Hunger Satisfied

(The “I Am” Sayings)

In his book Amusing Ourselves to Death, Neil Postman provided caution regarding the danger of information excess. He warned his readers of the disturbing futuristic vision of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, wherein he described a world inundated with information. The data is so manipulated that it lacks meaning.

This information overload today is causing people to feel overwhelmed with data, frequently marketed by the unprincipled. Discernment is needed to know where to give one’s attention. John 6 is Jesus’ Bread of Life Discourse (v. 35). His sermon was so controversial that when He was finished, “many of his disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore” (v. 66). They did not want to hear Jesus any longer. Jesus asked “the twelve” whether they would also depart. Peter answered wisely, “‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life” (v. 68). The saturation of the world with confusing and contradictory information, makes the words of Christ all the more relevant, for He provides words of life.

Another thought relevant to John 6 is how the inundation of information through the glitter and glitz of technology can sometimes distract from the harsh realities of life. John 6 begins with a large crowd, who needed sustenance and yet were following Jesus. The fact that He “was performing [signs] on those who were sick” (v. 2) may indicate the destitute circumstances of some. The crowds following Jesus had previously been fed bread and fish along the Galilean shore, and likely assumed the same would happen again. Jesus knew their motivation when He remarked, “‘Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled” (v. 26).

Jesus, however, prioritized another kind of food. He wanted the crowds to seek Him, not for what He could do but for who He is. Jesus wanted the people to understand His identity and what it would mean to follow Him as a result of a trusting relationship.

Motivating physically hungry people to give thought regarding spiritual matters can be challenging. Similarly challenging is encouraging people who don’t maintain a healthy diet to consider some alternative food. The problem of being satisfied with the present was an issue with the Samaritan woman, and is evident in how Jesus spoke to people in the Galilee region (north of Judea), where daily survival often depended upon obtaining food. Not influenced by the people’s attention or hunger, Jesus’ words prioritize the spiritual as vitally more important than physical needs. Jesus declared that spiritual drink and food come directly from Him.

The French proverb, “A good meal ought to begin with hunger,” suggests how difficult it is to enjoy a meal without any desire for it. Anything tastes good when hungry. If a person will approach the Word of God with a hunger to be satisfied, he or she will find satisfaction every time. Authentic worship begins with a hunger for God.

Bread for the Moment

Jesus was able to depart the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee for Tiberias on the western shore (cf. Mark 6:32; Luke 9:1-11). He was able to do this despite opposition to His direct assertion of equality with God the Father. Sometimes it is best to silence conflicts with a candid presentation of the truth.

The crowds followed Jesus because they were intrigued by “the signs which He was performing” (v. 2). John 6 is focused on faith, yet the people wanted food. Jesus discussed the spiritual relationship, yet the crowds were more concerned with their bellies than their beliefs. While hunger is a legitimate human need to satisfy, the living bread that only Jesus can provide is infinitely greater.

The feeding of the five thousand is the only miracle of Jesus recorded in each Gospel account, yet only John notes the Passover (v. 4), which is important because the mention of bread and water is related to the Exodus experience, the historical basis for that feast. Jesus later returned to Bethsaida, specifically to the plain east of the Sea and known today as the Golan Heights (v. 3). The report of such frequency of movement with the crowd indicates authenticity in John’s account.

Jesus was likely instructing His disciples so that when a situation arose, He could test them (vv. 3, 5-6). The crowd had been following Jesus all day (Mark 6:33-34); hence, His concern to feed them. Philip assessed the situation accurately, yet his lack of a solution made it useless (John 6:7). Andrew went beyond Philip’s hopelessness and suggested that Jesus might do something with a scanty option (vv. 8-9).

Jesus worked in an orderly manner, making it possible to count the number present and to distribute the food easily. Jesus prayed and multiplied the loaves and fish, so that everyone had as much as desired. Twelve baskets of leftovers were then gathered (vv. 10-13). One could say that Jesus fulfilled Psalm 23 by having the people sit “in green pastures” (v. 2) and causing the cup to overflow (v. 5). God “is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think” (Eph 3:20). Unsurprisingly, the people exclaimed, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world” (John 6:14; cf. Deut 18:15, 18).

Recognizing His miraculous power, the people apparently thought how wonderful it would be to have Jesus overthrow the Roman government. Thus, they intended “by force to make Him king” (John 6:15). Jesus rejected their efforts—primarily because it was false worship—and departed from them. At the Lord’s request (Mark 6:45), Jesus’ disciples got into a boat and headed toward Capernaum (John 6:16-17). The wind disrupted their efforts (v. 18), necessitating Jesus’ miraculous intervention, for He had been watching them the entire time (Mark 6:48). The miracle revealed Jesus’ authority to the disciples (John 6:19-21), in addition to His ministry purpose to the crowds, for they had no idea He crossed the sea by walking on the water (vv. 22-24).

Although they were curious as to Jesus’ arrival (v. 25), He did not satisfy their interests, declaring their true motivation in seeking Him as pretentious and superficial (vv. 26-27). They asked the wrong question (v. 28) because no person is able to accomplish God’s works unless he or she is reborn, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and thereby empowered to please the Lord (Rom 8:6-11). The only action that is good is belief, which is faith, not works (John 6:29).

The crowds followed Jesus for what they could obtain from Him (vv. 30-31, 34). Jesus instead prioritized eternal, spiritual values that could only be received through faith in Him as “the bread of life,” who satisfies all spiritual hunger (vv. 32-33, 35-40). He offers spiritual nourishment and fulfills greater needs than physical hunger. The spiritual bread Jesus offers is greater than the manna eaten in the wilderness (v. 49), which was only for Israel to maintain physical life with temporary benefits. Jesus is “the bread of life” for everyone who believes, and to them He grants spiritual life with unceasing benefits (vv. 48, 51).

John 6:35 is the first of seven “I am” statements of Jesus, which are unique to the Gospel of John. Each proclamation is a metaphor, emphasizing various dynamics of Jesus’ character and ministry. The statements also relate Jesus to God’s self-identification of Himself in the Old Testament (Exod 3:14). Each declaration communicates the faith relationship of the believer with the Lord Jesus.

Bread for Life

Jesus next explained why the crowd rejected Him (vv. 41-46): The Father had not drawn them. All will come who are drawn to receive eternal life and will be resurrected “on the last day” (v. 44). Jesus will raise all those given to Him by the Father (v. 39). He will raise everyone believing in and looking to Him (v. 40). Anyone drawn by the Father will have eternal life. The drawing is the sovereign impulse of the Holy Spirit. The giving of the Father to the Son both precedes and determines coming to Jesus for eternal life (vv. 37, 40). None will be lost of all that the Father gives to the Son (v. 39). Jesus’ doctrine is based “in the prophets,” which God teaches from (v. 45; cf. Isa 54:13; Jer 31:31-34).

Jesus is “the living bread that came down out of heaven,” and whosoever believes in Him has everlasting life (vv. 47-51). Jesus continued and repeated the “bread” metaphor, for just as grain is essential for physical life, so is Jesus for eternal life. The eating and drinking metaphor was common in Jesus’ time and referred to an internalizing. The bread was His “flesh,” which was His work on the cross as the ultimate sacrifice—well-pleasing to God, whereby He bore the divine wrath that all humanity deserves, as the substitute for guilty sinners. Jesus unmistakably declared His death to be a substitutionary (vicarious) sacrifice. He alone provides the means of forgiveness and reconciliation of the broken relationship between God and humanity.

Whoever believes in Jesus has eternal life because they have appropriated His death for their salvation (vv. 52-58). When Jesus said to “eat” and “drink” (v. 53), the verbs are the Greek aorist (past) tense, indicating a one-time spiritual appropriation. The crucified and risen Jesus is (metaphorically speaking) internalized by faith to receive eternal life. Jesus is spiritual food and drink for those who hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness. The crowds regarded Jesus’ teaching as “difficult” and withdrew from Him (vv. 60-61, 66). The genuine believers are those who abide (remain) with Him (vv. 62-65, 67-71). He abides in them and they in Him, because they “become partakers of the divine nature” (2 Pet 1:4). Jesus has the “words of eternal life” (John 6:68)!

Midnight Call 10/2025