Feeding the 5000
John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.
John 6:2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
This was about a year after the preceding chapter. John the Baptist had been killed by Herod. John's ministry of introducing the Lamb of God was accomplished.
Luke 9:9 And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.
Luke 9:10 And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.
Luke 9:11 And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.
Wishing to be in a place of prayer and rest, nonetheless the crowds followed Jesus because of his miracles, the healing of the afflicted.
John 6:3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.
Jesus went up into a mountain only with His disciples. This was following the news of the death of John the Baptist. They accompanied him everywhere he went. He talked to them and they saw the miracles. The mountain is a place to be alone with God, to pray and hear from him. The mountain; Mt. Sinai, was where Moses received the ten commandments. Jerusalem was up on a mountain, to go to Jerusalem was always up.
Isa 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
Isa 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
John 6:4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.
The other gospel writers did not mention that the Passover feast was near this time. This was the third Passover. All male Jews from the nations were required to come to Jerusalem for the Passover.
This too is a type of the gathering of the believers at the return of the Messiah, Jesus the Passover Lamb of God.
Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
The multitude were to attend Passover, but were led into the wilderness to see this moving of God. They were where God was among the people.
Many still move from place to place seeking the presence and miracles of God. Prepare yourselves, cleanse the temple and God will come to minister to you.
John 6:5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
Philip knew this area, for Bethsaida was his home town. He knew where the stores were.
John 6:6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
Philip was being tested, how would they buy bread for such a crowd? It was an impossible task for the disciple.
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.
Philip could only see the problem from his understanding. There is not enough money to buy enough bread for so many. He made a good estimate, six months wages would barely feed the multitude.
John 6:8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,
John 6:9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
Not much is heard from Andrew, but he was the first to lead others to Jesus, beginning with his brother Simon Peter. Andrews faith in bringing what little he found to the Lord was the seed of a miracle. We bring what we have to the Lord and he will use it and multiply it. Andrew trusted in Jesus.
Five Barley loaves from a small boy. Barley was not favored as much as wheat, which was of higher value.
Rev 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
Five small flat barley loaves, the food of the poor and two small fish, perhaps as a sardine like sandwich?
But what are they among so many?
Often we are empty within our own abilities to do the work of God, yet it is the work of God through our obedience, not of ourselves. Moses felt small in his own eyes.
Exo 3:11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
Exo 3:12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee;...
John 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.
As the good Shepherd, Jesus commands his followers to sit down on the green grass. This is as the 23rd Psalm.
Psa 23:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psa 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Psa 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
John 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.
After giving thanks he gives the food to his disciples who serve the food to the sitting people. They were not standing and fighting for the food, but sitting in an orderly manner, so that all were served and none was lacking. Jesus uses people in serving God. We are to be the hands to feed the hungry.
John 6:12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
I imagine that the loaves and fish were very good to eat. When Jesus turned the water into wine, it was the very best. Such a great miracle, even so Jesus wished to not waste the leftovers. We should not waste the good things that God has given for our use. We are to be good stewards of God's gifts and not to build our own kingdoms of wealth and power with the gifts that God has given us. We are to help build the kingdom of God by supplying to others as the Lord directs.
John 6:13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
Enough for a basket to each disciple.
John 6:14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
Deu 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
Hearken, listen to Him, hear him. The same words used by God the Father. At the baptism of Jesus, the Father spoke:
Mark 9:7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
The Shekinah glory cloud came down on the mount of Jesus' transfiguration, and he voice of God spoke:
Luke 9:34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.
Luke 9:35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
John 6:15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
They were to obey the prophet, not to take him by force. It was not his time to be King. Pilate the next year at Passover would ask Jesus about his being a king. Jesus had one year to reach out to the people before his sacrifice for our sins. He had to obey the Father, not men.
John 18:33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
John 18:34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
John 18:35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
John 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
Jesus walked away from them into a mountain, alone. He was well able to escape a crowd who was self willed or unruly. He was available to the needs of the poor in spirit, but his time was not yet come to suffer and die for our sins. When he returns, we shall see the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
Water Walk
John 6:16 And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,
John 6:17 And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.
Mark 6:45 And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.
Jesus told them to go into the boat and to cross the lake. He was aware of what miracle he was going to do; it was the dark of the night.
John 6:18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.
Picture this, it is dark, but they were used to fishing at night and the sea arose, great swells and waves, because of a great wind, a storm. Not the kind of night to be out in a boat.
Mark 6:48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.
It was the forth watch, about three in the morning, the wind was blowing against them, dark, cold, wet and Jesus comes walking upon the sea and would have passed them by. They had a headstart, yet Jesus was not affected by the storm, the water and the winds of adversity. All things are under his feet, he is Lord of all.
John 6:19 So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.
Mark 6:49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:
They had already rowed two to three miles out to sea, when Jesus comes walking by them. He would have kept walking had they not cried out in fear, thinking he was a ghost. The Lord is always nearbye those who trust in him by faith, we need only cry out to him and he comes to us. This is remarkable that God would show Jesus in this way before the resurrection. This was the fourth miracle in John, following the feeding of the five-thousand. Jesus is Lord of the storms of life and Lord God.
John 6:20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.
Flesh trembles in the presence of an angel, especially in the presence of God.
Isaiah trembled at the presence of God.
Isa 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
Matthew tells of Peter walking on water to meet the Lord and sinking when he looked upon the rough sea.
Mat 14:28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
Mat 14:29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
Peter obeyed the command of his Lord and did walk on the sea, a remarkable show of faith.
Mat 14:30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
Mat 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Mat 14:32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
John 6:21 Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.
The Lord not only overcomes the elements, the wind, the storm, the sea, the darkness, but he willed them to travel immediately to the other side, and it was done. There are many personal testimonies of angels moving people rapidly out of harms way. Jesus is Lord of the angels, but he is not an angel, he is God the Son, the Living Word who spoke all things into existance. Have you spoken to him lately about your concerns? Jesus only needs to speak a word, and all things submit, do we submit to our Lord and savior? Speak the name of Jesus, there is power in that name. In him is life, miracles, peace and all good things, we need to always be close to him.
Psa 24:10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
John 6:22 The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;
They looked around and saw the strange situation.
John 6:23 (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)
John 6:24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.
Other people came to the place of the miracle feeding of the loaves and fishes. The news of free bread travels far. They go across to Capernaum looking for the Bread of life, or perhaps just more bread and fish..
John 6:25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
The people asked how Jesus got to the other side? but he does not answer their question.
John 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
He tells them why they were seeking him; for the free food. Do we seek Jesus only for the things he will give us. Jesus had no place to lay his head, why must he provide us with worldly riches, to spend on our own desires? Too many seek him for material gain. What he gives us is our daily bread, our needs. The Lord taught us how to pray.
Mat 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
Mat 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
When we are blessed abundantly we should seek to share with those who are in need. This is both in material and spiritual blessings. We are to share the word of life and all good things.
John 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
Jesus earlier described this meat.
John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
Who gives everlasting life? The Son gives life.
1 John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1 John 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
John 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
John 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
...for him hath God the Father sealed.
To seal was to mark something for ownership and to guarantee it's contents. A trademark on a can of food, gives the owners seal of it's contents. The seal of Jesus and the believer, is the presence of the Holy Spirit.
2 Cor 1:21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
2 Cor 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
They wanted to do some religious work , to work the works of God. What shall we do? Many think God and magic are together. Magic is of the devil, God's miracles are to glorify himself.
Simon the sorcerer wanted God's Spirit so he could do miracles. Peter rebuked him, in the book of acts.
Acts 8:9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
Acts 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
Acts 8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Acts 8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
Acts 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. Believe, salvation is by faith in God's Son. After salvation we have many promises given to us in his word. Many have things we must do to receive the promise. All are received by faith and obedience.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
It isn't our works, but believing in the one who God has sent. When his work was finished, then the way to God was given to us by faith. We are to love him and remain close to him. We are given a purpose to fulfil in our life. He is more than a handout, he is life, healing, love, and all good things. He is God the Son, for ever, and ever, amen.
Bread of Life
John 6:30 They said therefore unto him, What sign showest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
John 6:31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
1 Cor 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
These Jews wanted free bread, show us the bread feeding again.
John 6:32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
Yes, it was God's provision for his people.
Exo 16:14 And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.
Exo 16:15 And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.
Exo 16:16 This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents.
Exo 16:17 And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less.
Exo 16:18 And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.
Exo 16:19 And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning.
If they kept it overnight it spoiled, except on the Sabbath. We are to read the word, partake of the Manna each morning. To have yesterdays Manna is not enough to live on. Our Spirit needs fresh Manna.
The Manna gave life to God's people. Jesus is the bread of life, the Manna from heaven. The Father sent him to give life to the people. Life comes only through the bread that the Father has provided.
John 6:33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Only Jesus came from heaven and was with God in heaven, even as he was on earth.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
This bread of life is everlasting, eat of this and you shall never hunger again.
John 6:34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Complete satisfaction is found in Jesus. The soul is fed on the word of God, and the Holy Spirit is as the living water without end. All that is needed for life everlasting is found in Jesus.
John 6:36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
Jesus knew that even seeing the miracles, they did not believe in Him. The Father selects those who will come to Jesus, all will come to him and he will keep them, not cast them out or lose them. He gives people to Jesus. Have we no part in the selection? I think we do, by intercessory prayer we bring people to the Father's attention.
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
John 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
John 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
1 Cor 15:51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1 Cor 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1 Cor 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Mat 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
Mat 13:14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
Some do see and have confession of faith
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
John 6:41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.
John 6:42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?
Mat 13:54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
Mat 13:55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
Mat 13:56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
Mat 13:57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
Mat 13:58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
John 6:43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Stop murmuring and trying to figure out things in your own way. Again, he states that no man can come to Jesus unless the Father draw him. After Jesus ascended, he left the Holy Spirit. Now it is the Holy Spirit that convicts and draws people to Jesus, obeying the will of the Father.
John 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
John 6:46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
Listen to me, you listen, he that believes on me, has everlasting life. Jesus is our hope to put our faith on.
John 6:48 I am that bread of life.
John 6:49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
John 6:50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
Jesus is the bread of eternal life.
John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
The living bread died for us and was risen. The bread has rised for us, to feed us abundantly with life everlasting. All that the Father brings to Jesus shall be saved, fed the living word and given the living water of his spirit. No one can come to Jesus without the Father drawing him, the Father gives people to Jesus for salvation. Four times this was brought out in these scriptures. We have our part in prayer and witnessing. All that Jesus receives he keeps, none shall perish. What of those who leave?
1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
Pray for those who need the Father to bring them to Jesus, He uses us.
Words of Spirit and Life
John 6:52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
Verse 6:63 explains what they were not understanding. The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. What is the flesh of Jesus to our souls nourishment and well being? He is essential, for without his shed blood we would perish. His flesh was torn and broken for our healing.
John 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
In John chapter four, Jesus said to his disciples. I have meat to eat that ye know not of. My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. This was not physical but spiritual, the calling of God for him. When we eat the flesh and drink the blood it is spiritually partaking of him. The communion is actual bread and wine taken in remembrance of him, but this IS NOT his physical body. Jesus is speaking of things to come, about his death burial and the resurrection life. He is speaking truth, but those who could not believe Jesus were now even more confused.
John 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
If our hearts are full of Jesus we have eternal life and he will give us new bodies at the last day.
John 6:55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
John 6:56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
Jesus purposely spoke in metaphors or in parables. If taken literally, these words were shocking and repulsive. Perhaps Jesus knew this, but the reality of his death on the cross was also shocking and repulsive. Those were not believers would be repulsed, but they were leaving him anyway. They did not believe in him.
When we come into spiritual union with our Lord Jesus, we need to remember that the flesh man Jesus, lived on earth a very short time. But the true Jesus was the eternal God, the Living Word. God is Spirit. What is the flesh and blood of God in relation to the Spirit? Blood is the life of the body as God's Spirit is life to the new man in Christ. The Spiritual body is the word, this is meat for our souls.
Jer 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
John 6:57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
Jesus lived on every word spoken of the Father. So we shall live on every word spoken of the Lord. As Jesus is one with the Father in Spirit, so are we one with Jesus and the Father in the Spirit.
John 6:58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
Jesus is the Spiritual Manna, the spiritual bread, food for your soul and spirit, that came from God in heaven. He gives life to us in the Spirit. His perfect sacrifice of His body and blood was for the removal of our sins. He gives us a Spiritual change of blood, from sinful to becoming as he is, without sin. He has risen from the grave in new everlasting life. His body has risen so that we may know we have life in him.
John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
John 6:59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
John 6:60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
John 6:61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
John 6:62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
What then? Will you understand if you see life after death? What then of the Spiritual food for the the new man?
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
It is the Spirit of God that makes us alive. The flesh is no good in itself, it shall perish. The Spiritual person is forever with the Lord Jesus Christ. He spoke words of spirit and of life.
2 Cor 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
John 6:64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
The Father gave him true followers, but there were also false ones. He knew their hearts.
John 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
Some will never understand, for they choose to not believe. These were not chosen by the Father. Only His chosen ones may come to Jesus. We need not spend hours trying to get these to see and understand. They are spiritually dead. Give them the gospel and leave them to the Father in prayer.
John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
The unbelieving left him. They came for bread for their flesh, not for the bread of eternal life. John 666, the number of the antichrist.
John 6:67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
Jesus gives them a question to test them. Will you follow the crowd and leave too?
John 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
Where can we go? A good question. Will we follow a relative into a spirit religion? Will we follow the pagans or the Wiccas? Paul was quiet strong about not following another gospel.
2 Cor 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
Bear with the weak, try to show them the truth. Paul's words become stronger towards the legalizing Jews.
Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
First we try to give them the truth, if they will not receive, then they are accursed, false teachers.
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Phil 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
1 John 1:2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
John 6:69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
We believe you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Many cults do not see this, they claim to serve Jehovah, but refuse to accept Jesus as God, the Son.
John 6:70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
John 6:71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.
John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
Mark 14:21 The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.
God chooses, Jesus keeps those chosen. It is a marvelous thing to be chosen, but few there are. Because paganism is growing fast all over the world, does not make it good. Broad is the way that leads to destruction.
Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
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