Returning to our ongoing study of the gospel of John, the crowd catches up to him after being fed the day before. Those who remained, being part of the crowd of 5000, and seeking to make him king, were once again amazed to find Jesus already across the lake with his disciples.

Jesus deflects their initial question, "How did you get here?" He sees through the superficial need for food and the emotional desire for a king. The real question that needs to be answered is in his claim of being the bread of life.

We won't have time to get all the way through the topic of the bread of life today. Stay tuned, and we'll be able to conclude next month.

John 6:22-35

22 Connections to the previous day...

* On the next day. Following immediately on the heels of the feeding of the 6000.
* The crowd. The very same crowd who, after being fed sought to come after Jesus to make him king. At least some of the crowd remained the next morning.
* They knew that Jesus fled up the mountain, while the disciples went to the sea.
* They knew there was only one boat. The disciples left in it. There was still no sign of Jesus.

23 Eventually, other boats came to the spot. What else is there to do, but to try to find the disciples.

24 The crowd did the logical thing. Got into boats to follow the disciples. They were still seeking Jesus.

25 The crowd found him on the other side. They were amazed. They had been on guard, seeking him to come down the mountain through the night.

* Rabbi. They were seeking a teacher, not a messiah.

26 Jesus knew they only had physical needs in mind.

27 Laboring towards physical bread is important, but spiritual bread has longer-lasting, eternal rewards. How do people hope to get this eternal bread? It requires no labor, no money, its a gift. All its cost is covered by the one who has the seal of God. A Seal means authority and approval.

28 What is there to do for the eternal bread? what quest to go on? What commands to follow? Is it even possible to work ourselves to god? The people in the crowd seemed to think so.

29 Drum roll... The work is only to believe. Believe in the one who is sent, Jesus.

30 So they said to him, "Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? (ESV)

Wait, what? How about the mysterious way Jesus crossed the sea? Granted, only the disciples witnessed that. How about being fed, and basketfuls of food leftover. Did they not see it>? What work would be acceptable to them?

31 The crowd is at least aware of manna that Moses gave in the wilderness, as being a legit sign. Still, did they not just experience the bread from heaven the previous day? The source of Moses Hannah, Jesus, is standing right in front of them as the true bread from heaven.

32 Jesus reveals a mystery. Moses was never a source of bread. It was god, and even now eternal bread is being offered.

33 More revelation. It's not bread, but a person. The bread that sustains life to the world.

34 They probably didn't understand it. All they knew is they wanted it.

35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. (ESV)

Jesus claimed, "I am the bread of life." He is the life source, for eternal salvation and restoration. He is all that, in addition to the physical nourishment needed in this life. In him is no more hunger or thirst. come and have no more hunger. Have food without money. Isaiah 55. All it costs is to believe, and have no more thirst.

Jesus' "I am" statement indicates he shares in the attributes of God.