John 6: The Bread of Life

                Jesus goes to the sea of Galilee, which is known as the sea of Tiberias, where a great number of people followed Him to hear from Him. Jesus calls for His Apostles to find food for everyone there, but they only could find a boy with five loaves of bread and two small fishes. Jesus said to His Apostles; “…Make the men sit down… And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were sat down… When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost… and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves.” (John 6:10-13)

                The 5,000 men that had just been fed were so astonished by this miracle that Jesus just performed, they desired for Him to be a King. Jesus, knowing their intentions of forcing Him to be a King, departs into the mountains to be alone. Meanwhile the Apostles depart by ship over the sea to Capernaum. The sea begins to rise from the wind and just off in the distance they saw Jesus walking on the water and were afraid. Jesus reached out to them saying; “…It is I, be not afraid” (John 6:20)

The next day in Capernaum, the group that Jesus had fed, followed Him to Capernaum seeking Jesus. He tells them that they only seek Him, because He fed them. Not because of the miracles Jesus had performed. Those gathered asked Jesus how they could obtain the very same manna that Moses and his people ate. Jesus explains that the work of God is that “…ye believe on him who he hath sent.” (John 6:29) and that the bread that they seek is only of this world. Jesus offers them true bread from heaven; “…I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I say unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.” (John 6:35-36)

                Jesus explains that anyone who partakes of the bread of life, the blood and flesh of Jesus Christ shall have eternal life. Essentially we need to actively pursue a good life, follow the commandments, receive a baptism by the proper authority, receive other ordinances which comes with covenants and promises, then actively partake in the Sacrament [water and bread] to keep renewing those covenants.