Physical Needs vs. Spiritual Needs

John 6

According to Warren Wiersbe, John 6 reveals that the disciples faced three tests because of the great crowds that followed Jesus— Feeding the multitude, Leaving the multitude, and Losing the multitude.

“After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” John 6:1–14 (ESV)

Philip thought the answer was money, but Andrew saw the answer in a lad with a lunch. When you and I face a seemingly unsolvable problem, and we will and do, claim the promise of verse 6, give what you have to Jesus, and let Him tell you what to do.

Dr. Harold Wilmington writes in his Bible Handbook, “Jesus miraculously fed perhaps as many as 20,000 people—counting women and children—despite the disciples’ skepticism about feeding so many with the meager supplies on hand. Various scholars have suggested at least five reasons for this miracle:
•​to show his concern for physical as well as spiritual needs
•​to strengthen the disciples’ faith
•​to prove his messianic claims; the Jews had a tradition that the Messiah would feed them just as Moses had done (see Deut. 18:15; Ezek. 34:14)
•​to show the value of small things when given to him
•​to illustrate God’s faithfulness (see Matt. 6:31–33)
[Matt. 14:13–21; Mark 6:33–44; Luke 9:10–17]
When many in the crowd rightly recognized Jesus as the Messiah, they tried to make him their earthly king. Knowing, however, that such was not God’s plan, Jesus withdrew from them to spend some time alone in prayer, as he often did.
“But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.” Luke 5:16 (ESV)

“Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself. 16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.” John 6:15–21 (ESV)

This incident occurred at the high point of our Jesus’ popularity. The disciples (especially Judas) would have welcomed a kingdom, so Jesus sent them away into a storm. They went from popularity to peril, but they were safer in the storm than with the multitude; and Jesus came to them and met their needs.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” Isaiah 43:2 ESV)

As Jesus prayed alone, his disciples were rowing their boat across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum when a storm arose. Jesus appeared to them walking on the water. This was not some flippant show of his power. He had seen their dilemma from the mountain where he was praying and went to their rescue. [Matt. 14:22–33; Mark 6:45–52] The storm must have been very intense to frighten these men, most of whom had dealt often with Galilee’s treacherous waters.
Jesus, walking on water, is one of my favorite truths in the Bible. What a picture of faith by Peter. I know many speak ill of his failure to look at his circumstances; however, he is the only person besides Jesus to ever walk on water. I think we need to be more concerned about the other eleven exhibiting no faith.

“When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:25–40 (ESV)

Warren Wiersbe writes in his Word Commentary that, “People want the Lord to meet their physical needs but not their spiritual needs.”

​The manna we read about in Exodus 16 came only to the Jews and sustained physical life, but Jesus came for the whole world and gives eternal life. Just as you take food into your body, so you take Christ into your life; and He becomes one with you. Throughout the remaining verses of chapter 6 we discover the disciples had opportunity to follow the crowd, but they remained with Jesus.

“So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43 Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— 46 not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” John 6:41-51 (ESV)

Are you remaining in the presence of Jesus? What is it that drags or entices you to step away from Jesus? Can you obey His will even when you disagree with Him? What is it that has drawn you back when you have strayed from Jesus and His will for your life?

Today, know that when you truly trust in Jesus Christ in whatever situation you find yourself, you are eternally secure. If you come to him for salvation, you cannot ever be lost again, for in Him, you and your eternity is secure.

---