This may be the first miracle you remember hearing about as a kid in Sunday School.  Why is it so popular?  Maybe because It had a sheer mass of eye-witnesses. Jesus feed 5000 men, which could have meant several more women and children with five loaves of bread two fish.  So maybe 25,000 people counting women and children.  It’s the only miracle other than the resurrection that is recounted in all the gospels.  He did a miraculous thing but they did not get it.  v.15 shows that it didn’t end well.  They saw a signs, but they didn’t get it.  They wanted a king, not a Savior.  This is the fourth miracle that John records.  V.2 tells why they were following Jesus.    
J

Trust His Ways, Not Our Wants vv.6-7

Every story in John is a test to see if they had eyes to see Jesus.   He’s testing use today to see if we see His glory or do we see His gifts.  Will He be the satisfaction of your soul regardless if we’ve been supplied anything past salvation? 
J

Take Hold of His Provision, Not Earthly Possessions vv.11-13

They saw Jesus as useful, not the Savior. 

Let’s be careful not to take hold of the provision of food, gifts, health, but take hold of the provision of His unfailing love for eternal life.  In fact, I’d say that if you’re looking at Jesus as useful for anything other than being the almighty God who loves us so much that He gave His life, you’ve never been transformed by the cross.  He has never gripped you! 
J

Trade an Earthly Mentality for a True Eternal Motivation vv.14-15

It is possible to be excited about a Jesus that is not the real biblical Jesus.  They were seeing him as something he wasn’t.  He didn’t want to be an earthly king.  He is King, just not the kind they thought he was.

v.14 “The Prophet” refers to Deut. 18:15 where Moses stated that the Lord would raise up a prophet for all to listen to.

Pilate asked him in John 18:33, “Are you the King of the Jews?” and Jesus answered in verse 36, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” In other words, yes, I am a king, but not the way you think I am.

The crowd was not motivated by faith, repentance, or genuine love for Jesus, they saw the signs and wonders as an earthly benefit.  If He was looking for power, 25,000 people would have been a great start, but his desire was a heart that would worship Him in Spirit and Truth.  This is the problem with entertainment driven ministries.  They’re not coming for Christ, they’re coming to have felt emotions met.  Jesus said in John 6:26 “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.”

Jesus came to satisfy souls, not subdue armies!  You’ll know you’re born again if you are satisfied by the living water and the bread of life!

This is what happens if we don’t take Jesus for who He is, it’s clear in this test what was happening.  Look at John 6:66 “After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.”  Listen to some of the things he told them to gain this reaction.  John 6:52-60