John 6:14, commentary and pictures

When those men saw the feeding of the multitude they concluded that Jesus was the prophet who was to come into the world. They connected the creation of food for thousands from five loaves and two fishes with the prophet Moses had foretold, and their growing conviction crowned into entire belief that He was indeed the Messiah, the Prince of Life and promised Deliverer. Many took this as assurance that He would free them from Roman rule, restore Israel's dominion, feed armies and provide for every need, not understanding that His kingdom was spiritual. Their enthusiasm became a plan to take Him by force and proclaim Him King of Israel, but He firmly refused the honor with unusual authority, withdrew alone and dismissed the crowd because it would bring violence and hinder His work of mercy and His spiritual kingdom. When He did not accept the throne and taught that entrance into God's kingdom required spiritual commitment, popularity waned and many who had followed for temporal food turned away.

Miracle Setting and Details

John 6:14 belongs to the feeding of the multitude, in which hungry followers who had come to hear were met with compassion and love that cared for bodily need while teaching, and with creative power that provided abundantly from the One who is the source of all blessings. The supply of bodily food in a setting where the beauty of nature could impress lessons took place while instruction was being given, and the same provision points beyond perishable food to spiritual food, the living bread that gives eternal life.

About five thousand men besides women and children, in all above ten thousand persons, had followed by land and by boats across the sea from Capernaum to a desert place where rest had been sought, and there they were taught through the entire day from a grassy eminence while all the sick and afflicted brought were healed. Toward evening, rather than send them away hungry to faint by the way, the question of buying bread was put to Philip as a test, though provision was already known, and Philip answered that two hundred pennyworth of bread would not give each a little. A lad was found with five barley loaves and two small fishes, a meager store scarcely sufficient for a score where no more could be obtained in a desert place, which was commanded to be brought. The people were seated upon the grass in parties of fifty and one hundred to preserve order and that all might witness the miracle, then thanks were given and the loaves and fishes were distributed through the disciples in quantities sufficient to satisfy appetite, the food not diminishing as often as they returned for fresh supply, and after all were satisfied the fragments gathered that nothing might be lost filled twelve baskets, a work no human power could do.

The feeding closes on one side of the lake, after which precious private instruction was given to the disciples until those searching interrupted, and then crowds flocked bringing the sick and afflicted and followed to the synagogue on the other side. The miracle became widely known so that the next morning many came looking because of it, and the account continues with walking on the water during a storm on the lake and with teaching that He is the Bread of life, after which some turned away. The same action of breaking the bread and the fish and dividing it later among the seven disciples on the shore after the resurrection distinctly brought that mountainside feeding to their minds and made Him known and acknowledged by all seven with mysterious awe and silence, assuring that though deprived of personal companionship and of sustenance by fishing, a resurrected Saviour had care over them and would provide while they did His work.

The feeding of the five thousand was the same wonder once wrought for one hundred men, done by the same Person when as a man He preached the gospel in lowliness and poverty, greater than Moses. In the wilderness He had supplied His people not only with bread but with clear flowing streams, casting His glory on those He guided as on those He taught in His humanity as the I AM before Abraham, and grace on a small portion makes it all-sufficient, His hand multiplying it a hundredfold and spreading a table in the wilderness. The power that multiplied the loaves continually provides food through the earth's harvest by which life is sustained, even though gifts may be credited to natural causes or human work and used selfishly, and that same power can provide instantaneously when need requires it.

Recognition as Promised Prophet

After they saw the miracle as a sign, those men concluded that Jesus was the prophet who was to come into the world. They saw Him multiply the loaves and fishes and feed the multitude with five loaves and two small fish, and their response followed upon seeing that sign. Their response to the miracle of temporal food prepared the way for the gospel message, yet false teaching had corrupted their minds so they were less ready to receive the Bread of life. They afterward sought Jesus for the physical food He had provided rather than for the greater gifts He offered, and the teachings of that chapter direct dependence on Christ rather than on human beings. His plain testimony to the disciples in that same chapter tested hearers and offended many, showing whether they would accept truth and reproof or turn away. Their recognition led them to seek to make Him an earthly king, but He withdrew alone because such a movement would have brought violence and insurrection and hindered His spiritual kingdom and completed work.

They connected the feeding with the prophet Moses had foretold, seeing it as proof that this promised prophet had come into the world. His pure and simple teaching, unlike anything they had heard before, laid hold of their minds, and His tender benevolence in healing the sick, comforting sorrow, and feeding them bounteously rather than sending them away hungry won their hearts and had nearly convinced them of His divinity. While they ate the food created from five barley loaves and two small fishes, they decided He was indeed the Messiah, the Prince of Life, the promised Deliverer of the Jews. That creation of food sufficient for thousands, which no human power could do, crowned that growing conviction with entire belief, so they needed no greater evidence and would wait for no further proof. They understood Him as rightful heir to David's throne and King of Israel, essentially different from the chief priests and rulers who were ambitious for titles and the honor of men because He made no effort to win applause.

They took this as assurance that He could free Judah from Roman rule, restore Israel's dominion, and provide for every need, including healing the wounded and feeding armies. They believed He was entitled to David's throne and took His refusal of public honor as modesty, not understanding that His kingdom was spiritual. Their expectations were earthly and political and did not reflect His mission.

Many fed at Bethsaida recognized Him as the expected prophet yet did not thereby recognize Him as the Messiah, though they were ready to proclaim Him king. Thoughtful and candid witnesses took exalted views of His character and office from that convincing work. That work should have led people to recognize His divinity and the Father revealed through Him. The feeding miracle is evidence that He is the world's Redeemer and has omnipotent power.

Attempt to Crown Earthly King

After the feeding the enthusiasm of those who recognized the promised prophet turned into a resolve to seize Jesus by force and make Him an earthly king. They decided among themselves to bear Him on their shoulders and proclaim Him King of Israel in Jerusalem, seeing the Passover gathering as the moment to establish His throne. He discerned that such a movement would defeat the very work He came to do, ending His instruction and deeds of mercy and benevolence by bringing violence and insurrection. It would have hindered His spiritual kingdom and His completed work, so He firmly refused the earthly honor with more than usual authority, withdrew alone, and dismissed the crowd. Even then His followers struggled to leave Him alone on the shore.

Judas, holding fast to expectation of an earthly reign, was first to take advantage of that enthusiasm and set the project on foot. He wanted a worldly kingdom with himself first next to Christ and with the credit for causing Him to be crowned king on David's throne. He acted although he had helped distribute the food to the hungry multitude and felt the satisfaction that comes in service, had helped bring the sick and suffering, and had seen the relief and joy and gladness brought by healing. Blinded by selfish desires for place and power, his hopes in the political movement ran high and his disappointment at its failure was bitter. Provoked by rebuke for the step, he was not satisfied with the refusal of the crown and became more and more separated in feeling and love.

When Jesus did not accept the throne they wanted to give Him, many were tempted to conclude He was not the Messiah and His popularity began to wane. He clarified that His kingdom was spiritual and not a temporal reign, teaching Himself as the bread of life. Many had followed for the temporal benefit of food rather than from understanding of the miracle. When eternal life and entrance into God's kingdom were shown to require costly commitment, worldly-minded hearers turned away, including some who professed to be His disciples.

Bread of Life Instruction

The sixth chapter where this confession stands plainly expresses God's will for His people and holds the divine antidote for the sin of the whole world. Eating Christ's flesh and drinking His blood gives eternal life and resurrection at the last day, so that a believer may die as Christ died yet have the Saviour's life within, with life hid with Christ in God. Christ came to give life more abundantly and carries on the great process by which believers are made one with Him in this present life to be one with Him through all eternity.

That chapter has special reference to spiritual nourishment in God's Word, for Christ's words are the living bread from heaven, His very flesh and blood. Eating the Word means bringing its principles home to the soul, not departing from its precepts, bringing its truths into daily life, and grasping godliness, receiving and assimilating His words until they become part of self and living by every word proceeding from God's mouth. Not all has been revealed because it could not be borne, but God has revealed all necessary for salvation, and His Word is not to be left to human supposition, for knowledge of His will unto eternal life is gained by prayer and communion and proving His mind, and truth is revealed only as known in Christ. Receiving this spiritual food creates hunger for Christ and fills with His fullness, while turning to worldly entertainments leaves no relish for heavenly instruction and no peace or joy or hope. This feeding upon Christ's words as flesh and blood is the education children and youth and all need to become workers together with God. His work as substitute for sin was the hope of ancient Israel even before the cross, and the New Testament was given not to set aside the Old but to shine light back to reveal the Jewish system and apply its practical holiness and obedience to Christians.

The same chapter defines the righteousness of Christ as the wedding garment that must be put on to be counted a fit guest, the marriage of humanity with divinity and the standard of character to be reached. Accepting it calls for a firm stand and surrender to God of what is already His, and without it there is only presumption in eternal interests, measuring by human ideas, and loss of the soul. In this chapter Jesus spoke truths that led hearers to reveal their real feelings and decide for or against Him, and those not wholly with Him would stand against Him at His trial. His plain testimony to the disciples tested them and offended many, showing whether they would accept truth and reproof or turn away.

Their response to the miracle of temporal food prepared the way for the gospel message, yet corrupted by false teaching their minds were less ready to receive the Bread of life. After seeing the feeding with five loaves and two fishes they recognized Him as the prophet to come, but later sought Him for the physical food provided rather than for the greater gifts offered. Many followed for temporal benefit rather than from understanding the miracle, and when eternal life and entrance into God's kingdom were shown to require costly commitment, many turned away. Though the sign was sufficient evidence and meant to awaken faith and lead to receiving Him as the Son of God and the Bread of life, witnesses closed their eyes in unbelief, demanded a further sign, came hoping He would repeat the feeding, and sought to learn how the food was increased for their own benefit.

Divine Provision for Need

Christ is the source of both temporal and spiritual blessings, and His disciples are His channels and representatives who first receive from Him and then give to others. When hungry souls come to them they have nothing to impart unless they have first sought and received spiritual food from God, for they are appointed to communicate His gifts and to pass on the bread of life to the people. In the feeding the small supply became enough for all, and His command to give to others is therefore a promise backed by the same power that fed the multitude beside the sea. Those who labor with God in Christ's spirit receive grace from Him to share with people in need, and the gift increases as it is distributed to help, encourage and restore others, with all glory given to God.

God can bless and multiply limited resources, offerings and gifts to meet great need and to reach those hungering for the bread of life. Grace upon a small portion makes it all-sufficient, His hand multiplying it a hundredfold and spreading a table in the wilderness, so that what seems meager becomes abundant in Christ, satisfying those who receive and leaving something still to give to others. The feeding of five thousand men besides women and children from five loaves and two fishes, with twelve baskets of fragments remaining, is an object lesson that seemingly inadequate resources can suffice for His people's work. Small scattered supplies placed in missionary work to do good to others will be multiplied by God as they are imparted until all eat and are filled, so measuring advance by means at hand shows very limited faith. The work must not stop but go forward in faith, economy and responsibility to diffuse the gospel over the whole earth as His human agents.

Facing a hungry crowd in the wilderness without food readily available, Jesus depended on His heavenly Father to provide, teaching His followers to depend on God. The feeding showed the source of His power, and Jesus as the source of all blessings eagerly sought in His instruction. God is thereby shown as Father and Keeper of the people, able to provide for them, so human beings are not to be put in God's place nor others restricted from work God has given them.

The miracle reveals attentive care for weary, hungry and fainting people, showing compassion for bodily needs and creative power to provide abundantly. It teaches compassion and practical care for seekers of salvation, so that the weary and hungry are not neglected and obstacles that make the way to Christ difficult are removed. Those who dedicate themselves to God may receive the Holy Spirit to communicate what the needy require, with skill, tact and understanding for those in line with Him. He continues to provide for His people, including by imparting knowledge that helps them find food, and as heavenly Provider of all foods He makes the food business one of His instrumentalities, will not leave His people in ignorance but teach the best foods for all times. His methods and example in feeding the five thousand men besides women and children can be studied in carrying forward food work.

The direction to gather the fragments that nothing be lost teaches not to waste what God provides but to be ready to share generously what has been received with the hungry. Blessings both temporal and spiritual accompany sharing with those in need what has been received from Christ, the food increasing as the disciples gave it out, and they themselves eating from the provision. Grace received to share with the needy increases as it is distributed by those laboring with God.