“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never hunger again” (JOHN 6:35).
1. How important was bread in biblical times?
Bread was essential in biblical times, since it was considered the basic food to sustain daily life. Furthermore, the Bible often uses it to represent food in general, as shown in texts such as Matthew 6:11, where Jesus taught to ask God for “our bread for this day,” underscoring daily dependence on Jehovah. In John chapter 6, explore how Jesus used this food to teach profound lessons about faith and dependence on Jehovah.
2. On what occasion did thousands of people need food?
After the apostles' preaching tour, Jesus wanted to give them a moment of rest, taking them to a secluded place near Bethsaida. However, the people were still eager to listen to him and get his help, surrounding him in large groups. Jesus demonstrated his kindness and empathy by not ignoring the crowds, spending time talking to them about the Kingdom and healing the sick. When the disciples noticed that the crowd did not have enough food, they suggested that the people go get supplies. However, Jesus had a different plan, showing that with Jehovah's help, there would be no need to rely on human resources alone.
MIRACULOUSLY GAVE THEM BREAD
3. How did Jesus react when he saw the people's need? (See also cover image.)
Jesus showed a positive attitude and full of faith, when facing the need of the crowd. Instead of worrying about the limited resources they had, he encouraged the apostles to think about how they could help.
His instruction, “You feed them,” was an object lesson in trusting God's power to provide. The five barley loaves and two little fish, although humble and common, were the starting point for Jesus to perform an extraordinary miracle.
ILLUSTRATION
Jesus gives bread and fish to his disciples. The disciples distribute the food among a crowd of men, women and children. Jesus met the spiritual and physical needs of the people. (See paragraph 3).
4. What lessons do we learn from John 6:11-13? (See also images).
In this story, the way in which Jesus balanced the spiritual with the practical stands out. By thanking Jehovah for the food, Jesus recognized that it was God who provided, setting an example that we can all imitate, praying before eating. This custom reinforces our gratitude toward Jehovah and helps us remember that we depend on Him.
We also see how Jesus organized the crowd into small groups to distribute the food efficiently. After finishing eating, Jesus ordered the leftovers to be collected, teaching us not to waste the resources that God gives us. Therefore, good stewardship of what we have reflects our gratitude and respect for divine blessings.
ILLUSTRATION
Images of brothers and sisters praying before eating: 1. A young Witness in the school cafeteria with classmates chatting behind her. 2. A brother who works in construction, on his midday break with his colleagues by his side. 3. A couple and their daughter in the dining room of their house. Ask yourself, “Do I follow Jesus' example and pray before I eat?” (See paragraph 4).
5. How did the people react to the miracles they saw that day, but what did Jesus do?
The miracle of feeding thousands of people confirmed the power and authority of Jesus, leading people to think that he could be the prophet promised by Moses. They believed that Jesus would be the perfect leader to free them from Roman rule. However, Jesus did not allow this human desire to interfere with his spiritual purpose.
Jesus understood that getting involved in politics was against the Kingdom of God, which does not belong to this world. By retreating to the mountain, he reaffirmed his neutrality, a principle that all his followers must emulate today. Remaining neutral allows us to concentrate on spiritual activities and reflect the confidence that Jesus had in Jehovah's government.
6. How can we copy Jesus' example? (See also the image).
Jesus clearly showed that his purpose was spiritual, not political. Even though they tried to make him king, he did not allow human expectations to deter him from his mission. This example guides Christians today, especially when they face pressure to participate in political activities, such as voting, or supporting movements that promise to change the world.
But we owe allegiance to the Kingdom of God. Supporting him means bearing witness to his government, living according to his principles, and praying for his establishment on Earth. This neutrality allows us to focus on what is truly important, helping others to know the promises of God.
ILLUSTRATION
Pontius Pilate interrogates Jesus, who is guarded by two Roman soldiers. Jesus set an example for his disciples by not intervening in the political affairs of either the Jews or the Romans. (See paragraph 6).
“THE MEANING OF THE MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES”
7. What other miracle did Jesus perform, and how did the apostles react? (John 6:16-20).
The miracle of Jesus walking on water was further proof of his divine authority. Although the apostles recognized Jesus as the son of God, Mark notes that their understanding of Jesus' power remained limited, since “his heart remained closed.”
This story teaches us that like the apostles, we can face challenges in which our faith is tested. The calm that Jesus brought to the storm symbolizes how his power and guidance can bring peace, even in our most difficult circumstances. Furthermore, Peter's experience of sinking reinforces the importance of keeping our eyes on Jesus and trusting Him fully.
8, 9. Why did the crowd go looking for Jesus? (John 6:26, 27).
The crowd's reaction reflects a common attitude, prioritizing the material over the spiritual. Jesus not only met their physical needs with the miracle of the loaves, but He also showed them that there was a much more important food. The “food that leads to eternal life” is the spiritual teaching that he gave as sent from God.
Jesus emphasized that this food cannot be obtained by human means, but rather comes directly from Jehovah. This lesson remains relevant today, as it is easy to get caught up in the pursuit of material things and neglect the spiritual needs that truly give us lasting peace and hope.
10. What “work of God” did people have to do to obtain eternal life?
The Jews were accustomed to following the works of the Mosaic law, which included sacrifices and rituals. They believed that these works were necessary to obtain God's favor. However, Jesus helped them understand that the true work that God requires is much simpler and deeper.
Having faith means accepting the role of Jesus as mediator and obeying his teachings. Furthermore, it involves demonstrating that faith through our daily actions, reflecting love and obedience to Jehovah.
11. How did the Jews demonstrate that they still planned to satisfy themselves with literal bread? (Psalm 78:24, 25).
The Jews, by mentioning the manna that their ancestors received in the desert, showed that their mentality was still materialistic. They expected Jesus to do something similar to prove that he was the promised prophet, without understanding that “the bread” that Jesus offered was a much deeper spiritual concept.
Jesus was not talking about physical bread, but about his own sacrifice and how he himself is the bread of life that eternally satisfies people's spiritual needs.
OUR MAIN INTEREST
12. How did Jesus make clear what is most important?
Jesus taught that what is essential for our life is not only the satisfaction of our physical needs, but the search for the spiritual that leads to eternal life.
In his rejection of Satan's temptation, and in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus emphasized that true happiness and fulfillment come from a relationship with Jehovah, and from living according to his principles.
This lesson calls us to put first what truly transcends: our spiritual growth and our connection to the Kingdom of God.
13. a) Why is it not wrong for us to enjoy food?
It's not bad to enjoy food, because it is a gift from God. The Bible teaches that the hard work that allows us to obtain what we need to feed ourselves is a blessing from God, therefore, enjoying what we have received is a manifestation of his provision and generosity.
Food and material provisions are necessary for our lives, and when enjoyed with gratitude, they remind us that all good things come from God.
13. b) What warning should we take very seriously? (1 Corinthians 10:6, 7, 11).
We must take seriously the warning not to let our material needs, such as the desire to eat, become an obstacle to our faith. The apostle Paul mentioned the errors of the Israelites, who turned their material desires into something harmful, such as when they asked for meat in the desert and complained about the manna that Jehovah provided them.
They also fell into idolatry when they ate and drank excessively while worshiping the golden calf. Paul used these examples as warnings for Christians, pointing out that we must keep material needs in their proper place and not allow them to desire what is unhealthy or spiritual.
14. What does the Bible say about food in the new world?
When Jesus taught to pray for “our bread for this day,” he was referring to a future where God's will will be done “on earth as it is in heaven.” At that time, God will guarantee an abundance of quality food.
In Isaiah 25:6-8, a great abundance of food is promised, and in Psalm 72:16, it is mentioned that grain will be so abundant that even in the mountains there will be bumper crops.
Additionally, Isaiah 65:21,22 describes how people will enjoy the fruit of the vineyards they will have planted, giving us a picture of life in the new world, where food will be part of God's blessing to all.
15. What will those who are resurrected have to learn? (John 6:35).
In the new world, all those who are resurrected, along with the children born at that time, will need to learn the true meaning of Jesus' words: “I am the bread of life. “Whoever comes to me will never hunger again.”
Everyone will receive a spiritual education program that will help them understand the spiritual in a deep and satisfying way. This learning will be much more rewarding than any material satisfaction.
16. What will we analyze in the next article?
So far we have reviewed only part of John chapter 6, where Jesus spoke about topics related to bread and eternal life. In the next article, we will continue to analyze this chapter, delving into Jesus' teachings on how to obtain eternal life and the crucial role he plays in it.
HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND?
What do we learn from what Jesus did before commanding the bread and fish to be distributed to the crowd?
Jesus gave thanks to God before distributing the bread and fish, which teaches us to recognize and thank God for his blessings before enjoying them.
What example did Jesus leave us when they wanted to make him king?
Jesus refused to be made king, showing us that we must maintain our spiritual priorities, and not be carried away by the pressures or material desires of the world.
How can we apply the advice of 1 Corinthians 10:6, 7, 11?
We must avoid letting our material desires divert us from what is most important, which is our relationship with God, and our spiritual needs, remembering the lessons of the past and applying them in our daily lives.
Comments
Post a Comment