When Jesus fed the 5,000 men (not counting women and children, the number was much higher) He was moved with compassion. This means he was full of tenderness and concern at their plight. Notice Philip immediately told Jesus how much food it would take to feed this many people. Andrew on the other hand immediately brought Jesus the loaves and fishes, knowing that He could somehow make it work.

The people thought the Prophet had come. They wanted to make Jesus king. They wanted their physical needs met.

Jesus sent His disciples ahead of Him with the promise that He would join them later. It was between the hours of 3 and 6 am when they saw Jesus walking on the water. Peter wanted to come to Him, so Jesus commanded him to come. Peter did just fine until he took his eyes off Jesus. Does that happen to us? When we take our eyes off Jesus we begin to sink. When the winds of life thrash around us, do they beat us down and make us afraid?  If so, time to look to Jesus!  Remember, He can calm the wind and the waves of our lives.

Jesus rebukes the people who are looking for miraculous signs. Even though they had witnessed the miracle of the feeding of the multitude and they knew the crossing to the other side of the lake was a miracle, they still seemed to pay little attention to it and only wanted the miracles of God in ways to satisfy the physical needs, namely the demands of their appetite. Few were looking for the spiritual blessings. 

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.”
If we bury ourselves in the Word, we will eat and drink the Word, something we must do every day! Just as we must eat every day or we will get weak. If we don’t internalize the Word every day we will get weak in our faith.

“From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.”
Did they turn back to their sinful ways? To remember the parable of the soils, did the birds come and eat the seeds? Did they turn back because of hard teaching or because they didn’t believe? Check out the address of this scripture. Its John 6:66. Hmmm....

Jesus asked the Twelve if they wanted to leave too. Peter answers, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words to eternal life.”
Indeed! Only Jesus! 

Jesus condemned many of the traditions, such as the ceremonial washing of dishes.
“You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.”

Can you think of some ways that we hold on to the traditions of men and ignore the commands of God? How about the way we celebrate Jesus’ birth? Do we celebrate according to the traditions of men? Or do we honor His birth as fulfillment of prophecy?