John 6:5-30 (The Message)
5-6When Jesus looked out and saw that a large crowd had arrived, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread to feed these people?" He said this to stretch Philip's faith. He already knew what he was going to do.
7Philip answered, "Two hundred silver pieces wouldn't be enough to buy bread for each person to get a piece."
8-9One of the disciples—it was Andrew, brother to Simon Peter—said, "There's a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that's a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this."
10-11Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." There was a nice carpet of green grass in this place. They sat down, about five thousand of them. Then Jesus took the bread and, having given thanks, gave it to those who were seated. He did the same with the fish. All ate as much as they wanted.
Note that they all ate as much as they wanted.
I use the message bible on this because it really brings it out. The others say, until they were full, or satisifed. This one points out, clearly, that they set the limits on how much they devoured.
John6:47-59 (The Message)
47-51"I'm telling you the most solemn and sober truth now: Whoever believes in me has real life, eternal life. I am the Bread of Life. Your ancestors ate the manna bread in the desert and died. But now here is Bread that truly comes down out of heaven. Anyone eating this Bread will not die, ever. I am the Bread—living Bread!—who came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats this Bread will live—and forever! The Bread that I present to the world so that it can eat and live is myself, this flesh-and-blood self."
52At this, the Jews started fighting among themselves: "How can this man serve up his flesh for a meal?"
53-58But Jesus didn't give an inch. "Only insofar as you eat and drink flesh and blood, the flesh and blood of the Son of Man, do you have life within you. The one who brings a hearty appetite to this eating and drinking has eternal life and will be fit and ready for the Final Day. My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. By eating my flesh and drinking my blood you enter into me and I into you. In the same way that the fully alive Father sent me here and I live because of him, so the one who makes a meal of me lives because of me. This is the Bread from heaven. Your ancestors ate bread and later died. Whoever eats this Bread will live always."
59He said these things while teaching in the meeting place in Capernaum.
So basically, the crowd of people followed Him, because of the food, and Jesus decided to give them real food, that doesn't perish. He decided to share Himself with them, but here's what happened..
JOhn 6:60-69
60Many among his disciples heard this and said, "This is tough teaching, too tough to swallow."
61-65Jesus sensed that his disciples were having a hard time with this and said, "Does this throw you completely? What would happen if you saw the Son of Man ascending to where he came from? The Spirit can make life. Sheer muscle and willpower don't make anything happen. Every word I've spoken to you is a Spirit-word, and so it is life-making. But some of you are resisting, refusing to have any part in this." (Jesus knew from the start that some weren't going to risk themselves with him. He knew also who would betray him.) He went on to say, "This is why I told you earlier that no one is capable of coming to me on his own. You get to me only as a gift from the Father."
66-67After this a lot of his disciples left. They no longer wanted to be associated with him. Then Jesus gave the Twelve their chance: "Do you also want to leave?"
68-69Peter replied, "Master, to whom would we go? You have the words of real life, eternal life. We've already committed ourselves, confident that you are the Holy One of God."
Note that even though Judas would betray Him, and Jesus KNEW it, the GIFT was still given to Judas, to do as he chose to do.
Note what Peter said, the heart of a disciple, a man after God's heart. "Go back to what?"
Peter knew the World had nothing for him. He came out of it to follow God, and He knew that going back wouldn't satisfy His hunger, nor would backing away.
Despite his shortcomings, He followed God.
The bread of life, offered to all, a gift given for all, but how many will eat of His flesh? How many will eat of the manna from Heaven? How many will eat and give it to the others? Will you choose to starve or will you be filled and eat as much as you want??
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