Highlights In Today's Reading:
Jesus: The Bread of Life (6:1-14,22-51); The Light of the World (8:12). During storms of life, Jesus still says: Be not afraid (6:18-20).
No one seemed to doubt the miracle when Jesus took the five barley loaves, and two small fishes (6:9) and fed about five thousand men, besides women and children (6:10). The majority immediately wanted to make Him King; however, His critics saw this one miracle as insignificant compared to that of Moses, who had fed the Israelites for 40 years. They reacted by saying: Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said . . . Moses gave you not that bread from heaven . . . For the Bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven. . . . I am the Bread of Life (6:31-35).
Jesus then pointed out the vital importance of the Word of God, saying: It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life (6:63).
At the Feast of Tabernacles, water taken from the Pool of Siloam was poured out by a priest at the Temple every morning. The pouring of the water recalled the miraculous provision of water during the 40-year wilderness journey when the Israelites didst strive at the waters of Meribah (Deut. 33:8; comp. Ex. 16:5-7) and water flowed in abundance. It is a reminder that when Jesus, the Rock of our Salvation (Ps. 95:1), was smitten (Is. 53:4-5), from Him flowed rivers of Living Water (John 7:38).
On each of the seven days of the Feast, the Levites and the people sang: Blessed be He that cometh in the Name of the Lord (Ps. 118:26). On that great day of the Feast, Jesus stood and cried (shouted), saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly (from within him) shall flow rivers of Living Water. (But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive) (John 7:37-39).
Jesus was declaring that He was their long-awaited Answer to the prophetic Scriptures as promised by the prophet Joel (Joel 2:28-29). About six months later, Jesus was crucified.
Fifty days after Jesus' resurrection, God did pour out His Holy Spirit in fulfillment of that prophecy as a free gift to all who repent of their sins and are baptized: In the Name of Jesus Christ . . . ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Spirit) (Acts 2:38-39).
Thought for Today:
Seek the Lord, and ye shall live (Amos 5:6).
Word Studies:
6:24 took shipping =b> got into boats.
Cross References:
For John 6:31: See Ex. 16:4; Neh. 9:15; Ps. 78:24. John 6:45: See Is. 54:13.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Broadcasts sponsored by Vincent & Rebecca Naughton • Bible Pathway Media Producer: Rick Hash • Government Officials: Rep. Mazie Hirono (HI) and Rep. Lynn Woolsey (CA) • Country: Japan (126.7 million) off the eastern coast of Asia • Major language: Japanese • Religious freedom • 49% Buddhist; 45% Shintoist; 1% Christian; 5% Other • Prayer Suggestion: Rejoice in the Lord, for He is forgiving to those who call upon Him (Ps. 86:4-5).
Memory Verse for the Week: Matthew 16:24