Mark

John 6
Verse 1- ‘some time after this’ is indefinate. This means that the events of Chapter 6 may or may not have happened immediately after chapter 5. Some commentator think it could be as much as 6 months, but that is a side issue. What is important to note is the ‘crowd’ is not the same Jews addressed in chapter 5. We know this because the Jews of chapter 5 did not recognise Jesus authority. The crowd of 6:1-15 however were different. After feeding the five thousand they remark

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!”

Also the theme of ‘bread’ will be common through out this chapter.

Verse 3 and 4. The ‘hillside’ or mountain mentioned may be a parallel to the Sinai experience with Moses (see 5:45-47). The mention of ‘passover’ is theological not chronological. The themes of blood, sacrifice, lamb, unleavened bread are fresh on their minds. It seems evcident that the ‘crowd’ is looking for a new ‘Moses’ to deliver them from the Roman bondage. This seems true once we see the reaction of the people post miracle and Jesus response.

15 ?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.

Back to you!