There is so much I could write about in this chapter, but I’m going to focus on the way some people who are interested in following Jesus struggle with some of what He says and ultimately turn away.
The chapter begins with a large crowd following Jesus (verse 2). They experience the miracle of Jesus multiplying the five pieces of bread and two small fish to feed the crowd, with more food left over than they started with (verses 5-14). The following day they hear Jesus teaching and this is when some of them begin to struggle.
Since He has just miraculously fed them with bread the day before, He uses “bread” as an analogy to explain eternal life. He says the bread they ate the day before satisfied their physical hunger, but that is all it did. The same was true of the bread or manna that God provided their ancestors in the wilderness during the time of Moses. They need the bread that satisfies for eternity – gives eternal life – and He (Jesus) is that bread.
He explains that just like the manna or bread during Moses’ time came down from the Father in heaven, He also had come down from the Father in heaven. But they knew His earthly parents and that He had grown up in the area. So they struggled to understand and believe what He was telling them.
In the end, some believed Him and others did not. Some continued to follow Him and others did not. Note verses 41,52,60-61,66. Now it is the ordinary people who are having to decide if they believe Jesus or not. In chapter five the religious leaders opposed Jesus, but in chapter six everyday people are faced with a decision – will they follow Jesus or not. Just like today, some chose to believe and follow Him while others did not.
Not everyone who is interested in Jesus will choose to believe Him and follow Him. Some people will like some of the things Jesus says, but reject other things He says. That is not new – it happened during His teaching ministry on earth.
Jesus turned to the twelve disciples when some of those who had been following Him chose to leave and asked them, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” (verse 67). Speaking for the others, Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” (verses 68-69).
Ultimately we must decide if we believe Jesus or not. The beauty is that when we choose to believe Him, we experience Him in such a way that our belief only becomes stronger.
Just as doubt leads to more doubt, faith leads to more faith. Both are a choice. Choose wisely!
Charles C Dotson says
John 6:37. “All that the Father gives me will come to me.” This verse really made me see that, God chose me…He saved me…he gives me eternal life.
Will Beaty says
Mark 6:3,5 – “they were offended by him”; “He was not able to do any miracles” – Do I think I know Jesus so well because of my past history with him (like those that grew up with Him in His hometown) that I keep Him from working miracles in the lives of those around me? May I always be open to learning more and more about Him.