1. What significance does bread have in the Bible?

BREAD was a staple for many in Bible times. (Gen. 14:18; Luke 4:4) In fact, it was so important that the Bible sometimes uses “bread” to mean food in general. (Matt. 6:11; Acts 20:7, study note) Bread was also a central feature in two of Jesus’ well-known miracles. (Matt. 16:9, 10) We find one of those accounts in John chapter 6. As we review this account, we will look for lessons that we can apply today.

2. In what situation did a need for food arise?

² After Jesus’ apostles had finished a preaching tour, Jesus took them along by boat across the Sea of Galilee so that they could rest. (Mark 6:7, 30-32; Luke 9:10) They came to an isolated spot in the area of Bethsaida. Soon, though, thousands of people arrived and crowded around. Jesus did not ignore them. He kindly took time to teach them about the Kingdom and to cure the sick. As it was getting late, the disciples wondered how all those people could get something to eat. Some of them perhaps had limited provisions, but most would need to go into the villages and buy food. (Matt. 14:15; John 6:4, 5) What would Jesus do?

A MIRACLE TO PROVIDE BREAD

3. How did Jesus respond to the needs of the crowd? (See also picture.)

³ Jesus told his apostles: “They do not have to leave; you give them something to eat.” (Matt. 14:16) That was a problem because there were about 5,000 men. And including women and children, there may have been 15,000 people to feed. (Matt. 14:21) Andrew spoke up: “Here is a little boy who has five barley loaves and two small fish. But what are these among so many?” (John 6:9) Barley loaves were commonly eaten by the poor and others, and the small fish may have been salted and dried. Still, the amount that the boy had would not be enough to feed so many​—or would it?

4. What can we learn from John 6:11-13? (See also pictures.)

⁴ Wanting to be hospitable to the crowd, Jesus directed the people to recline in groups on the grass. (Mark 6:39, 40; read John 6:11-13.) We read that Jesus gave thanks to his Father for the bread and the fish. It was entirely fitting to thank God, who in reality was the Source of the food. What a good reminder for us to follow Jesus’ example by praying before a meal, whether we are alone or others are around. Jesus then had the food distributed, and the people ate and were satisfied. There were even leftovers, which Jesus did not want to go to waste. So he had the leftovers gathered up, possibly for later use. Jesus set the pattern for us when it comes to using our resources wisely. If you are a parent, why not review this account with your children and discuss what lessons can be learned about prayer, hospitality, and generosity.

5. How did the people react to what Jesus did that day, and how did he respond?

⁵ The people were impressed by Jesus’ way of teaching and by his miracles. Knowing that Moses had promised that God would raise up a special prophet, they may have wondered, ‘Could Jesus be the one?’ (Deut. 18:15-18) If so, it might have seemed that he would be an outstanding ruler, perhaps able to supply bread for the whole nation. Consequently, the crowd was about to “seize [Jesus] to make him king.” (John 6:14, 15) If Jesus allowed that to happen, he would be participating in the politics of the Jews, who were under Roman rule. Did he? No. We read that Jesus decisively ‘withdrew to the mountain.’ So despite pressure from others, he would not get involved in politics. What a lesson for us!

6. How can we show that we want to follow Jesus’ pattern? (See also picture.)

⁶ Obviously, others will not ask us to multiply bread or cure the sick miraculously; nor will they try to make us a king or a national ruler. But they may urge us to get involved in politics by voting for or by voicing support for someone they feel will improve matters. However, Jesus’ example is clear. He refused to get involved with political affairs, even saying later: “My Kingdom is no part of this world.” (John 17:14; 18:36) Christians today do well to mirror Jesus’ thinking and actions. We support, witness about, and pray for that Kingdom. (Matt. 6:10) Let us return to the account about Jesus miraculously providing bread and consider what else we can learn.

“THE MEANING OF THE LOAVES”

7. What did Jesus and the apostles do? (John 6:16-20)

⁷ After Jesus fed the crowd, he had his apostles leave the area to return to Capernaum by boat and he withdrew to the mountain, thus avoiding the crowd’s effort to make him king. (Read John 6:16-20.) While the apostles were sailing, a storm arose, bringing violent wind and waves. Then Jesus came to them, walking on the water. And he invited the apostle Peter to walk on the water too. (Matt. 14:22-31) Once Jesus was in the boat, the wind abated. The disciples were moved to say: “You really are God’s Son.”a (Matt. 14:33) Still, they did not see the connection between this miracle and what happened earlier with the crowd. Mark adds this detail: “[The apostles] were utterly amazed, for they had not grasped the meaning of the loaves, but their hearts continued dull in understanding.” (Mark 6:50-52) Yes, they failed to grasp the extent of the power that Jehovah had given Jesus to perform miracles. Soon, though, Jesus himself brought up the miracle of the bread, and he provided a lesson for us.

8-9. Why did the crowd pursue Jesus? (John 6:26, 27)

⁸ The crowd that Jesus had fed were focused on satisfying their physical needs and desires. How so? The following day, they saw that Jesus and his apostles had left. So the crowd boarded some boats that had arrived from Tiberias and headed toward Capernaum to find Jesus. (John 6:22-24) Did they do that mainly to hear more about the Kingdom? No. They were primarily thinking about their physical need for bread. How do we know?

⁹ Note what happened when the crowd caught up with Jesus near Capernaum. Jesus openly said that their priority was satisfying their temporary physical needs. He acknowledged that they “ate from the loaves and were satisfied” with “food that perishes.” He urged them to work instead for “food that remains for everlasting life.” (Read John 6:26, 27.) Jesus said that his Father would provide such food. The idea that food could lead to everlasting life must have been startling! What food could possibly do that, and how could Jesus’ listeners receive it?

10. What “work of God” did the people need to learn about?

¹⁰ Apparently, those Jews felt that they would have to perform some acts or works to qualify to receive such food. They may have been thinking of the “works” of the Mosaic Law. However, Jesus told them: “This is the work of God, that you exercise faith in the one whom he sent.” (John 6:28, 29) Exercising faith in God’s representative is needed in order to “have everlasting life.” In fact, Jesus had previously spoken about this. (John 3:16-18, 36) And he would later have more to say about how we can gain everlasting life.​—John 17:3.

11. How did the Jews indicate that they were still concerned about being satisfied with bread? (Psalm 78:24, 25)

¹¹ Those Jews did not accept Jesus’ teaching about a new “work of God.” They asked him: “What are you performing as a sign, so that we may see it and believe you?” (John 6:30) They mentioned that their ancestors in Moses’ day had received manna, which could be likened to bread. (Neh. 9:15; read Psalm 78:24, 25.) Clearly, their minds were still centered on being satisfied with literal bread. They even failed to press Jesus for clarification when he next spoke of “the true bread from heaven,” which was like life-giving manna from heaven. (John 6:32) They were so focused on their physical needs that they ignored the spiritual truths that Jesus was trying to share with them. What can we learn from this account?

OUR PRIMARY FOCUS

12. How did Jesus indicate what is most important?

¹² Here is a key lesson for us found in John chapter 6. Our primary focus should be our spiritual needs. Recall that Jesus had made that point when rebuffing Satan’s temptation. (Matt. 4:3, 4) And in the Sermon on the Mount, he emphasized being conscious of one’s spiritual need. (Matt. 5:3) Accordingly, we can ask ourselves, ‘Does my way of life show that I put greater emphasis on filling my spiritual need than on satisfying my physical desires?’

13. (a) Why can we rightly enjoy food? (b) What warning merits our attention? (1 Corinthians 10:6, 7, 11)

¹³ It is appropriate for us to pray for our physical needs and to enjoy satisfying these. (Luke 11:3) Hard work that enables us “to eat and drink” brings joy and is “from the hand of the true God.” (Eccl. 2:24; 8:15; Jas. 1:17) Still, we need to keep material things in their proper place. The apostle Paul highlighted this when writing to Christians living near the end of the Jewish systems of things. He brought up events from Israel’s past, including what happened near Mount Sinai. He warned Christians “not to desire injurious things, as [the Israelites] desired them.” (Read 1 Corinthians 10:6, 7, 11.) The Israelites let their longing for food turn even Jehovah’s miraculous provisions into “injurious things.” (Num. 11:4-6, 31-34) And in conjunction with a golden calf, they ate, drank, and had a good time. (Ex. 32:4-6) Paul cited their experience as a warning for Christians living before the end of the Jewish systems of things in 70 C.E. We now live near the end of a system of things, so we do well to take Paul’s counsel seriously.

14. Regarding food, what can we expect in the new world?

¹⁴ When speaking of “our bread for this day,” Jesus pointed to the time when God’s will would be done “as in heaven, also on earth.” (Matt. 6:9-11) What picture does that bring to your mind? The Bible indicates that God’s will on earth includes good food. In line with Isaiah 25:6-8, there will be plenty of fine physical food to enjoy under Jehovah’s Kingdom. Psalm 72:16 foretells: “There will be an abundance of grain on the earth; on the top of the mountains it will overflow.” Do you look forward to using some of that grain to prepare your favorite type of bread or to try out new recipes? Along with that, you may enjoy the fruitage of vineyards that you planted. (Isa. 65:21, 22) And you will not be alone.

15. What education will be featured in the coming resurrection? (John 6:35)

¹⁵ Read John 6:35. What is ahead for those who ate of the bread and the fish that Jesus provided? In the coming resurrection, you may meet some of them. Even if in the past they did not exercise faith, they may be resurrected. (John 5:28, 29) Such ones will have to learn the meaning of Jesus’ words: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will not get hungry at all.” They will need to develop faith in Jesus’ ransom sacrifice, faith that he gave his life for them. At that time, there will be a program of spiritual education for resurrected ones and any children born then. What a joy it will be to have a share in that teaching program! Your doing so will be more delightful than eating literal bread. Yes, spiritual matters will be the highlight.

16. What will we examine next?

¹⁶ We have considered part of the account in John chapter 6, but Jesus had much more to teach about “everlasting life.” That merited the attention of those Jews and it now merits ours. We will continue to consider John chapter 6 in the next article.

1. How might some feel about living forever?

MANY people watch what they eat and try to exercise regularly in order to stay healthy. Still, they do not expect to live forever. Hoping for that could seem unrealistic and undesirable because of the distress that comes with old age. Nevertheless, Jesus spoke in a positive way about “everlasting life,” as indicated at John 3:16 and 5:24.

2. What does John chapter 6 say about everlasting life? (John 6:39, 40)

² One day, Jesus miraculously fed bread and fish to a crowd of thousands.a That was amazing, but what he said the next day was even more astounding. The crowd had followed him to Capernaum, near the shore of Galilee, where he told them that people could be resurrected and enjoy everlasting life. (Read John 6:39, 40.) In view of that, think of your friends and loved ones who have died. Jesus’ words indicate that many who have died can be resurrected and that both you and your loved ones can enjoy everlasting life. However, Jesus’ further words in John chapter 6 have been hard for many to understand. Let us take a closer look at them.

3. According to John 6:51, what did Jesus reveal about himself?

³ The crowd in Capernaum saw a connection between the loaves Jesus had recently fed them and the manna that Jehovah had provided for their ancestors. In fact, the Scriptures call that manna “bread from heaven.” (Ps. 105:40; John 6:31) Jesus used the manna as the basis for what he taught next. Though the manna was a miraculous provision from God, those who ate it eventually died. (John 6:49) In contrast, Jesus called himself “the true bread from heaven,” “the bread of God,” and “the bread of life.” (John 6:32, 33, 35) Jesus pointed to a key difference between the manna and himself. He said: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever.” (Read John 6:51.) Those Jews were puzzled. How could Jesus claim to have come down from heaven as “the bread” superior to the miraculous manna that God gave their forefathers? Jesus provided an interesting clue when he said: “The bread that I will give is my flesh.” What could he have meant? We should want to understand because the answer shows how everlasting life is possible for us and our loved ones. Let us see what Jesus meant.

LIVING BREAD AND HIS FLESH

4. Why were some shocked by what Jesus said?

⁴ Some of those hearing Jesus were shocked when he spoke of giving his “flesh in behalf of the life of the world.” Did they think that he was going to give them his literal flesh to eat, which would be a form of cannibalism? (John 6:52) Note this startling detail that Jesus added: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in yourselves.”​—John 6:53.

5. Why can we be sure that Jesus did not mean that people would have to drink his literal blood?

⁵ Back in Noah’s day, God prohibited humans from consuming blood. (Gen. 9:3, 4) Jehovah repeated that restriction in his Law to Israel. Anyone eating blood was to “be put to death.” (Lev. 7:27, ftn.) Jesus upheld that Law. (Matt. 5:17-19) So it is unthinkable that he would urge a crowd of Jews to consume his actual flesh or drink the blood in his veins. Nonetheless, with this striking statement, Jesus was, in fact, teaching the people how to gain life​—“everlasting life.”​—John 6:54.

6. In what sense are we to understand Jesus’ words about eating his flesh and drinking his blood?

⁶ What was Jesus’ point? Clearly, Jesus was speaking in a figurative sense, as he had done earlier when he told a Samaritan woman: “Whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty at all, but the water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water bubbling up to impart everlasting life.” (John 4:7, 14)b Jesus was not suggesting that the Samaritan woman would get everlasting life simply by drinking certain literal water. Similarly, he was not saying that the crowds he spoke to in Capernaum would live forever if they ate his literal flesh and drank his literal blood.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TWO OCCASIONS

7. What do some claim about Jesus’ statement found at John 6:53?

⁷ Some religious people claim that Jesus’ words found at John 6:53 about eating his flesh and drinking his blood set a pattern for the Lord’s Evening Meal because on that later occasion, he used wording that was somewhat similar. (Matt. 26:26-28) They claim that everyone who attends the Lord’s Evening Meal should partake of the bread and the wine that are passed among those in attendance. Is that correct? It is important that we investigate the validity of that claim because each year millions around the globe gather with us for that event. We will note a number of differences between what is stated at John 6:53 and what Jesus said at the Lord’s Evening Meal.

8. What are some differences between the two occasions? (See also pictures.)

⁸ Let us note two differences between these occasions. First, when and where did Jesus speak the words recorded at John 6:53-56? He did so to a crowd of Jews in Galilee in 32 C.E. That was about a year before he instituted the Lord’s Evening Meal in Jerusalem. Second, to whom were his words addressed? Most of his listeners in Galilee were more interested in satisfying their temporary physical needs than in satisfying their spiritual needs. (John 6:26) In fact, when Jesus said something that they found hard to understand, they quickly lost their faith in him. Even some of his disciples stopped following him. (John 6:14, 36, 42, 60, 64, 66) Contrast that event with what happened about a year later in 33 C.E. when Jesus instituted the Lord’s Evening Meal. On that occasion, his 11 loyal apostles were with him even though they did not fully understand all that he was teaching. Still, unlike most of those in Galilee, his faithful apostles were convinced that Jesus was the Son of God who had come down from heaven. (Matt. 16:16) He commended them: “You are the ones who have stuck with me in my trials.” (Luke 22:28) These two differences alone undermine the claim that Jesus’ words found at John 6:53 set the pattern for the Lord’s Evening Meal. And there is further evidence.

YOU ARE INVOLVED

9. To what group do Jesus’ words spoken at the Lord’s Evening Meal apply?

⁹ During the Lord’s Evening Meal, Jesus offered unleavened bread to his apostles and told them that it represented his body. Then he gave them the wine and said that it stood for the “blood of the covenant.” (Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:20; 1 Cor. 11:24) That is significant. The new covenant is made with “the house of [spiritual] Israel”​—who will be “in the Kingdom of God”—​not with mankind in general. (Heb. 8:6, 10; 9:15) The apostles did not grasp that at the time, but they would soon be anointed with holy spirit and brought into the new covenant to have a place with Jesus in heaven.​—John 14:2, 3.

10. How was what Jesus said in Galilee different in scope from what he said during the Lord’s Evening Meal? (See also picture.)

¹⁰ Take note that during the Lord’s Evening Meal, Jesus focused on the “little flock.” That small group started with his faithful apostles who were physically present with him in the room. (Luke 12:32) They and others who would be in that group were expected to partake of the two emblems​—the bread and the wine. They are the ones who will receive a place in heaven with Jesus. What he said to his apostles on this occasion stands in contrast with what he said to the crowd in Galilee, where he was speaking in a way that was broader in scope. Those words apply to a vast number of people.

11. What did Jesus say in Galilee that shows that he was not referring to a limited group?

¹¹ When Jesus was in Galilee in 32 C.E., he was mainly addressing Jews who wanted bread from him. However, he called their attention to something much more beneficial than literal food. He identified a provision by which they could gain everlasting life. And Jesus said that those who died could be resurrected on the last day and live forever. He was not referring to a chosen few, a limited number, as he did later during the Lord’s Evening Meal. Rather, in Galilee he focused on a blessing that would be available to all people. In fact, he said: “If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever . . . The bread that I will give is my flesh in behalf of the life of the world.”​—John 6:51.c

12. What is needed to gain the benefits Jesus spoke of?

¹² Jesus did not tell the Jews in Galilee that this blessing would come to every person who had ever lived or would ever be born. Only the ones who ‘eat of this bread,’ those who exercise faith, will benefit. Many nominal Christians feel that they will be saved if they merely “believe on [Jesus]” and view him as their personal savior. (John 6:29, King James Version) Yet, some in the crowd who initially believed in Jesus abandoned him. Why?

13. What is needed to be a true disciple of Jesus?

¹³ Most in the crowd whom Jesus fed were happy to follow him as long as he provided what they wanted. They were interested in miraculous cures, free food, or teachings that matched their expectations. However, Jesus showed that more would be required of his true disciples. He did not come to earth simply to satisfy people’s fleshly desires. They had to respond to his invitation to “come to” him by accepting and obeying everything he taught.​—John 5:40; 6:44.

14. What must we do to benefit from Jesus’ flesh and blood?

¹⁴ Jesus emphasized to the crowd the need for them to exercise faith. In what? In the redeeming power of his flesh and blood that he would, in time, sacrifice. Such faith was essential for those Jews, and it is still essential today. (John 6:40) Yes, for us to benefit from Jesus’ flesh and blood, as mentioned at John 6:53, we need to exercise faith in the ransom. That possibility is available to a vast number of people.​—Eph. 1:7.

15-16. What benefits should John chapter 6 help us to keep in mind?

¹⁵ The Bible record in John chapter 6 holds great value for us and our loved ones. It makes plain Jesus’ kind feelings for people. While in Galilee, he healed the sick, taught about the Kingdom, and made sure that the basic human need for food was filled. (Luke 9:11; John 6:2, 11, 12) More important, he taught that he is “the bread of life.”​—John 6:35, 48.

¹⁶ Those he referred to as “other sheep” do not and should not partake of the bread and the wine at the annual Lord’s Evening Meal. (John 10:16) Nonetheless, they benefit from the flesh and the blood of Jesus Christ. They do so by exercising faith in the redeeming value of his sacrifice. (John 6:53) In contrast, those who should partake of the bread and the wine show that they have been brought into the new covenant as prospective heirs of the heavenly Kingdom. Consequently, whether we are of the anointed or of the other sheep, the account in John chapter 6 is rich in meaning for us. It highlights the vital need to exercise faith and thus gain everlasting life.