Christian Quest
Study 20
Bread of Life and Living Waters

Reading:
John 6:22-71 and Chapter 7 (7:1-53)

Commentary

The book of John provides a followup of Jesus teaching to the feeding of the 5000 that is not contained in the other Gospels. Also, while he does not report such events as Peter's confession at Caesarea Philippi and the Transfiguration, he does provide a more in-depth picture of how the Jews, their religious and political leaders, and even Jesus' own relatives viewed him in their time, both in Galilee and in Judea. John gives more insight to the plotting of the Priests and Pharisees to kill Jesus, and the controversies about his claims of his relationship to God and his independent interpretations about the Law as opposed to that taught by the scribes and Pharisees. Only in the Gospel of John is the significance of bread as representing Christ's flesh, and sharing in partaking of it, revealed well before Jesus instituted the emblems of bread and wine in his last meal with his beloved Apostles.

When Jesus returned to Capernaum, he resumed teaching in the synagogue. As time passed, his dialogue with the Pharisees became more and more confrontational. The Pharisees in the upper Galilee were strongly influenced by the Zealot community in nearby Gamla, a strict group of Jews who hated Roman domination, and as such were regarded with particular suspicion by Herod as prone to a possible uprising and revolt. Therefore, the Pharisees in this region especially longed for a literal King-Messiah, which they awaited in fulfillment of the prophecies, to liberate Israel and restore rule on the throne of David in Jerusalem. Since Jesus was of David's line, and seeing his amazing works, they had hoped he might be that prophesied Messiah. Nicodemus, a Galilean Pharisee, had once visited Jesus in the night to inquire of Him is this regard, but Jesus had told him that His kingdom was not of this world. (John 3) As Jesus' popularity with the people continued to grow in seeing His miraculous works and considering his more compassionate rendering of the Torah, it became increasingly clear to the Pharisees that the man Jesus was not the Messiah they expected to liberate Israel. Gradually, the Pharisees began to view Jesus' popularity with the people as dangerous, and resentment evolved into outright enmity. At the same time, the people themselves became divided in how they perceived Jesus. The more He alluded to his relationship to God, the more they became divided and many who had been disciples began to part from him. The towns' citizens had responded to his works and words with admiration and astonishment, but they failed to comprehend his real mission. Eventually, all but the twelve had departed, and even they understood only partially. And Jesus said therefore to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?" Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. And we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God." (John 6:67-69)

About the Jewish Sanhedrin
The Jewish Sanhedrin, also called "the Council," was the highest governing body of the Jews in New Testament times. Originally, it was composed of the leading priests and distinguished aristocrats among the Jews, and eventually included scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees. The assembly had seventy-one members headed by the high priest. They were granted limited authority by Rome over certain religious, civil, and criminal matters during their time. They had their own police force and for the most part handled the routine day-to-day matters of keeping order among the Jews. They were, however, prohibited from exercising the death penalty (John 18:31), but exercised considerable influence in religious matters.

Synopsis

John 6:22-25
The next day after feeding the multitude on the other side of the lake, the people were looking again for Jesus and did not find him. So they got in their own boats and crossed the lake to find him in Capernaum, where they did, evidently in at synagogue according to verse 59.

John 6:26-31
Jesus, realizing that the people followed him but still had no comprehension of the real message He was trying to convey, followed because they had marvelled at the miracle of his feeding such a great multitude of people and they wanted to see more such miracles. The purpose of his miracles, which was to demonstrate His authority from God, His Father, was not comprehended. He told them such food perishes, and His real mission was to bring them food that gives eternal life. But the people wanted to see miracles, and they continued to ask for him to show a sign like their fathers who had been fed manna from heaven to eat.

John 6:32-59
Jesus explains that He is the "bread of life" come down from heaven. Saying that his flesh is bread from heaven that they must eat, some of the Jews became deeply disturbed. But he said they must eat of this bread to gain eternal life.

John 6:60-66
Many of his disciples (not the twelve) confronted Jesus about what he had said. He tried to explain that it was not his real flesh that he referred to, but rather it is the Spirit that gives life. When he explained that only through Himself could they approach the Father, many of them turned away from following him.

John 6:67-71
Jesus asks the twelve if they want to go away, too. But they remain. Yet, Jesus knows already that one will betray Him.

John 7:1-9
Jesus continues to minister in Galilee, avoiding Judea because already he knows the Jews there plan to kill him. He even refuses to accompany his brothers for the annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Feast of Booths. He declined to go with them.

John 7:10-24
After His brothers leave Galilee, he secretly made the journey. Jews were waiting in Jerusalem to catch him, believing he would come to the feast. They continued to argue about him, was he good or leading people astray? In the middle of the feast, Jesus came forth and began to teach in the Temple. He boldly asked why some of them seek to kill him. Evidently, he was still being harassed for healing a man on a Sabbath, for which he points out that it is on the Sabbath that the priests themselves perform circumcision.

John 7:25-31
The people are amazed to see the one they are seeking to kill speaking publicly, and yet they do not arrest him. Many who heard him began to believe him, saying the Christ could surely not do more than this man, who was claiming to come from God.

John 7:32-36
Word of Jesus in the Temple came to the Pharisees and they sent officers to arrest Him. In the meanwhile, Jesus explains that he will be with them a little while longer and then go back to His Father.

John 7:37-39
The last day of the festival, Jesus explains that those who believe Him would receive the spirit of "living water" (which had not yet come).

John 7:40-44
The crowds who listened to him became more perplexed, some believing Jesus to be the Prophet, other saying the Christ, and other saying not.

John 7:45-53
The officers sent to arrest Jesus had been so impressed by his words that they did not arrest Him. The chief priests and Sanhedrin insisted that the prophesies did not allow for the Messiah to come from Galilee, believing the promised one must come forth out of nearby Bethlehem.

Optional research:

• What was the Feast of Booths to which Jesus and his brother came in Jerusalem, and how did the Jews celebrate it?

Review questions:

• What made Jesus so popular in the Galilee, and why did this dismay him?
• After returning to Capernaum after feeding 5000, what did Jesus preach that so upset the people that many of his followers left him?
• What did Jesus as His twelve apostles and what was their response?
• Why did Jesus refuse to accompany His brothers to the Feast of Booths in Jerusalem?
• Then what did Jesus do?
• According to John 7:22-24, what crime were the Jews evidently charging Jesus with, and what was His response?
• Jesus claimed to be from God. Did he claim to be the Christ?
• In John 7:37-39, to what did Jesus liken His message of life?
• By the end of the Festival, what were the people saying about Jesus?
• Why did the officers sent to arrest him fail to do so?
• Why did the people and the Pharisees say Jesus could not be the Messiah?

Optional discussion:

Were the people reasonable in being confused, even indignant, at Jesus telling them they must eat his flesh? Why might they have not comprehended the deeper meaning of what Jesus was saying?