John 6 Disciple, Observer, or One w/ Him?

Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.

If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.

John 6
1 After this, Jesus crossed over the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miracles as he healed the sick.

3 Then Jesus went up into the hills and sat down with his disciples around him. 4 (It was nearly time for the annual Passover celebration.) 5 Jesus soon saw a great crowd of people climbing the hill, looking for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, "Philip, where can we buy bread to feed all these people?" 6 He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do. 7 Philip replied, "It would take a small fortune F26 to feed them!" 8 Then Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up. 9 "There's a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?" 10 "Tell everyone to sit down," Jesus ordered. So all of them – the men alone numbered five thousand – sat down on the grassy slopes. 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and passed them out to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate until they were full. 12 "Now gather the leftovers," Jesus told his disciples, "so that nothing is wasted." 13 There were only five barley loaves to start with, but twelve baskets were filled with the pieces of bread the people did not eat! 14 When the people saw this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, "Surely, he is the Prophet F27 we have been expecting!"
15 Jesus saw that they were ready to take him by force and make him king, so he went higher into the hills alone. 16 That evening his disciples went down to the shore to wait for him. 17 But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn't come back, they got into the boat and headed out across the lake toward Capernaum. 18 Soon a gale swept down upon them as they rowed, and the sea grew very rough. 19 They were three or four miles F28 out when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, 20 but he called out to them, "I am here! Don't be afraid." 21 Then they were eager to let him in, and immediately the boat arrived at their destination!
22 The next morning, back across the lake, crowds began gathering on the shore, waiting to see Jesus. For they knew that he and his disciples had come over together and that the disciples had gone off in their boat, leaving him behind. 23 Several boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the Lord had blessed the bread and the people had eaten. 24 When the crowd saw that Jesus wasn't there, nor his disciples, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him. 25 When they arrived and found him, they asked, "Teacher, how did you get here?" 26 Jesus replied, "The truth is, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you saw the miraculous sign. 27 But you shouldn't be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that I, the Son of Man, can give you. For God the Father has sent me for that very purpose."
28 They replied, "What does God want us to do?" 29 Jesus told them, "This is what God wants you to do: Believe in the one he has sent." 30 They replied, "You must show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What will you do for us? 31 After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! As the Scriptures say, 'Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.' F29 " 32 Jesus said, "I assure you, Moses didn't give them bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. 33 The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." 34 "Sir," they said, "give us that bread every day of our lives."
35 Jesus replied, "I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry again. Those who believe in me will never thirst. 36 But you haven't believed in me even though you have seen me. 37 However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. 38 For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do what I want. 39 And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them to eternal life at the last day. 40 For it is my Father's will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life – that I should raise them at the last day."
41 Then the people F30 began to murmur in disagreement because he had said, "I am the bread from heaven." 42 They said, "This is Jesus, the son of Joseph. We know his father and mother. How can he say, 'I came down from heaven'?" 43 But Jesus replied, "Don't complain about what I said. 44 For people can't come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them from the dead. 45 As it is written in the Scriptures, 'They will all be taught by God.' F31 Everyone who hears and learns from the Father comes to me. 46 (Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen him.) 47 "I assure you, anyone who believes in me already has eternal life. 48 Yes, I am the bread of life! 49 Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. 50 However, the bread from heaven gives eternal life to everyone who eats it. 51 I am the living bread that came down out of heaven.

Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; this bread is my flesh, offered so the world may live." 52 Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" they asked. 53 So Jesus said again, "I assure you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. 54 But those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them at the last day. 55 For my flesh is the true food, and my blood is the true drink. 56 All who eat my flesh and drink my blood remain in me, and I in them. 57 I live by the power of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, those who partake of me will live because of me. 58 I am the true bread from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever and not die as your ancestors did, even though they ate the manna." 59 He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
60 Even his disciples said, "This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?" 61 Jesus knew within himself that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, "Does this offend you? 62 Then what will you think if you see me, the Son of Man, return to heaven again? 63 It is the Spirit who gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But some of you don't believe me." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who didn't believe, and he knew who would betray him.) 65 Then he said, "That is what I meant when I said that people can't come to me unless the Father brings them to me." 66 At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. 67 Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, "Are you going to leave, too?" 68 Simon Peter replied, "Lord, to whom would we go? You alone have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe them, and we know you are the Holy One of God." 70 Then Jesus said, "I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil." 71 He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, who would betray him.
FOOTNOTES:F26: Greek 200 denarii. A denarius was the equivalent of a full day's wage. F27: See Deut 18:15, 18. F28: Greek 25 or 30 stadia [4.6 or 5.5 kilometers]. F29: Exod 16:4; Ps 78:24. F30: Greek Jewish people; also in 6:52. F31: Isa 54:13.
The New Living Translation

~ Lena’s Journalin’~
Most of us came to the knowledge of Christ and received Him because of what He did or a hope or perceived promise of what He would do for us. It was self motivated and that’s fine, aren’t we all like born naturally this way, a bit self-centered? Babies eat, cry and need love and diaper changes, right? Just as in the natural, so it is the spirit, we all must grow up. In fact we take our babies to regular “check-ups” to make sure that growth is happening and that we as parents are doing the proper things to ensue that proper growth.
Jesus was growing His disciples up this day. The crowd was there to get, and the disciples had also been getting for sometime now. It was time for them to turn around and give.
This is what tells where we are as Christian believers and disciples. Converts stay on the outskirts based on their own needs and how well their own needs get met. This is the gage of how far they’ll come. Right now God is calling us all to measure ourselves. Where are we and is it time to come in closer? Those who come in closer find there are a few things they missed that Jesus was saying all along. They start to hear new sounds of His voice. It stirs up their curiosity. If and when they start to ask questions with a real desire to understand, they’ve moved into discipleship, another level of growth. How much they do when their questions are answered or how well they receive the answers and whether the questions stir up more interest or commitment leads to another level of growth and intimacy. When things get tough or offense comes, whether one stays around or leaves, gages this level. Those who stay and get close to the Lord are there because of truth and a true love commitment. Thick, thin, etc...no matter what, until the “end” and beyond.
Do we follow because of the miracles or because of His great love that we are ready and willing to reciprocate? Good question to ponder. Some of the crowd climbed the hill to get closer. I bet there were some who couldn’t or wouldn’t climb up there.
Another great gage of growth is the government of God. Jesus actually came to set Up His Father’s government on earth. He told the disciples to set the people into orderly arrangement. What if you got put where you didn’t want to be and with whom you didn’t want to be with? Do you usually have an opinion about order and authority that is unwillingly exercised over your life? You might stay at a certain level in your faith–walk if there’s an unsolved authority problem there. Ever see someone say, ”hey, if I can’t do it THIS way then you can count on me leaving”? I wonder if any left at that point?
As a disciple, how much thanks is given in serving people? Do you love people, yet? Enough to serve them? Giving thanks to God for someone, even before they can do it themselves is called, forgiveness. So you have a group of unlovely, unloving, self-centered people who are hungry, thirsty and complaining. Can you give thanks to God for them, until their hearts change enough to do it themselves for themselves? That’s service to God, intercession, priestly ministry.
Isn’t it so cool how when Jesus got in the boat they immediately got to their destination? They rowed and rowed and rowed on their own efforts, but when they cried out to God and invited Him into the boat with them they got to where they were to go immediately. Ever feel it is taking forever to get somewhere?....
“We want bread Lord, we’re hungry”…Ok, but what if the “bread” is to do the will of God? Are you still hungry? Jesus said to the crowd, “the only reason you are even following after Me is because you want your physical needs met” (food, clothes, shelter, health). God sent Me (Jesus) here to set up governments! I need governors who are not so concerned about these things, but they seek to be a part of His governing authority, submitting themselves to His will first, understanding He cares for those who are truly His (remember the feeding miracle. He has sent Me to set up governments, and He and I need earthly governors, rulers. Remember that mandate way back in Genesis? That’s the one I came to set into force. They replied, “So, what will You do for US!”
Will you eat THIS bread of eternal life thinking and living? Of being a part of the doing of the will of the Father?
Can you drink this cup of holiness and right living, daily?
Can you decide to live for others and not yourself? For the establishment of God’s Holy kingdom inside of men’s kingdoms on earth, eventually breaking them down by prayer force and heavenly kingdom participation, changing this world rather than awaiting heaven’s call?
Do you know this IS heaven’s call to earth. THY KINGDOM COME- THY WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED (and do you know it’ll happen here through our participation?)
Whatever one eats or drinks, is what they become. The food goes into the body and is distributed in the body to either make it healthy or to poison the body. It becomes a part of the body. To become One with Him, we must chew on, meditate on, ingest, and digest His words, daily. We eat natural food that way, daily, what about spiritual food? How often do we put it into practice the words from Jesus we’ve heard? That’s becoming One also; that’s chewing with the intent to swallow. He who listens intently for the purpose of learning to follow after for the accomplishment of a divinely intended work, will be empowered by God to be a part of that work. He, who does not, will to do His good pleasure, will not see the necessary manifestation of God. Why would he need to, except to know what to do to accomplish the will?
If we eat and drink of Him, it shows the life and power we need to accompany Him in His work. It’s not even about being fed to live on earth, it is about accomplishing the will while still alive.
Does this offend us? The flesh gets quite offended. That’s only if it is not a subject of the will. Ever had a will read and find you were not a subject of the will? How’d you feel? Offended? Get into the family, become a servant to the household (of faith), live with and for the household and you’ll be in the will, offenses won’t become necessary.
MANY of the disciples (that had grown and come to this point in their faith-walk) deserted Him, walked away. How do you feel when you do not understand? Simon (means hearing with intent to obey) Peter (- meaning rock solid matter, committed, covenanted) replied, It is You who have all we ever need to accomplish our very created purposes, and to set up the governmental order of God on the earth, without You, we cannot ever accomplish this on our own. How could we ever leave You?

Daily Thought to Ponder -
“Oh Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good!”