It was the Feast of Booths, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot. His brothers told Him to display His works at the feast, but they did not believe. Jesus went up to the place of the feast, but His intent was to teach at the temple, not to participate in the feast. People would marvel at His teaching because they knew He did not take formal studies under any rabbi. But the Lord glorified His Father in heaven by saying His teaching belongs to the Father and not His own. Yet He warned of people who speak on their own authority. Jesus would also address the faulty way of thinking of the Jews who were trying to kill Him.

Some Jewish fanatics continued to search for Him with the intent to kill. Thus, Jesus stayed in Galilee instead of Judea. The Feast of Booths was nearing, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles. The Jewish people observe this feast to commemorate when their ancestors left Egypt, then set up tents to temporarily dwell in. His brothers asked Him to go to Judea to display His works. It sounded like a mild challenge or a veiled mockery. Take note that they did not believe in Him yet. They presumed that Jesus wanted to be known openly. Thus, they told Him to show Himself openly. But we know Christ's sole intent is to do the Father’s will.

The crowd who wanted to make Him king because of the miracle of the multiplication of food would turn away. Why? They found it difficult to listen to the teachings of Christ. Some of these teachings include that Jesus is the true bread from heaven that gives eternal life, and they should eat His flesh and drink His blood. Scripture explains this to us to mean that we should believe in Him and the New Covenant that He gives. Jesus explained why they grumbled and could not accept the hard teachings. The reason was that unless the Father draws them to Him, they cannot believe. It is the Father who grants access to the saving knowledge of the Son.

The Lord Jesus made it clear that those who believe have eternal life, and those who genuinely believe come from the Father (John 6:36-37). In response to the people’s reference to the manna in their history, Jesus clarified that the ancestors ate the manna but still died, yet whoever eats the bread from heaven will live forever. He was referring to those who would believe in Him. Jesus pursued the metaphor of flesh and blood further, but the people found it difficult to understand. The people grumbled about His metaphor and explanation, but He continued to explain that unless the Father draws them, they cannot believe.

The crowd looked for a sign even though there were signs. They experienced the multiplication of the food and, previously, the healing of two people. The crowd referred to the manna in the wilderness, which the Israelites ate for forty years. All they had to do was collect the free meal every morning. However, Jesus claimed that He is the true bread from heaven, and those who partake in it will never be hungry again. The people asked for this bread that will never make them hungry again. But they would not believe when He explained that He was the true bread from heaven. Then Jesus explained those who believe in Him believe because of the Father (John 6:36-37).

The crowd called Him Rabbi, showing respect or perhaps applying to be disciples. But the Lord revealed their intentions; they followed because of the food they ate. Jesus instructed them to seek the food that brings eternal life, not the earthly one. The crowd sought a sign so that they might believe. The previous signs were not enough for them. Perhaps the sign they seek resembles the manna in the wilderness where the Israelites ate for forty years. They collected the manna every morning for forty years. Jesus explained that their real need is the bread that gives eternal life and that the bread of eternal life is Himself. But the crowd will not believe. Jesus knew that they were not from the Father. He would explain that all who believe are given by the Father to Him, and He will not lose anyone.

The crowd who experienced the multiplication of the bread and fish pursued Jesus. Let us note that they wanted to make Him king, but the Lord withdrew from them in the mountain. From the crowd, the author would bring our attention to the core disciples. They would see Jesus walk on water amid strong winds and turbulent waters. After this, the author would take us to a scene where Jesus revealed the intentions of the people seeking Him.

After feeding the five thousand men, the people recognized Him as the Prophet. Moreover, they wanted to make Him king, probably due to the food He multiplied. Thus, He withdrew to the mountain. He probably stayed up there for hours until the crowd dissipated or until the cover of night. The author would then bring the reader’s attention from the crowd to the core group of disciples.

Despite certain Jewish people desiring to kill Him, many followed Him. They followed Him because they saw the signs, specifically, the healing of the sick. The author noted two healings in previous chapters—the healing of the invalid and the healing of the child of the Jewish official.

The writer of the Gospel According to John, established in the prologue that the Light came to His own people. Still, His own people did not receive Him (John 1:11). The Jews refused to believe in Him even after the Lord explained the witnesses behind Him, John the Baptist, the Father, His works, and the Scriptures. The Lord Jesus would state the reason why they rejected Him. One, God’s love was not in them. Two, they receive glory from one another. Three, they do not genuinely believe the Scriptures.