asking for what fills their stomach. They want Jesus to keep the fish sandwiches coming.

John 6:35 "And Jesus said unto them, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst."

"I am" is Jesus sacred name. Jesus is making it clear that He is the tree of Life that provides food for all seasons. Jesus is making it very clear that what He is offering is spiritual food.

John 6:36 "But I said unto you, That ye also have seen Me, and believe not."

They had heard Jesus teach, and seen the miracle take place, and even tasted of it, yet they could not see, nor understand.

John 6:37 "All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out."

Jesus is talking here about the election, those are the ones written of in Romans 8:26-30. The elect of God are the ones that the Father has already given to Christ; They of their own free will were faithful to Him in the first earth age. The giving and predestination took place in that first earth age, because of the stand that each of the elect took then. Those are the ones that "the Father giveth Me shall come to Me."

Romans 8:29; "For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren."

Romans 8:30; "Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified."

Ephesians 1:4, 5 tells us when this all took place. "According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love;" [4] "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will," [5]

The elect of God were chosen, predestinated, justified, and glorified according to God's good pleasure, and that is part of the plan of God. The plan of God is "the Will and good pleasure of God". When Satan rebelled in the first earth age, He took one third of the angels or us souls with Him, in the defiance of God. The elect were those souls in the first earth age that were immovable against Satan, and because of their stand then, God judged them then. God predestined those souls and adopted each of them to himself for His good pleasure. These are the souls that the "[Souls] All that the Father giveth to Me [Jesus Christ] that shall come unto Me."

God the Father gave His Son even to this generation, so that in this final generation they will witness His Word and His Will might be fulfilled. If you understand the plan of God it is no accident, then God will seal that Will or plan into the minds of each of His Elect. God's Elect will not be deceived by the Antichrist and all the wonders and deceptions that Satan, the Antichrist will do.

John 6:38 "For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him That sent Me."

Christ came down from heaven for the sole purpose of fulfilling the Will, or Word of God. All souls came down from heaven; but the Elect of God will do the Will of the Son, However the other souls have the freewill to chose whom they will follow. There is only one entry into the flesh body by each soul, and it can come only through the conception and birth from a women. That is the plan and Will of God.

John 6:39 "And this is the Father's will Which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day."

This is the Fathers Will, that all should come to know and chose His Son, and receive eternal life. Then at the coming of Christ at the sounding of the seventh trumpet, all would be "raised", meaning "changed" to their spiritual incorruptible and immortal [never to die] bodies. This is what Paul revealed to us through the mystery stated in his letter in I Corinthians 15:50-54.

That Will of God is provided to all by the shed blood of His Son on the cross; all flesh will be changed and believe on Christ and will be raised up on the last day. To believe is to know in your heart that there is sin in you, and that Jesus Christ came to this earth to pay the price for that sin. The only way to have forgiveness from God is to accept the blood the Jesus paid in the cross as the full price for the sin that is within you. You do that by confessing that sin to the Father in Jesus' name. Jesus' name is your credentials before the throne of God.

Romans 10:9, 10; "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." [9] "For with the heart [mind] man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." [10]

John 6:40 "And this is the will of Him That sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day."

Remember we saw what the will was in II Peter 3:9; "It is God's will that all come to repentance..." We know that the nature of man will cause many to reject God, and His Son. This is the fulfillment of John 3:16.

John 6:41 "The Jews then murmured at Him, because He said, "I am the bread which came down from heaven."

These Jews that were murmuring against Jesus were either the Kenites, or following the orders of the Kenites. They knew the Old Testament, and only accepted those parts that would conform to their traditions. Many of the things that these Nethinims [Kenites] plotted against Jesus, the men of true Judah would not be caught doing. Remember that the word "Jews" meant "from the Land of Judaea", and included all those living inside the borders of Judaea, not just descendants of Judah.

Reference again, is to Revelation 2:9; "...I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan." Even to the final day of this flesh age we are to be aware of these offspring of Cain, whether they call themselves "Jews", or Christians.

John 6:42 "And they said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that He saith, 'I came down from heaven?"

These so-called religious leaders were suppose to be students of God's Word, and any Christian and student of God's word knows that all souls come down from heaven, and came from the Father. He is the one that sent each soul to be conceived in the womb. Remember in Ecclesiastes 12:7; "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God Who gave it."

When conceptions takes place, the mother and father of the child bring the physical matter together, however it is God the Father that places the soul within that embryo. The Father gives the soul, and today there is an attitude in our nations that disregards both the Father, and the soul that God has placed in that embryo. Many mothers, with the help of their butcher doctors think they have the right to take the life of that innocent soul that God has placed there. God provides the soul, or self in all conceptions.

Somehow they confuse their free will that God gave them to chose between the Son and Satan; with the right to murder the souls that God placed within them. Many do this act out of ignorance, for all they know are the doctrines of devils that are growing stronger with each day. God loves all His souls, and when this, or any act committed against God is done; God is waiting for your repentance. There is forgiveness for all sin, except your turning your back on God's Son, and refusing to believe on His name.

John 6:43 "Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, "Murmur not among yourselves."

John 6:44 "No man can come to Me, except the Father Which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day."

This part goes to the deeper level, that we call "Election".

It doesn't matter where you go or how rough it gets, when you believe on Jesus Christ you are never alone. If you are Jesus Christ's, He will not lose you or forget you.

John 6:45 "It is written in the prophets, "And they shall be all taught of God." Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto Me."

Jesus is now going to tell us of those things that are symbolic, which are His body and His blood. His "body" is the bread of Life, and when Jesus gave the five thousand the barley loaves [for barley ripened thirty days prior to the wheat], it became symbolic of the first fruits.

John 6:46 "Not that any man hath seen the Father, save He Which is of God, He hath seen the Father."

John presents Christ as God, and when you have seen Christ, you have seen the Father. What Jesus is saying here is that "what I say, I never got it from man, I got it from My Father." Jesus is telling us, "I have seen the Father, and I am sure of what I speak." There are two types of people listening to Jesus as He is teaching here, the first are those that are along for the free meal and the second are those Kenites that are listening for the sake of tripping Jesus up.

What Jesus is pointing to here, is that He speaks of that which is of the Spirit, and not the flesh body.

John 6:47 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life."

"Everlasting life", is life from the time it was first created in the eons of time past, before this earth age of flesh man. Everlasting life goes through the present age, and right into the eternity, ages without end. Friend, there is no breaking point in the life of your soul, for even when the flesh body gives up the soul and goes into the ground, the soul and spirit [intellect of the soul] goes immediately to be with the heavenly Father. There is no break in the life of your soul.

John 6:48 "I am that bread of life."

Jesus is saying that His body is the bread that gives your soul eternal life. Jesus sacrifice on the cross is the only road, gate, path or what ever you call it, it is the only way to eternal life for your soul. When Jesus said, "I am" that is the sacred name of God.

John 6:49 "Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead."

Jesus is telling this to most of those that tasted of the bread that Jesus gave on the other side of the sea. Reminding them of when there fathers ate of the manna from heaven in the wilderness, and in due time they all died the death of thei flesh. Jesus is saying, just like they all died, so also will you in time. This is looking to only in the physical sense. They had a fish sandwich and ate of the food, but that manna will provide only nourishment to the flesh.

John 6:50 "This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die."

Speaking of Himself; This is the bread of life, of Christ that came down from heaven; and here we must separate the physical from the spiritual. The five loaves of barley bread was the physical, symbolic of the spiritual "bread of Life" which is Jesus Christ. Physical satisfaction came to all from the prayer and distribution of the barley bread, while Spiritual life [eternal life] comes when you take of the "bread of Life", Jesus Christ by faith, and obedience in repentance in Jesus name.

From the time of your repentance, and belief in Jesus name, that eternal life comes into your soul. This offer is given to all mankind, and it is without distinction of race, or tongue. The only thing that matters is the belief in ones mind and heart in Jesus Christ, and the repentance of that soul.

John 6:51 "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

In the Greek, My "flesh" would be better translated, My "self". Christ will give Himself for the life of all that will accept, in this earth age. This goes right back to John 3:16; "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..." The "world" is the "cosmos" or "this flesh age" that all souls must come through in the flesh. To believe on Him, is to believe that a virgin actually conceived and bear the only begotten Son of God by the Spirit of the Living God. That would make God personified, or in person, in this begotten Son, Jesus Christ. He is giving Himself in the flesh. Remember it is God's way of showing that He cares for you, that you are somebody with Him. You are a person that has a purpose within His plan.

The life and direction in all matters is given in His Word, the Bible. It deals with the matters of family, financing and usury, health, your conduct, and your spiritual relationship with your heavenly Father. When you believe, believe because you know that He loves you, and not just a matter of life and death of your soul. Jesus is your friend, for He is the closest friend that you will ever have.

John 6:52 "The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, "How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?"

Many of these Jews, are Kenites, and they have no idea what Jesus is talking about. They think Jesus is promoting cannibalism of His flesh flesh. They simply do not understand the spiritual lessons that Christ is teaching. Remember earlier we discussed that this would be symbolism. Though they claim to be educated in the Scripture, they are ignorant of the Word of God.

John 6:53 "Then Jesus said unto them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you."

When Jesus spoke these words to these Kenite religious people, it must have really sent them in a tailspin. In Christianity we have teachings that are spiritual and symbolic of the real thing. This is the Communion that Christ is teaching, yet these people standing before Jesus hear but do not understand what is being said.

John 6:54 "Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood The Communion], hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day."

Jesus will raise up all those that have taken of the bread of life, and His blood which is the cup, for each of them know where their salvation comes from. On the last day of this earth flesh age, all will be changed in the wink of an eye into their incorruptible spiritual bodies, and will live as joint heirs with Christ through the Millennium age, and continuing into eternity.

This has more to do, then simply raising up, but it has to do with being an overcomer. To take on an inheritance as Paul relates in I Corinthians 15:52-56. When the soul body steps out of flesh body, some will be mortal [mortal means liable to die], while the others immortal. If you have accepted Jesus Christ and taken the bread of Life, then your soul is immortal and you have eternal life.

Those souls that are "mortal" will live through the Millennium age, then following the great white throne of judgment, each mortal soul will be judged on only his works, and those works will determined whether that soul becomes immortal which is eternal, or is to be destroyed. Those that must wait until after the Millennium age until their soul has immortality take part in what is called the "second resurrection".

This verse of John 6:54 speaks of the first resurrection, which takes place at the return of Christ at the end of this flesh age. Those with the victory here have already put on their immortal soul, and will not go through the great white throne judgment and the second resurrection. This does not mean that there is a second chance for salvation, because most Christians today don't even know that Antichrist is coming first and will worship him in ignorance; therefore, they have had no first chance. Because their eyes were bllinded during this earth age, therefore, due to their ignorance they will have to wait until after the Millennium age, and be judged by their works, during the Millennium, for a chance to take part in the second resurrection to eternal life.

John 6:55 "For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed."

Jesus is so strong here that those in ignorance to this spiritual meaning will be drawn to Christ completely, or dead set against Him.

John 6:56 "He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood dwelleth in Me, and I in him."

This again is given in the spirit, and when we open our spirit to the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, then His Spirit dwells within us. The two become one. This is what we do when we take of the Communion, in remembrance of our Lord's death and resurrection.

John 6:57 "As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth Me, even He shall live by Me."

Just as the close relationship exists between the Father, and Jesus Christ the Son, when you eat or take of the bread of life, then Jesus will have the same spiritual relationship of oneness with each of us.

John 6:58 "This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eatheth of this bread shall live for ever."

If you are thinking in the physical realm of eating bread, you will miss the meaning here. Jesus is saying that those that ate of the manna from heaven in the wilderness are all physically dead. God is the giver of life that is eternal, and remember, we eat of that "Bread of Life" when by repentance we believe on His name. That is when on an individual basis, we see and accept the blood of Christ to cover our sins, by confession, and then comes our eternal life.

John 6:59 "These things said He in the synagogue, as He taught in Capernaum."

Did Jesus run and hide when He taught these things? No, Jesus went right into their synagogue, and taught where all the people could hear every Word spoken, and question Him over the things that He said.

John 6:60 "Many therefore of His disciples, when they had heard this, said, "This is an hard saying; who can hear it?"

As Jesus taught in the spiritual, most of those so called disciples that followed Jesus over their fish sandwich, scratched their head in confusion, and headed out the door. They just didn't understand all the teaching of eating of flesh and drinking of blood, and what ever else entered their minds. Those that had difficulty in understanding these spiritual thoughts were not Jesus twelve disciples, but the ones that only thought they believed. They were lead by their emotions and by their full stomach, and would believe anyone with a handout.

Most of the five thousand that ate their fish sandwich claimed to be a disciple of Christ, they hopped in the boats and went to Capernaum to find this Messiah they wanted to follow. Then when they heard the teaching, they just didn't know what to understand. This is also the trouble many have today. Many go to revival meetings, or answer a alter call at their corner church, and get their emotions tickled and think they are on a spiritual high, but when their first challenge comes, they are ready to head the other direction. They feel the physical, and are totally ignorant to the spiritual application to His Word.

John 6:61 "When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples murmured at it, He said unto them, "Doth this offend you?"

Naturally this would be offensive to anyone that did not understand the spiritual application that Jesus was talking about. In the physical it would be cannibalism. If you take this literally, and limit this teaching of Christ to only what you heard, you would also think it is against the laws of God. This is why we are to take it symbolically.

These temporary disciples wanted another fish sandwich, but when this one that gave them their first meal was talking crazy to them, it was hard to stick around. Are we going to eat Christ's flesh and drink His blood? This just doesn't make sense when thought of physically.

By Jesus asking them, Doth this offend you? Of course it would offend anyone that was ignorant to what Jesus was really teaching.

John 6:62 "What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where He was before?"

This is saying, At the crucifixion, if you were to see the Son ascend back to the Father, would you believe?.

John 6:63 "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."

Jesus is explaining here. It is the spirit that makes your soul alive, and My flesh profits nothing. He is saying that it is the spirit body that is the only body that will have eternal life, all flesh will die and go back to the dust it is made of. Jesus is telling His disciples here that He was talking of the spirit of man only. The spirit is eternal, and the spirit life is only with the soul, for the spirit is the intellect of your soul.

John 6:64 "But there are some of you that believe not." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray Him,"

Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him, even before he was chosen to follow Him. He knew that Thomas would doubt him and that Peter would deny him three times.

John 6:65 "And He said, "Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto Me, except it were given unto him of My Father."

Here you have the "election". Jesus has continually been referring to the final day of this age: To our generation where many of the election will come to understand the true meaning of Christ's Word. Each of the election will understand the events, the truths of prophecy that will be sealed in their minds. There will be many that truly follow Jesus and cannot be deceived by Satan, the Antichrist. Many people have had a feeling deep down in their souls that there was more then what is being taught. God is placing the desire for knowledge to seek Him in them, and the elect know that there is a destiny and purpose to their lives.

John 6:66 "From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him."

Now we see the true reason that many of those disciples left, the handouts they received were not worth the confusion that Christ's teaching were causing them. They missed the whole teaching of Christ, and the purpose for His miracles, and they just wanted to get away.

John 6:67 "Then said Jesus unto the twelve, "Will ye also go away?"

The multitudes of Christ's followers left Him, and there stood the twelve remaining. Jesus looked at them and asked them, will you go away also?

John 6:68 "Then Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life."

Jesus knew His disciples because they were chosen in that first earth age. They were of the election, chosen for the purpose of being the Apostles of Christ. They each knew from where salvation comes.

John 6:69 "And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God."

To know this is to believe on Jesus name, and have eternal life. Ask yourself, Do I believe that Jesus Christ is the Begotten Son of the Father? You are saying that Jesus Christ is God, the only way to salvation.

John 6:70 "Jesus answered them, "Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?"

These disciples didn't volunteer or come forth in a revival service; when Jesus said, "Come, follow Me", they each came. Even Judas was chosen, for Jesus knew exactly what Judas would do before He chose him.

John 6:71 "He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray Him, being one of the twelve."

Don't be too quick to judge Judas. Judas took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them back into the temple, and cried bitterly for the sin that He had committed, and he repented. Did Christ forgive him for this sin? Luke 12:10; "And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven."

Matthew 27:3, "Then Judas, which had betrayed Him, when he saw that He was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, "

Matthew 27:4 "Saying, "I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood."

This is confession and repentance. But many say, but He hung himself. I'm afraid that if you took a closer look at the second witness in the Bible [Peter], you would have a different opinion as to how Judas died. Remember that the night of Jesus betrayal, all of the disciples turned their back of Jesus, except the women.

Acts 1:18; "Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out."

Judas was murdered, split open by his murderers, and then hung. The Kenites slit his stomach wide open, and all his insides burst out as they swung his body forward, and then they hung him. Remember that the Kenite scribes were the records keepers in the Temple, and had held that positions for centuries prior to the birth of Christ. Documentation for this fact is I Chronicles 2:55. Judas words of betrayal were against the Son of man, Jesus Christ. and Jesus Himself taught that those words shall be forgiven, when repented. The unforgivable sin is written about in Mark 13:11, and it deals with the elect of God that are delivered up before the Antichrist, and brought into the synagogues of Satan. When this happens, if the Elect refuses to allow the Holy Spirit of God to speak through them, there is no forgiveness

American Wisdom Series Editor's Note: Now that we've completed this 2015 study of the  "BOOK OF JOHN chapter 6" we have placed a earlier 2002 John chapter 6 study to follow for your comparison. I don't believe you will find much difference in the general opinion of these 2 authors, but to read another person's perspective of events that took place may prove helpful in your understanding of the gospel of John.

Pamphlet 1506
John chapter 6

One of the reasons people have difficulty understanding the Bible is that they cannot think on a level higher than the flesh, i.e. the physical, earthly.

The disciples were (and even today are) no exception.  So the Teacher of teachers patiently and through the use of miracles themselves, shows us how to think "above" the flesh and focus on Him.

John 6:1
After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.

Tiberius means "garden of the prince".

[2] And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

It is important to note that the reason the crowd followed Jesus was because of the miracles He performed. They were looking for a show! And it doesn't take much to gather a crowd!

But be forewarned. It is written that there will be one coming in the very near future who will also perform miracles in the sight of men, like snapping his fingers and calling lightning down from the sky. And guess what? The whole world (with the exception of those who have the seal of God, His Word, locked in their minds) will follow [whore] after him. He will sit in the temple of God and claim to be Jesus (2 Thes. 2), but he will be the Instead-of-Jesus, i.e. Satan.

Yes, people often think that if they truly saw a miracle they would certainly believe and have no doubts.Be careful! How about if you saw the Messiah Himself perform a miracle? Would that do it for you? Keep this thought in mind as we study this chapter 6 of John.

[3] And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there He sat with his disciples.

[4] And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.

John 6:5
When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

[6] And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

Of course Christ knew what He was going to do. He went there to "teach a miracle"! In fact, the Father has already sent a young lad with the divinely ordained number of loaves of barley and fishes (vs. 9)! You see, many times God answers our prayers and provides a solution even before we're finished asking, like He did in Daniel's case in Daniel 10:12.

Then too, it's sometimes difficult for us to "see and understand" the solution that God sets before us. I'm sure most of you have heard the story about the devout man who was trapped in his house during a raging flood. As the waters grew higher he climbed up onto his second story balcony and just then a row boat came by and the man in the boat said, "Hey mister, get in!", to which the man on the porch replied, "No, I'm staying. The Lord will take care of me!" But the waters continued to rise and the man now climbed up on the roof when another row boat came by, and the man in the boat said, "Hey mister, better get in the boat!", to which he again replied, "No thanks, the Lord will take care of me!" The waters raged again and the man was now standing on top of his chimney when a helicopter came by and lowered a rope. But the man refused and said, "No thanks! The Lord will take care of me!" Thereafter the man soon drowned and upon entering heaven he asked the Lord, "Lord, why didn't you save me from those raging waters?", to which the Lord replied, "Well, I sent you two row boats and a helicopter!"

With that in mind, let's repeat verse 6 and notice why Jesus said what He did to Philip about feeding the crowd.

John 6:6
And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

Philip is being given a little spiritual test here. That's right, Christ gave him a test to PROVE him. You see, he too has seen the miracles Christ has performed and is now sitting on the mountain, right there along side the Son of God. Put yourself in his position. (You too can sit with the Word of God.)

So what do you think? Will Philip elevate his mind and think in terms of the "spirit" or will he have his flesh eyes only open and see things in terms of the flesh?

[7] Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

Ah, the flesh prevails once again! Give Philip an "F" (for Flesh) on his pop quiz! Lord knows we have all gotten enough of those ourselves. But don't worry, Philip will do well on his final exam.

[8] One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,

[9] There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

Hmmm, notice good old Andrew too! He points out (from his flesh perspective) that the five loaves and the two small fishes are but a "drop in the basket" among such a huge crowd. So not only didn't Andrew realize that God had provided the solution, he didn't believe the solution was sufficient!

This verse also contains the key elements to understanding the miracle which is about to happen, indeed, which already began with this young lad. The bread and the fish as we noted, and will be documented later on, were supplied by Almighty God, all of it, not just the addition to the 5 loaves and the 2 fishes.

And here once again, the understanding of Biblical numerics (see appendix 10 in the Companion Bible) gives us a deeper look into the meaning of what is happening. "5" is the number of "Grace" and "2" denotes "Difference". We will find out that Christ is that bread, that grace who shed His blood for us. And why barley loaves instead of wheat? Here's the definition of barley:

Barley. Used, by the poor only, for bread... The barley harvest is in March and April, earlier than the wheat harvest by three weeks. ("Smith's Bible Dictionary")

Jesus was born in a manger, not in a rich man's house, i.e. He was lowly, like barley. And barley, because it ripens about a month before wheat, is symbolic of firstfruits.

And fish would later become the symbol of Christianity. AND believe it or not, there the are "2" Christianities. That's right, there is real Christianity (which is not a religion) and there is Anti-Christianity, or Churchianity, (which is a religion). ["Anti" in Greek means "instead of".] Most Christians cannot tell the difference between the real thing and that which is clothed in religious garb. Why, you say?  Because they are Biblically illiterate! Many have sat in pews for decades and still only know about salvation and baptism. (So just wait until the "first supernatural miracle worker" appears at the 6th Trump. There will be a crowd follow him alright! It is called the great apostasy!)

Anyway, here's what the apostle Paul has to say to many of today's church goers:

Hebrews 5:12
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

If one has been a Christian for say 10+ years then he should have a pretty good knowledge of the scriptures, shouldn't he?  He (or she) should be able to feed others some "meat" from God's Word. But nooooo! Most are still sucking on milk bottles! Is that a good thing?

[13] For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

If you're still on milk then you have remained a "Baby Christian". Babies wear diapers, you know!

But grown ups, mature Christians, get to eat "steaks and full course meals"!

[14] But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Let's return to the mountain where the Word of God is about to feed 5,000 people.

John 6:10
And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

There's that number 5 again, this time in a multiple form. Also we know from the other Gospels that Christ had the multitude seated by ranks, in an organized fashion. God is not the author of confusion.

[11] And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

Christian's should always give thanks.

Notice it was the disciples who did the actual feeding after receiving the blessed "bread" from the Word of God.

[12] When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

[13] Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

Let's just say there was enough bread and fishes to feed the whole field [world] and still have enough to FILL UP the entire 12 tribes of Israel. (This has to do with Romans chapter 11, a lengthy subject for another time.)

[14] Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

The people were impressed by this miracle and figured if they made Him king they could get a free lunch everyday!

[15] When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

It was certainly not time for Jesus to be crowned king. Besides, man cannot crown the King of kings. He came as the Lamb of God, but next time we see Him, He will be the Ruler of the Universe and Lord of lords.

And when He comes, every knee in both heaven and earth will bow to the King of kings.

Philip. 2:10
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

What a time that will be! And it is closer than you might think!

Jesus had just fed 5,000 people beginning with 5 loaves of barley bread and 2 small fishes, and when He was finished there were 12 baskets full of fragments left over. And His disciples not only witnessed this miracle but HELPED Jesus perform it by distributing the "bread and meat" to the rank and files, after having received it from the Word of God. (That is how His disciples continue to feed the people to this very day.)

Now you would think that having just gone through this miraculous experience that their faith and trust in the Lord would be virtually unshakable. You would think.

Let's find out.

John 6:16
And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,

Actually you might think that the disciples had been waiting around on the Lord, growing impatient as we sometimes do, but we know from Mat. 14:22 that Jesus sent them to their ship while He went up into the mountain to pray. Do you think He had a reason for doing this? Of course He did. He is about to teach another lesson to His disciples. No, not just those disciples who were with Him! All of His disciples! That should include you and me. By the way, this class will be taught at night so it will be a really good lesson to remember when things get "dark".

[17] And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.

Well, perhaps now they are growing impatient because "Jesus was not [yet] come to them", so they decide to go it alone! (All texts read "not yet", oupo in the Greek.)  But in any event, know this: Once you become a true disciple of Jesus you are eventually going to end up in troubled waters. What? You thought that becoming a Christian would mean "easy sailing" for the rest of your life? You've been watching too much Sunday morning television!

[18] And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.

Uh oh! "Don't Know Why, There's No Sun Up In The Sky, Stormy Weather!" (I always liked that song). Again, you could say that they didn't wait for Jesus to come down from the mountain, just as their ancestors didn't wait for Moses to come down from the mountain with the commandments of God either, but the disciples were really following Christ's instructions.

And now "mother nature", using the negative of a physical storm to bring about a positive spiritual result, is about to get their attention and make them ready to receive the Lord into their ship.

Note: You would think that all the nature disasters, like the hurricanes, and floods, and earthquakes, that have been occurring would make our people wake up and become ready to receive Him. Perhaps for some it has, but it is obvious that the majority is oblivious. Oh well, keep rowing pal!

[19] So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.

They made it about half way across and the situation was now becoming critical. Let's switch to Matthew's account and pick up some more details.

Matthew 14:24
But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

There's an interesting type in this scenario for those who are familiar with the ships of Chittim in Daniel 11, which are symbolic of God's elect in the final generation. And we know that the sea [water] is symbolic of peoples and nations (Rev. 17:15). Now check out the word for "wind" used here.

anemos; an'-em-mos, Greek #417, from the base of Greek 109 (aer); wind; (plural) by implication (the four) quarters (of the earth) : wind.

You can't help but be reminded of the four winds of Rev. 7:1 (which is the same word anemos) that are released to consummate the final events just prior to the second advent. And notice the definition of the word "contrary".

enantios, Greek 1727; from Greek 1725 (enanti); opposite; figurative antagonistic :- (over), against, contrary.

And so it is that the prince of the power of air, old blow-hard himself (Satan), will come here (Rev. 12:7-9) and bring with him that furious storm of deception, a flash flood of lies, and the sea [people] will certainly be tossed with waves, even wave after wave of lies and deceit. Unfortunately, most will be drowned [spiritually], as it was in the days of Noah.

[25] And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

Are you one of His watchmen? This happened during the final watch! If you are one of His, He will never leave you nor forsake you.

[26] And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

Not only were they scared because of the storm, but now they thought they had seen a ghost! (Could be difficult to recognize who's who during a storm in the night, or shall we say when the sun is darkened.)

[27] But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

But Jesus, straightway, i.e. when He saw that His disciples were in trouble in the storm, came down from the mountain to walk upon the sea tossed about by the contrary wind, and "straightway" identified Himself unto His disciples, using that sacred name, yes, the same one He identified Himself to Moses with, "I Am".

Let's pick it back up in John at this same point:

John 6:20 But He saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.
[21] Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.

They were sure glad to see Him and they "willingly", with desire, received Him into the ship. I guess too!

One more point: The "hour" is coming, during the "storm", when it will be possible to walk with Him in the spirit, even though you are in the flesh. Peter actually did it, though only for a moment! It is recorded for us to take notice, isn't it? For you see, Christ did not walk on the water in flesh. Flesh sinks!

Now notice what else happened here. Once Jesus entered into the ship, after walking to it on the water, it was immediately transported to the other side of the sea. Another miracle in the "darkness of the storm"! Get ready!

So how far has modern man progressed technologically?  LOL (a little computer lingo for Laughing Out Loud). The transporter on the Star Trek Enterprise is still science fiction to man, but not to Jesus.

So let's get it right. It's "Beam me up (or over there), Jesus, not Scotty." Exciting times are just ahead in this final generation!

Next we will see the crowd come seeking again for Jesus. And do you know why? They will be looking for another miracle, yep, another free lunch!

You know, they would just love our Sunday morning TV!

We are fast approaching that final hour when this generation of the fig tree will face the supernatural.

We are fast approaching that time when miracles (the Spirit of God overriding physics, that which is physical) will once again be present, such as the true tongue spoken on Pentecost Day, which goes forth in ALL languages and is understood clearly by ALL who hear it, without the need of any interpreter.

We are fast approaching that time of the great storm [tribulation], when the four winds are released and the flood of lies spews forth from Satan to drown God's people. Rev. 12:15 "And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood."

And it is written, that it will be just like it was in the days of Noah. Only those who have the seal of God in their foreheads, who have gotten aboard the ship [symbolic of the ark] will weather the storm. It will be a rough ride, but keep on rowing, because don't forget, the storm will be shortened by Him for the sake of the elect. So Christ instructs us: "Be of good cheer. Do not be afraid."

Matthew 24:38
For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

[39] And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Remember in the beginning of chapter 24 of Matthew that the disciples had asked Jesus what would be the signs preceding His coming? This is certainly one of them. The whole world will be consumed by the coming flood of Satan, when he comes as the spurious messiah, which happens at the 6th Trump, before the second advent which occurs at the 7th Trump.

Yes, we are fast approaching that time when there will be miracles among His disciples during the storm. By the way, only the disciples saw Christ walking on the water and transport the ship instantly to shore. The other people did not witness it, for it was not for them to see. Besides, they were all asleep at the fourth watch (3 AM to 6 AM).

We now continue in John the day after the feeding of the 5,000 and the night of the storm.

John 6:22
The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;

"On the next day the people who remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone." (RSV)

23] (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)

[24] When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.

"So when the people saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus." (RSV)

Don't kid yourself, they were looking for a free lunch!  They wanted to make Jesus the Sandwich King.

[25] And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

We know from verse 22 that the people knew Jesus hadn't taken a ship, because there was only one there, and His disciples had taken it without Him. So what they really want to know is, "How in the world did you get here?"

Do you think they would have believed Him if He told them He walked? Sure, they would believe anything He said for a free meal.

[26] Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

"Yeah man, those were the best fish sandwiches we have ever eaten! Got any more?" They obviously missed the lesson of the "bread of life". That's way too spiritual for them.

But Jesus, understanding what's on their minds, because they didn't "see" [understand] the miracle, still very patiently and lovingly teaches them to seek spiritual food, not physical.

[27] Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

[28] Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

Somehow they just don't seem too sincere.

[29] Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

"Hmmm", they are thinking, "that doesn't sound too difficult! What sign can you give us that we may see and believe, read [Can you make some more fish sandwiches?]"

You see, if you do the work of God, which is to believe on Him, then you will SEEK that true bread of life, the Word of God, and you will become a doer of it! So if you claim to "believe" and do not seek the Word of God daily [give us our daily bread], then you are a fish sandwich Christian [give us our daily fish sandwiches]. Remember, the two fishes!

 One is real, the other is religion.

[30] They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

Can you believe it? They already saw Him perform the miracle of feeding the 5,000 (even themselves) and yet they want a sign! Good grief Charlie Brown.

"And what work do you do?", they asked Him as they rubbed their tummies. So with food still on their minds they tell Him that their fathers got free meals everyday in the desert.

[31] Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

Manna is angel's food, which also nourishes well the flesh body.

[32] Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

It wasn't Moses who provided the manna anyway. Our Father provides the "true bread" which we consume daily.

[33] For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

You must be hungry for something other than fish sandwiches which satisfy only the flesh. Again, if you do not have the desire to seek the bread of God, His Word, you do not truly believe.

[34] Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

Fish sandwiches forever more!

[35] And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Only His Word can satisfy the hunger of a true disciple. And we have already seen, there is plenty of bread and meat, with 12 baskets left over, so that you will never be famished, nor thirst. But you must see the condition set forth in this verse: "AND HE THAT BELIEVES", which means IF you truly believe.

Right now, as you are reading this Bible Study, we are in the midst of the great famine of the end time! Do you understand that when Jesus talks about "bread" He is not talking about food for the belly? So then why would people think when He talks about famine (lack of bread) that He is talking about food for the belly? I don't know, but I see many TV ministries lead their flocks down the fish sandwich lane.

Here's the famine of the end time:

Amos 8:11
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:

Our people are starving for the Word of God to be taught correctly.

John 6:36
But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

They not only saw the Messiah Himself, they witnessed His miracles, and yet they believed not!

[37] All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Again if you are one of His He will never leave nor forsake you. He will always come to you, so let Him into your boat!

[38] For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

[39] And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

All those who are Christ's at His coming, will be part of the first resurrection, meaning that they will be raised [granted] eternal life at that time.

[40] And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Even "seeing" Jesus in the flesh, even "seeing" Jesus perform a miracle will not cause one to believe! You must "see" Jesus in the spirit and "see" the meaning of His miracles and signs, else you do not believe.

And so God gave His only begotten Son to be the Lamb crucified as the sacrifice for the sins of the world, because it is God's will that whosoever does believe on Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. And he or she will receive that reward at Christ's coming, on the last day of this flesh age, at the sound of the 7th Trump.

Jesus has just told the groupies who were seeking a free lunch that He was the Bread of Life and that He came down from heaven... you remember, 

"born from above", as He said in John 3:13.

Well, the Jews (which means either Judahites or residents of Judea) didn't like what He said, which tells you that they were Judeans, many of whom were kenites.

John 6:41
The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.

[42] And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?

Of course we all know that Jesus was not Joseph's son for He was the son of God. They didn't know about the miraculous conception, but even if someone did tell them they wouldn't have believed it anyway.

Anyway, they figured since they knew His "parents" that He couldn't be the Messiah.  Remember what He said a couple of chapters ago? John 4:44 "For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country."  You just can't get no respect!

[43] Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

[44] No man can come to me, except the Father, who which hath sent me, draw him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

Obviously the Father had not given them to Christ, for unless the Father opens their eyes they cannot see Him.

[45] It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

There is more to believing on Him than just hearing the Word of God. One must LEARN it!

Note: "While on earth in the body, ten percent of the daily conversation of Jesus consisted of Old Testament words, quoted literally." (J.P. Green Interlinear Bible) Do you study the Old Testament? You had better if you want to understand the context of what Jesus taught!

Jesus is quoting here from the 54th chapter of Isaiah, whose name means "the Salvation of Yah".

Isaiah 54:13
And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

And if they do "learn" then how shall they be established?

[14] In righteousness shalt thou be established; thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.

Remember the lesson we just learned from the ship in the storm? He will be there to deliver you if you look to Him. But woe to those who gather against His elect. Next verse:

Isaiah 54:15
Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.

Our Father takes care of His own. Let's return to John.

John 6:46
Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.

[47] Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

The positive part of John 3:16.

[48] I am that bread of life.

So Christ is saying that to believe on Him (vs. 47) is to eat of that Bread of Life (vs. 48)! How often should eat of that bread?

Matthew 6:11
Give us this day our daily bread.

Every day! Not just a few crumbs on Sunday mornings.

John 6:49
Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.

Not only did they die in the flesh, but when Jesus spoke these words He hadn't yet paid the price on the cross.

[50] This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

There are two deaths, one of your flesh (called the "shadow of death" in Psalms 23) and one of your soul (the real death). Bread and fish will feed your flesh and keep it alive (for awhile), but only the Bread which came down from heaven can feed your soul and keep it alive (forever).
 
Which one should you be concerned about, the flesh body or the soul? Which one is Christ concern about for you? Which one has He been talking about feeding for umpteen verses?

Here are His own words:

Matthew 10:28
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Man can only kill your flesh body, which is going to die anyway, sooner or later, one way or another. (Except for those alive in the flesh at the moment Christ returns at the 7th Trump), the last Trump. They get to step from their flesh bodies right into their spiritual bodies, in a moment, in a heartbeat, in the twinkling of an eye (I love figures of speech), i.e. instantly. Paul calls it a mystery, and it is to those who only see bread and fish as belly food.)

John 6:51
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

Having come this far in this chapter it should be obvious that Jesus is not talking about His "literal" flesh body. In other words, He is not advocating cannibalism, is He?

If you read God's Word and cannot "see" anything other than flesh, that which is physical, then you will never understand the Bible.  By the way, you should see the mess many preachers and so-called ministers have made of the Book of Revelation for this very reason. The warfare in the final generation is for the souls of men and is spiritual warfare, i.e. it is about the second death. That is why you must have the seal of God in your forehead! That is why you put on the Gospel Armor (Eph. 6) to take a stand against the fiery darts of Satan. The darts aren't actually darts like you throw at a dartboard. It's a shame to have to say!

Let see how the Jews are doing understanding the Word of God.

[52] The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?

Siiinnnnngggggg! Right over their heads!
"How about Your Head" Do you understand?

Jesus has so far provided bread for the 5,000 who followed after Him, miraculously rescued His true disciples from the midst of the violent storm in the night, and is now trying to explain the New Covenant to the crowd of miracle seekers, who are hungry only for fish fillets on barley buns.

He just told these followers that He is the Living Bread which came down from heaven and that if they eat of this bread they will live eternally. So while they are murmuring among themselves, scratching their heads trying to figure out what this all means, He lays this next verse on 'em:

John 6:53
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

Whoops! Hold it! Whaaaat! Drink His blood? Yeeeech!

Jesus, the Lamb of God, will soon give His badly beaten body and shed His blood to be the sacrifice once and for all for each of us sinners, that we might have eternal life, through Him, IF we accept that sacrifice. Now the fact that Jesus speaks of the betrayal of Judas at the end of this chapter shows that He was thinking about those sacraments of the New Covenant which are symbolic of His BODY and His BLOOD!

Let's read from I Corinthians.

1 Cor. 11:23
... That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

[24] And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

[25] After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

And so when we take communion and partake of those sacraments, we do it remembrance of Him. That should make these next verses easy to understand. He is speaking spiritually, not physically!

John 6:54
Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

[55] For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

[56] He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

[57] As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

Remember, we have already learned and will so again in this study, that the living Bread is the Word of God. Though we don't take communion daily [for we partake of the sacraments during the feasts, several times a year], we do commune with Him daily BY EATING that living bread each day, IF we believe on Him. "Give us this day our DAILY bread". If not, we are just groupies and will be easily led astray by the one (Satan) who comes claiming to be Jesus and performs miracles in the sight of men! He'll not only provide fish fillet sandwiches for everyone, he'll provide chick fillets too! (You don't suppose that fast food chain is part of prophecy, do you? Nah!)

John 6:58
This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

Under the Old Covenant they ate manna, bread which came down from heaven from God, but under the New Covenant, we eat the true bread of life, even Jesus Christ, that bread which came down from heaven from God. Do you "see"?

[59] These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

It is significant that this verse is written here. You see, this was not a private teaching to the 12 disciples, nor to the 12 tribes of Israel. Jesus taught this openly for all, for the bread which came down from heaven under the New Covenant would be for ALL [everyone of all nations] to eat.

[60] Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

These disciples aren't the twelve "chosen" disciples, for in vs. 66 these disciples will turn and walk away from Christ while His chosen twelve in verse 70 will remain.  So these false disciples would better be called "groupies", for they are seekers of miracles and signs and fish fillets on barley buns.

Come to think of it, there are many ministries today who tell their followers to "expect and receive your miracle today!" "God is waiting right now to give you your miracle, if you will just ask Him". Hey, these other-than-the-twelve disciples just ask Christ for a miracle so that they might believe, didn't they? He gave them His precious word that gives eternal life and you will see in a few verses, they walked away! No show, no stay!

So those who follow miracle promisers, seeking miracles and shows, are simply groupies. They hunger not for the bread which comes down from heaven, which is the Word of God, therefore they have none understanding of His word. They diet on "junk food", not the bread of life!

[61] When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?

"Do you stumble at these words?", Jesus ask. They were clueless. Think about it! They have the very Word of God speaking directly to them and yet they do not understand what in the world He is talking about. (It's not that the saying is hard, it's that their hearts and minds are hardened.)

[62] What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?

The answer is "so what if they do"?  Even that won't change their minds.

[63] It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

The word "quickeneth" means "makes alive" or "gives life". It is the spirit that gives life! That SPIRIT is the WORD of GOD, all of it, the words that He speaks unto you and me!

Then know that we are hearing (by reading) the very words of Jesus Christ. And from His own lips in verse 63 He says that these [His words] are spirit, and they are life! So the question is, How does one seek Christ?  By going to church? No, you must seek Him in spirit. And that spirit is HIS WORDS, not a church, not a church building, not a denomination, but HIS WORD!

[64] But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

Are there any today who call themselves Christians and yet do not believe? Well, let's see, five of the ten virgins don't make it. And then there are those in Matthew 7:22-23 "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? [23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Yes, MANY call themselves Christians, but they do not believe, for they don't seek the Bread.

One thing do see in this verse is that Jesus knew exactly who to walk up to and say "follow me", and also that He knew it would be Judas who WOULD betray Him.

[65] And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

Jesus speaks of God's elect, chosen before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4). Are you one His elect? If you have understanding, i.e. eyes to see and ears to hear, then you are. If not, your priority is probably more with your church and church activities than with eating bread.

[66] From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

And you can be sure of this: Not only did many of them go back, but they went back to church, too!

[67] Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

"Well, so much for that crowd of sign seeking, miracle seeking, non-believers! You guys don't want to go with them do you?" (In the Greek this question is asked in the negative sense.)

[68] Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Peter knew who the Messiah was. He knew there was none other name under heaven or earth, that had the words of eternal life. The apostle Paul would later make record of this fact in the Book of Acts:

Acts 4:12
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

The true disciples, whom the Father had given to Christ, believed.

John 6:69
And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

[70] Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?

Do you think that any part of Christ's ministry was UNPLANNED? Of course not. Jesus came to do the will of His Father. So do you think that God was going to leave such an important part of the plan [the betrayal] up to chance? Of course not! He chose the very one who should, i.e. was going to betray Him. That's right, Judas Iscariot was "chosen" to be the betrayer! (That ought to get me some e-mail!)

[71] He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

So the question is, Do you believe? We have learned that Jesus is the Bread of Life, the Son of the "living" God, the only God who can give life! All other gods can only give you ceremony and religion to make you feel good and think there's life there! But there's only death. So we leave you with the immortal words of that great legendary hero, Sir Patrick Henry, "Give Me Bread or Give Me Death!" (He might have said "liberty", but Bread works for me!)

                                 

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