There are two elements to chapter 6 which are related but deserve separate attention. One element revolves around signs, and the other element revolves around the manna.
The request for a sign in John 6:30 is quite interesting. To this point, we are told that the multitude was following Him because of the signs Christ was performing, particularly miracle healings with the sick. In verse 14, the people said Christ “is of a truth the Prophet who is to come into the world” because of the miracle. Christ fed 5,000 men, and then Christ crossed to the other side of the sea without a boat. Nicodemus admitted in chapter 3 that only one who has the power of God in Christ can perform such miracles.
The unbelief among the people following Christ is tragically evident. They followed Christ because of the signs, but when pressed to believe, they need even more signs.
Christ rightly calls them out in verse 26. They were not following Christ because He was the Messiah but because they were hoping for the benefits He offered.
We wag our heads at the multitude’s unbelief. But are we any different? Unbelief marks the common response even today about Christ. We want to experience, see, and receive before we will believe. But is that faith?
The feeding of the 5,000 reminds me of Daniel chapter 1. Where was Daniel to obtain food if he refused the king’s portions? The Lord provides. Trust in the Lord. As Hudson Taylor would say, “Rest. In the Lord.”
When our need is great and provisions are short, the Lord knows how to provide good to the righteous. Some did follow Christ because they wanted to hear His teaching. Others, such as the Pharisees, refused Christ and ultimately received judgment.
There may have been difficulty believing among the 5,000, and Christ would work on that. However, the compassion He offers was bestowed on the righteous. It would be incorrect to indict all of the multitude with unbelief. There were believers in the multitude along with the doubters.
Verses 26 and 27 cut to the heart because, if we truly love Christ, we will give ourselves back to Him. Christ exposes that following Him only for the food is a form of using Christ or taking advantage of Him. True love responds to Christ by surrendering ourselves to Him. True love for Christ involves surrendering to our new nature imparted to us through the Holy Spirit and allowing the Holy Spirit to root out the old nature.
Christ equates Himself to the manna, and equates manna to the bread of life. Food for the body is sustenance. We turn food into strength for our labor, and our labor provides an income and fulfills the needs we have. The spiritual strength we need to conquer and resist sin, persevere through trials and suffering, and obey God’s commands is obtained only through Christ. This is the bread of life.
Then, Christ said in verse 63, “It is the Spirit who gives life…” The sequence is laid out in verses 43 through 51. The Father draws us, and our duty in response is to believe. There is a drawing and a personal responsibility. Belief results in partaking of the bread of life. The Spirit quickens the heart and mind to live a righteous life. This is the new nature through which we are able to live unto righteousness and holiness.
The source of our strength to live unto God is Christ. This is plainly evident in the feeding of the 5,000.
We do not equate enough strength or force behind belief on Christ. When Christ rebuked the multitude for following Him just for the benefits (verses 26-27), we see their response in verse 28, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Christ answers them with the exhortation to believe on Christ.
Many even today profess belief. Is that sufficient?
Believing Christ is more than mere acknowledgment. When we believe, we are giving credence to His Word, obeying His doctrine and commands, relying on Him for acceptance before God through forgiveness of sin, and receiving His renewing grace. In other words, believing on Christ involves putting off the old self and putting on the new self through the Holy Spirit.
If we are truly crucified with Christ, there must be a death, and that death is of the old, the sin, the rebellion, and disobedience. There is also new life, living unto our own selfishness and pride. Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” Believing on Christ requires living unto Christ and abandoning the way we would choose.
Truly, verse 66 represents another climax in chapter 6. Many of those, the verse writes, who were following Christ withdrew from Him. Were they any different from the people in the wilderness?
Miracle manna and miracle supper, yes, please. Obedience to God’s commands and surrender of self and sin to Christ, no, that’s not for me. Both the miracle of the manna and feeding of the 5,000 represent something more than the benefits of following Christ. Both miracles represent belief, faith, trust, obedience, and righteousness.
Those who turned back refused adherence to God’s command, just as those in the wilderness were condemned for their unbelief.
Belief is manifested by obedience. In the wilderness, those who collected more manna than were permitted manifested their unbelief and received judgment. A walk consistent with holiness of heart must be performed, and we can only do this through baptism by fire and the aid of the Holy Spirit.
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