'Rightly Dividing the Word'
Jews Wanted Him to be King
John 6:14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."
The Jews, who saw Him feeding the 5,000 with just five loaves of bread and two fish, believed that He was the Messiah and they wanted Him to be their King.
John 6:15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.
Give Us This True Bread
John 6:27 "Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."
When the Jews realized that their forefathers who ate Manna from heaven were death, they wanted the true bread from heaven which gives everlasting life.
John 6:32-34 Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." Then they said to Him, "Lord, give us this bread always."
Jews Rejected His Flesh
John 6:51-52 "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world." The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?"
Since the Jews wanted the living bread from heaven which can give them everlasting life, Jesus told them the living bread was His flesh.
Note: - Jesus was the Word made flesh.
Immediately, the carnal Jews quarreled among themselves and rejected this bread of life (Word of God). Many of His disciples left Jesus.
Similarly, every Christian wants salvation and everlasting life, but the worldly and carnal will reject His words and commandments.
John 6:66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
His Flesh is Food Indeed
John 6:54-56 "Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him."
The bread, which Jesus gave to His disciples represented His flesh. So, whenever a Christian partakes of the bread, they will be reminded of the love of Christ dying on the cross for their salvation.
Luke 22:19 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
Food for Disciples
John 4:34 Jesus said to them, " My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.
Our Lord told His followers not to labour for the food which perishes but for the food which He would give to them that would give them everlasting life.
Since the food for Jesus was to do the will of God and to finish it, similarly, the food for Christians is to believe Him and to do His will and to finish it.
All those serving God will never be restless but always busy. Because of their love and compassion, they will always find plenty of opportunities to do righteous and good works but the merciless will find excuses not to assist.
The Twelve with Strong Faith
John 6,:67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?"
Though most of His disciples had left Jesus, these twelve had faith in Him. Similarly, though many Christians will not keep His words, the few who keep His words are His true disciples.
John 6:68-69 But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
