The Gospel of John: Come and See the Bread of Life

Sunday we will consider a familiar miracle of Jesus, the feeding of the five thousand. John the apostle leaves no option than to believe that Jesus actually fed the crowd from the five loaves and two fish provided by the boy. He says, “So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.” Notice the words, “from the five barley loaves.” John is clear that this was a “sign” meaning that the miracle was meant to teach something. 

Before he shares Jesus’ teaching on the meaning of the bread provided, he shares another miracle, Jesus walking on water. It seems like a story he throws into the narrative. John doesn’t discuss the miracle but uses it to show the nature of the crowd who was “seeking” him. John uses this to set up the dialogue we read in the next paragraph. 

The crowd is determined to follow Jesus, but their motive is less than pure. They don’t want the “bread of life” that God provides, because they don’t want Jesus! Jesus says, “I am the bread of life.” He is God’s provision for their salvation. Will they receive him?

Join us Sunday as we consider the bread that God provides.