Bible Study Notes - John 6:22-40

Bible Study Notes - John 6:22-40

In this passage, Jesus declares “I am the Bread of Life.”  This text is John’s version of the Eucharist as his gospel does not contain the words of institution which we recite each time we celebrate “The Lord’s Supper.”  Beyond the synoptic traditions of establishing and institutionalizing one of the most important sacraments in the Church, John posits a vibrant relationship with the Lord Jesus equates with daily receipt of the sacrament.  When disciples study the teachings of Jesus, they feast upon Him, “the Bread of Life.”  Consistently alluding to Old Testament passages regarding the Law and wilderness wandering, John depicts Jesus’ superiority to this previous era.  His enduring words of eternal life surpass the limitations of religious regulations and temporary manna.  Abundant and eternal life is a gift exclusively given by Almighty God to disciples of Jesus Christ (John 10:10).  His teachings are our “daily bread” that sustain and nourish us.

Imagine your favorite meal.  There are no limitations of time, dietary allergies, caloric cares or expense.  What would be on the menu?  How many courses would you have?  Would you start the meal with an expensive and vintage glass of wine?  Perhaps, you begin with hot bread right out of the over with real whipped butter.  Is shrimp cocktail your favorite appetizer or do you consider it to be too common?  Usually, a salad mixed with your favorite greens and ingredients would follow.  Afterwards, your waiter would bring a small serving of sorbet to clear your palate as you prepare with great expectancy for your entrée.  A fine dinner without dessert is a sin!  For me, this course always contains some type of chocolate accompanied by an after dinner coffee.    Further, imagine you can have this meal whenever and wherever you wish.

After such a scrumptious meal, is it possible you are not satisfied?  Would you still be hungry?  Would anything be lacking as it relates to your physical needs?  These questions which emerge from the foregoing meal metaphor symbolize the spiritual and existential hunger of countless millions of people who utilize repetitive religious rites as the sole means of knowing God.  Yet, they hunger perpetually for genuine spirituality and relationship with Almighty God.  Beyond a need of food and physical sustenance, they seek something else.  They lack “food” that truly satisfies them.  Although they eat each day, they still hunger for something else.  Is there food that suffices?

The evangelist unequivocally answers Yes!  His gospel depicts Jesus as the source of spiritual food.  His “broken body” and “shed blood” are the bread of heaven which feeds disciples so that they do not hunger or thirst anymore.  In the distribution of the sacred and mysterious elements when celebrating the Eucharist, I say “This is the body of Christ.  It is the bread of heaven.  Further, this is the blood of Christ.  It is the cup of salvation.”  Following each declaration, I say further, “Indeed, it is the source of eternal life.  Take it and share in the new life of Jesus Christ.”  John uses this “Bread of Life” teaching to inform disciples that the Word of God, generally, and teachings of Jesus, specifically, parallels the elements of Holy Communion.  Actually, weekly sermons serve the same purpose as the sacrament in liturgies that do not celebrate Holy Communion.  The proclamation of divine truth and encouragement is spiritual bread for the Christian pilgrim’s journey in the midst of life’s wilderness.

The Setting – John 6:22-25

·         In this teaching, “I am the bread of life,” Jesus talks with a crowd.  Heretofore, he converses directly with individuals as the crowd watches.

·         This teaching follows the miraculous feeding of five thousand men plus women and children.  The crowd follows Him as they pursue additional material and physical blessings.  Most regrettably, the prevalent “prosperity gospel” misleads some seekers as they possibly pursue the Lord for economic, political, and social gain.  Like this crowd who was feed miraculously two millennia ago in the Ancient Near East, these modern seekers totally misconstrue the Lord’s will in performing miracles.  In short, they come to Jesus with ulterior motives of selfish gain and self-aggrandizement.

·         Their carnal focus centers upon the exigencies of earthly life rather.  It blinds them to the mission and purpose of selfless and sacrificial love.

·         Instead of temporal food that lasts only from meal to meal, God’s “Bread of Life” eliminates hunger and deeply satisfies.

Analysis of the Conversation between Jesus and the Crowd – John 6:26-36

·         Jesus chastises the crowd for merely seeking more loaves and fish.  They wanted more.  They did not consider any greater value to the miracle than the fulfillment of their physical needs.

·         In a prior pastoral setting, I remained constantly amazed by the expectations of some physically ill people who greatly desired supernatural healing so they could leave their hospital rooms and return to their homes to watch television.  As I survey the myriad miracles that the four evangelists record, I notice two main occurrences in each healing.  First, the miracle honor Almighty God by displaying His sovereign power over natural law to accomplish His predetermined will.  Second, in worship and praise to God for healing, each recipient demonstrates his gratitude by directly attributing his healing to the love, mercy and grace of God.  As others learn of these miracles, they give glory to God and begin to believe in Jesus Christ whom He sends into the world that the world may be saved through the Son.  People were not healed solely because it was a good thing to do or they wanted freedom from sickness and disease in order to resume their lives as they were prior to their physical incapacity.

·         Miracles were a means to faith; they were not divine magic which could be summoned at will.  Rather than believing in God, the crowd would relegate Him to a celestial bellhop who would satisfy their physical needs and emotional whims.  The “consumerist Christianity” that pervades many churches in the United States contemporarily depicts the crowd’s self-centered motives and self-seeking concerns as they pursued Jesus after eating their fill of the fishes and loaves.

·         Instead of dwelling upon earthly food that spoils, disciples as instructed by the Lord Jesus seek eternal life as they feed upon His teachings, commands and wisdom which comprise the Bread of Life.

·         Jesus essentially tells the crowd that they will be persistently hungry as they daily request more fish and bread.  Similarly, they will spiritual hunger pangs of meaninglessness and a lack of purpose and direction if they rely upon religion and tradition instead of a relationship with the Heavenly Father through Jesus.  In fact, Jesus inherently possesses the Father’s seal of approval to perform miracles and supply anyone who genuinely desires eternal bread.

·         The crowd then asks a penetrating question, “What must we do to do the work that God requires?”  Many ardent church goers and longstanding religious people also ask this question.  Interestingly, it equates with inquiries about salvation and the purpose of ministry and mission.  The African American and Baptist, mystic theologian, Howard Thurman, posits freedom from fear about death emergences within the consciousness of those persons who have led meaningful lives.  More, the crowd’s does not seek a formula.

·         “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”  Jesus’ answer is not a recommendation to formulate an exacting theological system.  He rather recommends a relationship instead of religion, ritual and rites.  Belief equates with a lifestyle rather than a theoretical credo.  “Christian doing organically unfolds from being/believing.”  The teachings and commandments of Jesus become a disciple’s raison d’tre.

·         Still, the crowd asks for a sign as a condition of belief in Jesus. Again, ulterior motives arising from self-centered fears about food, clothing, success, finances and other physical needs often inhibit modern day seekers from pursuing a genuine relationship with the Lord.

·         God gave manna to the wilderness generation because they complain about hunger.  Their complaints equate with an indictment of His power.  Today, cynicism about established institutions of government, education, finance and church coerces the narcissistic question, “What have you done for me lately?”  The question demands a priori benefits in order to commit to faith or any other social or political cause.  Stated differently, the question is “What is in this for me or What do I stand to gain from committing my life to this cause?” 

·         Jesus responds by informing the crowd that our Heavenly Father gives bread and food that satisfies more than a person’s physical needs.  “My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.”  Satisfying physical hunger lasts three or four hours at most.  Offering someone divine wisdom upon which he or she can build career or live with integrity lasts a lifetime.  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns His listeners about seeking treasure that thieves break in and steal and moths and dust corrupt.  Instead, He encourages them to pursue eternal treasures which cannot be taken away from its recipients.  Jesus’ teachings and commands are eternal and practical as they supply divine wisdom and knowledge in resolving any human adversity.  As the “Bread of life,” the Bible is a practical and pragmatic textbook of life; it addresses every human predicament and offers an effectual and empowering resolution.  Surpassing ideology, theology and philosophy, the Father sends the Son into the world as the “bread of God” from heaven yielding enduring sustenance for daily living.  Whereas the wilderness generation only ate manna daily, contemporary disciples feed upon the teachings and commands of Jesus over the course of their lives.

·         In response to Jesus’ teaching, the crowd asks for eternal bread.  Still, they fail to appreciate the nature of their request.  As if they were on the set of a science fiction movie, they actually want Jesus to wave a magic wand and permanently eliminate their physical hunger.  Then, they would not need to work as hard or worry about the next meal.  Removal of that daily need would in turn eradicate any fears associated with it.  Simply, the crowd misunderstands the teaching about the bread from heaven just as they misconstrue the meaning of the miracle of feeding five thousand men plus women and children.  They fail to comprehend His invitation to discipleship and relationship as Jesus personifies the bread for which they ask.

·         Jesus expands the “I AM” sayings as He clarifies His teaching for the crowd.  Straightforwardly, He says “I am the bread of life.”  Anyone who relates rightly to me will not hunger and anyone who genuinely believes in me will not thirst.  Relating to Jesus connects disciples to the Infinite and Eternal One and Word who was with and is God from the beginning. (John 1:1-2)  Access to an infinite supply awaits anyone who comes to Jesus with a sincere heart and the full assurance of faith.

·         Further, a relationship with Jesus yields life’s enduring riches: love, truth, justice and the fruit of the Holy Spirit.  These attributes supersede the limited and temporary satisfaction of physical instincts.  Encountering Him results in transformation (2 Corinthians 5:17).  A person undergoes a metamorphosis; he finds new meaning and purpose in daily affairs.  His work equates with purpose instead of labor to earn his daily bread.  Each morning, he rises to a calling instead of adding another day’s experience within his profession.  He develops beliefs in a mission and vocation to honor and serve Almighty God rather than tolerating the pervasive skepticism and aimlessness of the surrounding culture.  He enjoys freedom to actualize his divinely and graciously given gifts and abilities; thereby, he lives the life he imagines.  Living in a vibrant relationship with Jesus opens the eyes of the heart and enables disciples to assess the eternal worth of any activity.  Often, we squander life’s most precious gift, time, on meaningless pursuits.  Self-centered fears and self-seeking thoughts flow naturally from a personal myopia in which you limit your sights to enhancing solely your life.  Jesus turns our attention toward eternal causes of loving the Father by serving humankind and leaving a legacy that continues many years beyond our physical existence.  Wellness, healing and wholeness comprise the major components of a disciple’s life.  He forsakes the many fragments of selfishness that the secular, humanistic world advocates.

·         As the “Bread of life,” Jesus offers His body as a sacrifice and propitiation for anyone who believes in Him and the Father who sent Jesus.  When we partake of Holy Communion, we feast upon this “bread from heaven” which sustains us as we strive to live with Christian integrity.

·         Jesus’ teachings comprise this bread, also.  Memorizing myriad verses of the gospels and gleaning its spiritual wisdom equals eating a piece of your favorite bread when you are very hungry.  The Lord’s teachings offer very practical tools for daily living.  They address every human situation, providing wisdom and spirituality.  Ultimately, Jesus’ teachings empower disciples with healing and wholeness.

·         Faith is a non-negotiable prerequisite in actualizing and utilizing Christ’s teachings.  Hence, the Lord chastises the crowd for their persistent failure to believe.  “You have seen me and still you do not believe.”

Conclusion – John 6:37-40   

·         In these final verses, Jesus offers eternal security to anyone who chooses to believe in Him.  Anyone who comes to Him will remain with Him forevermore.  He promises never to drive the person away.  If you make an “existential risk of faith” in the words of Paul Tillich, you will discover the wellness, healing and wholeness of a previously unimaginable life.  Carl Justav Jung posits you will at least actualize your previously “undiscovered self,” which is the ideal person whom the Father created you to be.  Jesus pledges to journey with you as you run this marathon toward acceptance, creativity, freedom from fear, willingness to forgive unconditionally, daily gratitude, love and joy, mission and purpose and service and spirituality.  He will not abandon you in the process nor will He terminate you should you fail periodically.

·         Jesus seeks to fulfill “the will of him who sent me.”  The Father desires the salvation of everyone.  He sends Jesus into the world to demonstrate and personify His unfailing love, unquestionable faithfulness and unending grace.  Jesus comes as the personification of the godhead to reestablish the Father’s covenant with humankind.  

·         Then, Jesus promises resurrection and eternal life beyond a disciple’s physical death.  We are spiritual beings who dwell in physical bodies.  We originate from the Eternal Being who creates us in His image.  Jesus’ sacrifice nullifies any sin or offense we commit.  His perfect life as fully God and fully man allows us to relate rightly with our Holy and Heavenly Father.  On the final day of the Lord’s judgment, Jesus stands as our Advocate to argue successfully and effectively for our resurrection into a spiritual, non-corporeal body in which we can enjoy the Father’s presence throughout eternity.  For everyone who sincerely believes and genuinely commits his life, Jesus says I will “raise them up at the last day.”

·         Simply put, “everyone who looks to the Son and believes will have eternal life.”  Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness and anyone who had been bitten by a scorpion and looked upon the snake was healed immediately, anyone who gives his or her life to the Lord Jesus will experience abundant life on earth and eternal afterwards.

·         Again, Jesus pledges eventually to raise him or her up at the last day.