M-G: 7.8.11 // What is Jesus to You, John 6:14-15

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When Jesus crossed over the Sea of Galilee, a great multitude followed Him to Bethsaida (Lk 9:10). The exact location is debated; apparently, there were two towns by that name, one on the east and west side of the Sea of Galilee. This story probably took place on the eastern shore because of the healing miracles that He had performed earlier (Jn 6:1-2). By evening there were gathered around five thousand men, not counting the women and children present (Mt 14:21).   

The only food available were two barley loaves and two small fish (Jn 6:9), but Jesus performed a spectacular miracle, and  the assembly ate as much as they desired and had their fill (Jn 6:11-12). The leftovers indicated that all had gotten plenty to eat: every man, woman, and child (Mk 6:43; Jn 6:13). Other than the resurrection, the feeding of the five thousand is recorded in all four of the Gospels, pointing to its significance in the bread discourse to follow (Jn 6:22-71).

Because of the miracles of healing and the miraculous dinner on the grounds, the “followers of Jesus” were convinced that He was “the Prophet” (Jn 6:14) spoken of by Moses (Deut 18:15)! In their eyes they were convinced that Jesus fitted the Moses-like character that had come to be their "political" savior. Moses had led the people out from Egyptian tyranny and oppression and fed the multitude in the wilderness for forty years; Jesus fed the people and would lead the nation of Israel out from the bitter bondage of Roman occupation. Moses said the Prophet would come; for them He had, and they were all ears…. “Him shall you hear” (Deut 18:15), but dull of spiritual perception.

It is obvious that Israel was looking for a political Messiah (cf. Lk 24:21), not a spiritual one. When the people had seen “the sign," the people immediately jumped at the opportunity to rid themselves of Roman rule and intended to put Jesus at the center of a full blown rebellion by forcing Him to be their long awaited political savior, “king” (Jn 6:15). They failed to see the spiritual import behind the feeding or "sign." Jesus was a pro-antagonist of sin, not of Rome. Jesus would tell it plainly to Pontius Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world” (Jn 18:36; cf. Mk 12:17). The crowd wasn’t looking for spiritual deliverance from personal sin but for a national redemption from the hated Roman yoke. Jesus came to defeat a universal foe, death, and a common enemy, Satan, not to defeat a localized foe, the Romans. So when Jesus perceived that the would-be rebels of Rome would attempt to make Him a king, He departed alone back into the mountain (Jn 6:15). 

What the people failed to understand was that all the miracles that Jesus performed were intended primarily to validate that He was truly the Messiah as prophesied by the prophets of the Old Testament. Naturally, the secondary purpose was His compassion to relieve suffering and physical affliction. 

Only by His death could Jesus atone for man’s sin against God. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was the only sacrifice that could satisfy the just demands of a holy and righteous God and only through faith in His great sacrifice could provide man an escape from the ultimate penalty of sin – eternal separation from God at physical death. When Jesus returns to set up His kingdom on earth, the political aspect of His Messiahship will be strictly enforced (Rev 19:15).

The fundamental problem with the Jews of that day was they did not picture the Messiah as a suffering savior and refused to believe all of what the prophets had written about the Christ. As Wiersbe commented, “…they saw the glory but not the suffering, the crown but not the cross” (Wiersbe Bible Commentary on Luke 24:21). People choose to see what they want to see, but an honest reading of the Scriptures does not portray a cotton candy Christianity. Today, the full body of truth is picked over to meet one's personal agenda, and the "negatives" are largely ignored just as in Jesus’ day with the Old Testament.

Indeed, we are on our way to glory as sons of God, and for all who love God, all things work together for the good. But I still read of the devil on the prowl seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet 5:8); or all who would desire to live godly will suffer persecution (2 Tim 3:12; or to take up our cross daily and follow Jesus (Lk 9:23); or of Christ suffering to leave us an example to follow in His steps (1 Pet 2:21); or we are engaged without option of neutrality or retreat in an ancient spiritual war that will never stop this side of eternity (Eph 6:12).Who speaks of these things behind pulpits and podiums and remains popular with the crowd?

Yes, we are on the winning side; praise the Lord, but the battles are far from over, and many of our brethren around the world suffer, bleed, and die for the very faith that we take for granted (cf. 1 Pet 5:9). America needs more than a political change; our nation needs a change of character, the King of kings to rule the heart. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD” (Psa 33:12); blessed is a congregation whose God is the LORD; blessed is the family whose God is the LORD; and blessed is the man or woman whose God is the LORD!

Flocking to the loaves and fish conferences are fine; everybody gets their belly full. But if you hadn’t made Jesus king of your heart and willing to pay the price of being a true follower of Jesus Christ, you will never be satisfied, forever looking for that which costs you nothing. 

“And Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst’” (Jn 6:35). What is Jesus to you? <><