John 6:1–15 Sermon
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1 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” 15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
Recap and Introduction
Recap and Introduction
In John chapter 5 we saw clearly that Jesus revealed Himself to be equal with the Father.
There are three things we saw in chapter five.
First, we saw the Word of the Son.
First, we saw the Word of the Son.
Jesus, fulfilling Messianic prophecy, spoke to the man who had been sick for 38 years (in verse 8 of chapter 5),
8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.”
It was by the power of Jesus’ word that the man was able to get up and walk. Revealing what John had spoken of in chapter 1 about Jesus being the Word.
The One who was with God by whom all things were made.
Revealing what John had spoken of in chapter 1 about Jesus being the Word. The One who was with God by whom all things were made.
What followed this was the reaction by the Jewish leaders.
Verses 16 and 18 show us how they felt about Christ.
16 And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.
18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
The Jewish leaders here sought to kill Jesus because they thought that He had broken the Sabbath.
But the root problem was that they didn’t believe Him when speaking of Himself as equal with the Father.
The healing of the man at the pool revealed Jesus to be God because
Second, We saw the Work of the Son.
Second, We saw the Work of the Son.
Second, We saw the work of the Son.
Second, We saw the work of the Son.
Jesus began to tell them about the work that has been given to Him by the Father.
Jesus showed His humility in verse 19 and then goes on the explain the work in verses 20-29.
He revealed that:
the Son gives life to whom he will
all judgment was given to the Son
English Standard Version Chapter 5
19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
the hearing of His words and belief in Him brings one to eternal life
He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live
the Son has life in himself and He give life to whom He wills
the Son will execute judgment
the tombs will hear his voice and come out
those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment
Because of the accusations, Jesus would then prove by witnesses that He is who He said He was.
Third, We saw the Witness of the Son.
Third, We saw the Witness of the Son.
Again, Jesus humbly introduced Himself in verse 30 as One who sought, not His own will, but of the One who sent Him. Namely, the Father.
There were four witnesses mentioned in the following verses from verse 31-47:
1. John the Baptist (vv. 31-35)
1. John the Baptist (vv. 31-35),
2. Jesus’ own works (v. 36)
3. The Father (vv. 32,37-38)
4. The Scriptures (v. 39), more specifically it was about what Moses wrote (vv. 45-47)
Chapter five, along with the preceding chapters, revealed clearly that Jesus is God and chapter 6 is no exception.
Chapter 6 is no exception.
It continues the theme of Jesus being the Christ. The Son of God. Which is what this whole account is about.
Always remember .
31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
The feeding of the five thousand is recorded in all four gospels.
We see this in:
, and .
The miracles Jesus did prior to this were in fact Messianic and an exposure of His deity.
In the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) the event prior to this happens to be the beheading of John the Baptist.
And in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and John we see Jesus withdrawing to the mountain by himself and following that is the on the sea. Which is again, a revelation of His deity.
withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
A. T. Robertson, A Harmony of the Gospels (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009), .
The miracle of feeding the Five Thousand is about provision. But its not the provision that many have thought or preached.
Something here was provided and we cannot afford to miss what that was.
Outline
Outline
1. The Setting (v.1 - 4)
1. The Setting (v.1 - 4)
2. The Miracle (v.5-13)
2. The Miracle (v.5-13)
3. The Conclusion (v.14-15)
3. The Conclusion (v.14-15)
1. The Setting (v.1 - 4)
1. The Setting (v.1 - 4)
Verse 1 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.
Verse 1 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.
In chapter five Jesus was in Jerusalem. And it was from there that He went away to travel to the Sea of Galilee.
Tiberias is mentioned by name only three times in the New Testament, and all three references come from the Gospel of John.
Tiberias sat west of the Sea of Galilee and it was about 73 miles north from Jerusalem. Which would have been about a walk of about two days.
The Lexham Bible Dictionary Tiberias
TIBERIAS A city on the southwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, founded by Herod Antipas during the lifetime of Jesus of Nazareth (Antiquities 18.33; Jensen, Herod Antipas in Galilee, 136). During Jesus’ ministry, Tiberias functioned as the capital of Galilee. It is also a possible candidate for the historical location of the imprisonment and death of John the Baptist.
Tiberias was founded by Herod Antipas during the lifetime of Jesus and Tiberias functioned as the capital of Galilee.
Eerdmans Bible Dictionary TIBERIAS
A city on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee (John 6:23), built ca. A.D. 25 by Herod Antipas as the capital of his tetrarchy of Galilee and Perea and named for Emperor Tiberius. Despite initial Jewish resistance to the establishment of the city because it was built on the site of a cemetery, it came to be dominated by Jews. Tiberias had, nonetheless, a mixed populace and was an important center of Hellenism, governed according to Greek customs with a large council of six hundred members and a small council of ten. Surrounded by a strong wall, the city had a synagogue, a palace, and a stadium. The Sanhedrin relocated at Tiberios ca. 150, and from the second and third centuries the city was the major western center of Jewish learning. Here the Palestinian Talmud was compiled and the Tiberian system of Hebrew vowel pointing devised.
Tiberias had a mixed population and it was an important center for the Greeks and their customs.
It was surrounded by a wall and within the city there was a synagogue, a palace, and a stadium.
The city had a western center for Jewish learning and it was there where the Palestinian Talmud was compiled and the Tiberian system of Hebrew vowel pointing devised.
Tiberias functioned as the capital of Galilee.
It is also possible that this is where John was imprisoned and put to death.
Tiberias is mentioned by name only three times in the New Testament, and all three references come from the Gospel of John.
So this city was very busy and had a large population in it.
So its no wonder how a crowd of over 5000 would be there.
Verse 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick.
Verse 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick.
In verse 2 we see that a large crowd followed Him.
And their reason for following Him:
And their reason for following Him can be found in verse 2.
2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick.
This is not a good sign!
To follow Jesus because He had done signs has not been a good sign in the preceding chapters.
As an example and reminder:
23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.
In the following chapter Nicodemus, who did not receive the testimony of Jesus according to (v.11 of chapter 3), he said in verse 2:
2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”
3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus shows us that one can acknowledge that Jesus is a teacher of God and that God is with Him without receiving the testimony given about Him. Again, showing us that Nicodemus did not receive the testimony about Jesus.
There are more examples of this in the gospel of John.
Where one can acknowledge Jesus as One who does powerful signs and One whom God is with, but still can be found without genuine saving faith in Him.
This is also a good reminder that having a large crowd is not a sign of success or favor with God.
It just means according to our text that people saw signs and followed Him because of them. Which is consistently in the gospel of John not a good sign for them.
Later in chapter 6 we will see that this is not a sign of favor but rather a result of what men want instead of what they need.
Verse 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples.
Verse 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples.
Despite the fact that a crowd followed Him, Jesus did what many wouldn’t have done.
He went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Which if it had been others, they would have wanted to keep the crowds.
But Jesus always kept divine priorities in order.
Jesus didn’t appeal to the crowd. He went up to the mountain and sat down. Not with the crowd, but with His disciples.
Verse 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.
Verse 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.
4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.
A Handbook on the Gospel of John John 6:4
This is the second Passover mentioned in John’s Gospel (the first was mentioned in 2:13, 23). The Passover is doubtless mentioned primarily for its theological significance; John considers it important to understand the words and actions of Jesus in light of their theological relation to the Jewish Passover. The Last Supper must likewise be understood in this same light (see 13:1). For a discussion of translational problems involved in the phrase Passover Festival, see the comments under 2:13 and 23.
This is the second Passover mentioned in John’s Gospel (the first was mentioned in 2:13, 23).
Verse 4 is not an accident. It is for sure that Jesus knew of the Passover here in our text.
Verse 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.
Verse 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.
The Passover is doubtless mentioned primarily for its theological significance; John considers it important to understand the words and actions of Jesus in light of their theological relation to the Jewish Passover.
The Last Supper must likewise be understood in this same light (see 13:1). For a discussion of translational problems involved in the phrase Passover Festival, see the comments under 2:13 and 23.
The Passover, which was the first and most important of the three great annual festivals, is where the male population of the Israelites traveled to Jerusalem to be before the Lord.
The Westminster Bible Dictionary Passʹover
Passʹover, the first and most important of the three great annual festivals on which the male population of the Israelites appeared before the Lord in Jerusalem. It commemorated the exemption or passing over of the families of the Israelites when the destroying angel smote the first-born of Egypt the night of the Exodus (Ex. 12:1–51; 13:3–10). After the Exodus the Levitical Law prescribed with minute accuracy the various ceremonies which were to characterize the observance of the festival (Lev. 23:4–14; Num. 9:1–14; 28:16–25; Deut. 16:1–6). The passover was a striking type of that signal deliverance from the thraldom of sin and sense and Satan which the sacrificed Lamb of God (1 Cor. 5:7) has achieved for his people.
It celebrated and remembered the passing over of the families of the Israelites when the angel smote the first-born of Egypt the night of the Exodus (; ).
After the Exodus the Levitical Law prescribed various ceremonies which were to characterize the observance of the festival (; ; ; ).
The passover was a shadow of the deliverance from death through a sacrificed Lamb. Ultimately done to point us forward to the work of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.
This was the time at hand. And so it was not an accident that Jesus would reveal to them not only provision for their physical needs but provision by revealing that He Himself is the Bread of Life.
;
To do this Jesus would intro His teaching with a miracle which is found in verses 5-13.
2. The Miracle (v.5-13)
2. The Miracle (v.5-13)
Verse 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?”
Verse 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?”
5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?”
Philip was actually from Bethsaida in Galilee. Which wasn’t far from where they were.
Remember that Jesus called Philip, who had been a disciple of John the Baptist, to follow Him. And we also see Philip telling Nathanael about Jesus earlier when he heard of Jesus.
Philip heard what John the Baptist said about Jesus. But Philip would see something of great importance here.
Jesus asked Philip in verse 5, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?”
And in verse 6, we see why Jesus asked Philip this question.
Verse 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.
Verse 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.
6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.
To test here meant to: learn the nature or character of someone or something by submitting one to examination.
Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 331.
Jesus said this, not because He didn’t know what was in Philip. But rather it was for Philip to examine himself.
Jesus wanted to reveal something to Philip and to His disciples who were there also.
Most likely it was to show what John the Baptist had already proclaimed. That Jesus is the One who was before Him. Who ranked before because He was with God in the beginning and was Himself God.
It was to reveal that this man was the God who delivered God’s people from Egypt!
I believe that to be the case. Especially in the following verses of this chapter.
Verse 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.”
Verse 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.”
Philip’s response to Jesus’ question is found in verse 7.
Jesus asked, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?”
7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.”
John 6:7
So, there wasn’t enough to feed five thousand men not including women and children.
The MacArthur Study Bible Chapter 6
6:7 Two hundred denarii. Since one denarius was a day’s pay for a common laborer, 200 denarii would be approximately 8 months’ wages. The crowd, however, was so large that such a significant amount was still inadequate to feed them.
A denarius was equivalent to a day’s pay.
The amount Philip said they had was about 8 months of wages.
But the crowd had been overwhelmingly over what they were able to do.
It was clear that that they did not have enough to feed the crowds.
Verse 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him,
Verse 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him,
Verse 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”
Verse 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”
8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”
In other words, what good is that with this huge crowd?
At this point, we see that in the natural this is impossible.
Question: Remember when God provided manna to God’s people in the book of Exodus?
Question: Remember when God provided manna to God’s people in the book of Exodus?
Jesus would talk about this in verse 31 of this chapter.
Which is in reference to Exodus chapter 16.
While God bringing provision to His people with bread from heaven, says,
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.
Question: Sounds familiar???
Question: Sounds familiar???
Here was God in the flesh doing the same thing on the feast that was celebrating and remembering God’s deliverance of His people!
Jesus set this up here to prove to Philip and to the disciples, what they had already heard from John the Baptist. Namely, that the Son is not only the Lamb of God but He was also God.
Jesus knew what He would do, but He asked the question to Philip and the disciples in order for them to see what had already been spoken of Him!
Verse 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number.
Verse 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number.
In verse 10, Jesus sat the crowds which was about five thousand in number.
Some have noted, that because it only counted men that it could have been about 20,000 people total.
Verse 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted.
Verse 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted.
11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted.
John
Keep in mind verse 6.
6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.
Jesus took the loaves which was only five barley loaves. Only enough for a few to eat and He took two fish and gave thanks which was common before a Hebrew ate a meal.
and two fish
And there is something here worth noting.
Jesus gave thanks before the miracle took place.
We live in a time where the opposite is true.
Many have determined to give thanks only on the basis of what God does
Many have fallen victim to thanksgiving that is based on what God has given to them with no regard to what God has given in His Son
Many fall short of faithful church involvement and gospel centered witnessing because they have lost being thankful for God
Paul would point to this as one of the things someone does who has only a knowledge of God and not a saving knowledge
Paul would point to this as one of the things someone does who has only a knowledge of God and not
21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Romans
Thanks must always precede anything God does presently because He has done everything that was needed in His Son
That is why the worship and praise of God does not depend on being reaction or emotions
Giving thanks to God because of God is how one honors God!
And whatever God does that is a miracle, it is not done solely for your encouragement and edification. It is done so that God is glorified! So that people can know God!
Jesus before the miracle, gives thanks to God. Again, showing the humility and the priority of the Son!
Jesus himself knew what He would do and He did it so that people would see that what the Father wanted them to see. Namely, that Jesus is God the Son.
It is sad when pulpits point out the increase that God was able to do with no reference to the reason for this miracle.
31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
That is again, the purpose of this.
He distributed them who were seated not just bread but fish. As much as they wanted.
he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted.
God provided. But let me clarify. GOD PROVIDED THE REVELATION OF HIS SON!
Who was Himself the bread from heaven. Given so that we could eat and be given eternal life!
Verse 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.”
Verse 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.”
Verse 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.
Verse 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.
Verse 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.
The miracle here was astounding. But let me clarify. The miracle of Jesus revealing Himself as God is an act of pure grace!
This miracle is not about how God can fill your refrigerator or your bank account.
This miracle is about God who sent His Son to be eaten by those who weren’t deserving to eat at His table.
To eat the true bread that came down from heaven!
This miracle is about God who sent His Son to be eaten by those who weren’t deserving to eat at His table.
This miracle is not about the multiplication of material things.
This miracle is about how one is given grace!
Namely, the revelation of Jesus Christ as the Son of God and believing genuinely in that truth!
The miracle of God revealing Himself in His Son and giving us who were unthankful and grumblers the bread of life, this miracle is amazing.
I didn’t deserve the revelation of His Son for salvation.
The result here should have been “wow” look at God who has condescended to us!
Look at the prophet of whom Moses spoke of!
This was the miracle. That God would send His Son to sinners.
But we will see in the conclusion, how people took what God had revealed.
3. The Conclusion (v.14-15)
3. The Conclusion (v.14-15)
Verse 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”
Verse 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”
14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”
Question: Was this genuine faith? Did they get it?
Question: Was this genuine faith? Did they get it?
Answer: Sadly, no.
Again, they had right information because they saw the signs Jesus did, but they did not genuinely believe.
Further into the chapter in we see the same crowd.
Verse 15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.
Also, in verse 15 of our text it proves this even more.
Verse 15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
Verse 15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
:: Notes ::
15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
6:1-15 Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand. This is another of Jesus’ signs (see “sign” in v. 14; see also Introduction: Purpose and Addressees). In some ways this account mirrors , where Moses needs to find meat for the Israelites in the desert. In both accounts one finds a plaintive question (; ); grumbling (; ,); a description of the food, real or metaphoric (; ); mention of the eating of meat/flesh (; ); and the disproportion between the need and the resources God/Jesus supplies (,; ,). A further parallel exists between and , where God provides manna and the motif of testing surfaces. Only in John, however, does the miracle point to the discourse in which Jesus himself is the ultimate bread of life (vv. 25-59). See note on .
They wanted a king who would fill their stomachs without giving them eternal life.
John
This is the condition of every man and woman apart from saving faith.
We want someone to come in their own name. Who can give us what our flesh wants. Which is a life centered on self exaltation and not Christ exaltation.
We want a king to give us what we want not what we need. This is because we are incapable of seeing what we actually need because we are dead in our sins prior to saving faith.
In verse 41, men grumbled because of what Jesus said.
In the whole congregation grumbled.
But what is amazing is how God continued to give what was needed. Namely, Himself!
1 They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. 2 And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, 3 and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.” 6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, “At evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against the Lord. For what are we, that you grumble against us?” 8 And Moses said, “When the Lord gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the Lord has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him—what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord.” 9 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, ‘Come near before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’ ” 10 And as soon as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. 11 And the Lord said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’ ”
This is grace! That God would passover our sin by giving His Son to those who deserved His wrath.
Instead of wrath we were given bread. Bread that would satisfy us for eternity!
He set a table before us and fed us eternally when we deserved banishment and eternal exile.
But to God be the glory for His provision. Not in material things but in our need for eternal life. Which was given to us by revealing to us His Son.
This is what this event is about. It is about how God the Father sent bread from heaven (His Son) so that we could eat (believe) and have eternal life.
And eternal life is to know the Father and the Son!
Close in prayer!