It's been awhile since we looked at this study.
There are still a few more verses in chapter five.
What do they mean for us????
5:42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
5:43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
5:44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that [cometh] from God only?
5:45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is [one] that accuseth you, [even] Moses, in whom ye trust.
5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
5:47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

John chapter five is a gold mine for those wanting to understand the judgment!
Some of these gold nuggets have been brought forward in the studies on the previous verses, but they only scratch the surface.

What does "having the love of God in us" have to do with the judgment?
How does the "name" connect to judgment?
How does "the one we honor" relate to the judgment?
What does Moses have to do with judgment?

All these questions, have answers that lead to important concepts that fill in details of the judgment.

John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is [the sea] of Tiberias.
6:2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
6:3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples

There's something about miracles that attract people. Especially miracles that take away disease.

Jesus had taught people all day and was seeking some time alone with His disciples. From the hillside He looked down at growing multitude of people, and His heart was stirred with sympathy. He knew they had a tough time just getting on in life. Interrupted as He was, and robbed of His rest, He was not impatient. He saw a greater necessity demanding His attention as He watched the people coming and still coming. He was "moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd" [Mark 6:34]. Leaving His retreat, He found a convenient place where He could minister to them. They received no help from the priests and rulers, but with Jesus it was the healing waters of life flowed from Him as He taught the multitude the way of salvation.

John 6:4 And the time of the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.
6:5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great multitude come to him, he said to Philip, Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
6:6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

Jesus is by the Sea of Galilee, yet here we have a reference to the Passover feast, which was about to take place in Jerusalem. What is the connection?

People are travelling, Hundreds have taken this opportunity to stop in Galilee to see the great Miracle Worker.
Yet, Jesus wants to draw their attention to the true meaning of the Passover and the spiritual food He so longed to give them. John is carefully constructing this chapter so we, too, can find deeper meaning. These aren't just history stories, they are acted out parables.

In the above verses, Jesus asked a question of Philip (the logical one).
"Philip, do you know where we could buy food to feed this crowd of over 10,000 people" (5000 men, plus women and children)?

Why did Jesus ask that question, knowing full well the disciples could never find enough food to feed that many people? Besides, Jesus already knew what He would do!

He's testing them, stirring up their minds to recognize their need. He addresses his disciple and receives a statement of their helplessness.

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.


Matthew gives us more details:
Apparently the disciples suggest Jesus should send them away so they can find their own food.

Matt. 15:32 I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.
15:33 And his disciples say unto him, Where should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?

We. as humans, tend to think mainly on the material side. We often relate to Jesus on a material side. What we will eat, how we will meet our bills, etc. How is Jesus going to teach them (and us) spiritual lessons who are not searching for spiritual food, rather they just want their physical needs satisfied.


So Jesus addresses them on the physical side in a situation where the disciples are incapable to find a physical solution.

John 6:8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,
6:9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
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.
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.

The Creator of all things, (All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made" John 1:3) created food for these hungry people.
It was an awesome miracle showing the loving care of our Creator, who calls us to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." Matt. 6:33

Yet, in spite of that awesome event, when the people in that crowd looked at Jesus, they saw only a common everyday human who apparently had some magical powers that could be used to further their own ends. They did not see Someone who came down from heaven to offer them salvation from sin and give them eternal life. They were unable to see the sacred light shining through.
John makes it clear that most of those who had followed Christ did so only because of the miracles and not because of any deep spiritual conviction or need for a Savior and Redeemer. (See 6:2 and 6:26)

Christ desired to awaken faith in their hearts, to lead them to accept him, the Son of God, as the Bread of life. As we continue to study John chapter six, we see great numbers turning away when Jesus offered them the "living bread".

Question to think:
Though Jesus ministered to their immediate need for food, was that an end in itself?
Is there a far deeper meaning that Jesus is illustrating in this chapter?
What is our own reason for our interest in Jesus?