An Offensive Message (John 6)

Do we water down Jesus’ message because it offends us? Let’s look at John 6.

With a large crowd following Jesus, did they have enough money to feed them all?

After this, Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (that is, to Tiberias). A large crowd kept following him because they had seen the signs that he was performing by healing the sick. But Jesus went up on a hillside and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When Jesus looked up and saw that a large crowd was coming toward him, he asked Philip, “Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?” Jesus said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread isn’t enough for each of them to have a little.” (John 6:1-7 ISV)

What did Jesus instruct the disciples to do after finding a small amount of food?

One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 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. (John 6:8-10 KJV)

What other religious leader in history has performed such miracles?

Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed them to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover pieces so that nothing will be lost.” So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had done, they were saying, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” (John 6:11-14 LSB)

What other religious leader in history has walked on water?

So Jesus, aware that they intended to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself, alone. Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. In addition, the sea began getting rough, because a strong wind was blowing. Then, when they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat; and they were frightened. But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” So they were willing to take Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. (John 6:15-21 NASB)

Did many follow Jesus to the other side of the lake?

The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” (John 6:22-25 NIV)

Did Jesus teach about a far more important kind of food?

Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 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.” Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” (John 6:26-29 NKJV)

Did Jesus teach the crowd about the true bread from heaven?

They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.” (John 6:30-34 NLT)