Grace City Denver Matt Hand

In what’s widely regarded as one of the most shocking, offensive things Jesus said, he told the crowds to eat his flesh and drink his blood. Surely he didn’t mean to violate the Mosaic Law and consume his literal flesh and blood, but what did he mean? How was he connecting himself to the imagery of the Passover lamb? And how can you identify with and “feed on” Jesus today, so that he lives his life in and through yours?

The day after Jesus fed the 5,000 (men, plus women and children), the crowds tracked him down and wanted him to continue to meet their physical demands. Jesus took the opportunity to share “the Bread of Life discourse” instead. Drawing a parallel to the manna that fed their ancestors in the wilderness, Jesus said he was the true and living bread that came down from heaven to satisfy the deepest longings of the human soul.

After feeding the 5,000 (men, plus women and children), Jesus sent his disciples ahead of him across the Sea of Galilee while he remained behind to pray. They encountered a violent storm; so Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. This miracle reveals more about the identity and authority of Jesus and how he shows up in the midst of our “storms” of life.

Thousands followed Jesus to the far side of the Sea of Galilee to hear him teach and to seek his healing. As the day drew to a close, Jesus urged his disciples to feed the masses. How? One boy had five barley loaves and two fish. Jesus took them, miraculously multiplied them, and satisfied the hunger of all who were there. Seeing that he was the Prophet like Moses, the people tried to make him their Messiah-King by force, but Jesus withdrew. His true mission would not be hijacked by others' wishes and demands.

The key to understanding this text is that the Jews have functionally put Jesus on trial, and he’s defending his identity and integrity by calling a series of witnesses. In the end, Jesus warns them that they are not the final judge – he is! So they must either repent and believe, and know him as the Savior who gives eternal life, or they will face eternal judgment.

At one of the Jewish feasts, Jesus goes by the Pool of Bethesda and heals a man who’d been an invalid for 38 years. In an instant, he reverses not only physical impotence and deformity but also social ostracism, ceremonial uncleanness, and hopelessness. And he deliberately heals on the Sabbath day to show the Jews that he’d come to fulfill the true meaning of Sabbath rest.