John 6

Commentary

The Feeding of the Five Thousand

(Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17)

1After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. 3And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. 5When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. 8One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, 9There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 10And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. 14Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

15When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

Jesus Walks on Water

(Matthew 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52)

16And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea, 17And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. 18And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. 19So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. 20But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. 21Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.

22The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone; 23(Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:) 24When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. 25And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

Jesus the Bread of Life

26Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 27Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 28Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 30They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? 31Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 32Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 36But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. 37All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

41The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. 42And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? 43Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 44No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 46Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. 47Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 48I am that bread of life. 49Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

52The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 57As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

59These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

Many Disciples Turn Away

(Matthew 8:18-22; Luke 9:57-62; Luke 14:25-33)

60Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? 61When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? 62What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 63It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 64But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

Peter's Confession of Faith

(Matthew 16:13-20; Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:18-20)

66From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. 70Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

The Feeding of the Five Thousand
(Matthew 14:13–21; Mark 6:30–44; Luke 9:10–17)

1 After these things, Jesus went away to the other side of the sea of Galilee, which is also called the Sea of Tiberias. 2 A great multitude followed him, because they saw his signs which he did on those who were sick. 3 Jesus went up into the mountain, and he sat there with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Jesus therefore lifting up his eyes, and seeing that a great multitude was coming to him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 This he said to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that everyone of them may receive 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 these among so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in that place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 Jesus took the loaves; and having given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to those who were sitting down; likewise also of the fish as much as they desired. 12 When they were filled, he said to his disciples, “Gather up the broken pieces which are left over, that nothing be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves, which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 When therefore the people saw the sign which Jesus did, they said, “This is truly the prophet who comes into the world.”

15 Jesus therefore, perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force, to make him king, withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

Jesus Walks on Water
(Matthew 14:22–33; Mark 6:45–52)

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 and they entered into the boat, and were going over the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not come to them. 18 The sea was tossed by a great wind blowing. 19 When therefore they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing near to the boat; and they were afraid. 20 But he said to them, “It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 21 They were willing therefore to receive him into the boat. Immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

Jesus the Bread of Life

22 On the next day, the multitude that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except the one in which his disciples had embarked, and that Jesus hadn’t entered with his disciples into the boat, but his disciples had gone away alone. 23 However boats from Tiberias came near to the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 When the multitude therefore saw that Jesus wasn’t there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats, and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?”

26 Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves, and were filled. 27 Don’t work for the food which perishes, but for the food which remains to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has sealed him.” 28 They said therefore to him, “What must we do, that we may work the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 They said therefore to him, “What then do you do for a sign, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you do? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness. As it is written, ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus therefore said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, it wasn’t Moses who gave you the bread out of heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread out of heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” 34 They said therefore to him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will not be hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But I told you that you have seen me, and yet you don’t believe. 37 All those whom the Father gives me will come to me. He who comes to me I will in no way throw out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. 39 This is the will of my Father who sent me, that of all he has given to me I should lose nothing, but should raise him up at the last day. 40 This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son, and believes in him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

41 The Jews therefore murmured concerning him, because he said, “I am the bread which came down out of heaven.” 42 They said, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then does he say, ‘I have come down out of heaven?’” 43 Therefore Jesus answered them, “Don’t murmur among yourselves.

44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up in the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who hears from the Father, and has learned, comes to me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except he who is from God. He has seen the Father. 47 Most certainly, I tell you, he who believes in me 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 which comes down out of heaven, that anyone may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. Yes, the bread which I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

52 The Jews therefore contended with one another, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 Jesus therefore said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you don’t have life in yourselves. 54 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he who feeds on me, he will also live because of me. 58 This is the bread which came down out of heaven—not as our fathers ate the manna, and died. He who eats this bread will live forever.”

Many Disciples Turn Back
(Matthew 8:18–22; Luke 9:57–62; Luke 14:25–33)

59 He said these things in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

60 Therefore many of his disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying! Who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble? 62 Then what if you would see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life. 64 But there are some of you who don’t believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who didn’t believe, and who it was who would betray him. 65 He said, “For this cause have I said to you that no one can come to me, unless it is given to him by my Father.”

66 At this, many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Peter’s Confession of Faith
(Matthew 16:13–20; Mark 8:27–30; Luke 9:18–20)

67 Jesus said therefore to the twelve, “You don’t also want to go away, do you?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Didn’t I choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” 71 Now he spoke of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for it was he who would betray him, being one of the twelve.

The Feeding of the Five Thousand
(Matthew 14:13–21; Mark 6:30–44; Luke 9:10–17)

1 After this, Jesus crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias). 2 A large crowd followed Him because they saw the signs He was performing on the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on the mountain and sat down with His disciples.

4 Now the Jewish Feast of the Passover was near. 5 When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 But He was asking this to test him, for He knew what He was about to do.

7 Philip answered, “Two hundred denarii a would not buy enough bread for each of them to have a small piece.”

8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “Here is a boy with five barley loaves and two small fish. But what difference will these make among so many?”

10 “Have the people sit down,” Jesus said. Now there was plenty of grass in that place, so the men sat down, about five thousand of them.

11 Then Jesus took the loaves and the fish, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted.

12 And when everyone was full, He said to His disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over, so that nothing will be wasted.”

13 So they collected them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

14 When the people saw the sign that Jesus had performed, b they began to say, “Truly this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

15 Then Jesus, realizing that they were about to come and make Him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by Himself.

Jesus Walks on Water
(Matthew 14:22–33; Mark 6:45–52)

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 already dark, and Jesus had not yet gone out to them. 18 A strong wind was blowing, and the sea grew agitated.

19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, c they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the sea—and they were terrified. 20 But Jesus spoke up: “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take Him into the boat, and at once the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

Jesus the Bread of Life

22 The next day, the crowd that had remained on the other side of the sea realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not boarded it with His disciples, but they had gone away alone. 23 However, some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum to look for Him. 25 When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they asked Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?”

26 Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it is not because you saw these signs that you are looking for Me, but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.”

28 Then they inquired, “What must we do to perform the works of God?”

29 Jesus replied, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.”

30 So they asked Him, “What sign then will You perform, so that we may see it and believe You? What will You do? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ d”

32 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is My Father who 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 “Sir,” they said, “give us this bread at all times.”

35 Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst. 36 But as I stated, you have seen Me and still you do not believe.

37 Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.

39 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

41 At this, the Jews began to grumble about Jesus because He had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They were asking, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then can He say, ‘I have come down from heaven?’”

43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus replied. 44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ e Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from Him comes to Me— 46 not that anyone has seen the Father except the One who is from God; only He has seen the Father.

47 Truly, truly, I tell you, he who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone 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 this bread, which I will give for the life of the world, is My flesh.”

52 At this, the Jews began to argue among themselves, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”

53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is real food, and My blood is real drink.

56 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your fathers, who ate the manna and died, the one who eats this bread will live forever.”

Many Disciples Turn Back
(Matthew 8:18–22; Luke 9:57–62; Luke 14:25–33)

59 Jesus said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. 60 On hearing it, many of His disciples said, “This is a difficult teaching. Who can accept it?”

61 Aware that His disciples were grumbling about this teaching, Jesus asked them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what will happen if you see the Son of Man ascend to where He was before?

63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. 64 However, there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray Him.)

65 Then Jesus said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless the Father has granted it to him.”

66 From that time on many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him.

Peter’s Confession of Faith
(Matthew 16:13–20; Mark 8:27–30; Luke 9:18–20)

67 So Jesus asked the Twelve, “Do you want to leave too?”

68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God. f”

70 Jesus answered them, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71 He was speaking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. For although Judas was one of the Twelve, he was later to betray Jesus.

 

Footnotes:

7 a A denarius was customarily a day’s wage for a laborer; see Matthew 20:2.
14 b SBL, NA, NE, and WH He had performed
19 c Greek about twenty-five or thirty stadia ; that is, approximately 2.87 to 3.45 miles (4.62 to 5.55 kilometers)
31 d Psalm 78:24; see also Exodus 16:4.
45 e Isaiah 54:13
69 f BYZ and TR You are the Christ, the Son of the living God

The Feeding of the Five Thousand

(Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17)

1After these things Jesus went away beyond the sea of Galilee (of Tiberias), 2and there was following him a great multitude, because they were seeing his signs that he was doing on the ailing; 3and Jesus went up to the mount, and he was there sitting with his disciples, 4and the passover was nigh, the feast of the Jews. 5Jesus then having lifted up his eyes and having seen that a great multitude doth come to him, saith unto Philip, 'Whence shall we buy loaves, that these may eat?' -- 6and this he said, trying him, for he himself had known what he was about to do. 7Philip answered him, 'Two hundred denaries' worth of loaves are not sufficient to them, that each of them may receive some little;' 8one of his disciples -- Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter -- saith to him, 9'There is one little lad here who hath five barley loaves, and two fishes, but these -- what are they to so many?' 10And Jesus said, 'Make the men to sit down;' and there was much grass in the place, the men then sat down, in number, as it were, five thousand, 11and Jesus took the loaves, and having given thanks he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to those reclining, in like manner, also of the little fishes as much as they wished. 12And when they were filled, he saith to his disciples, 'Gather together the broken pieces that are over, that nothing may be lost;' 13they gathered together, therefore, and filled twelve hand-baskets with broken pieces, from the five barley loaves that were over to those having eaten. 14The men, then, having seen the sign that Jesus did, said -- 'This is truly the Prophet, who is coming to the world;'

15Jesus, therefore, having known that they are about to come, and to take him by force that they may make him king, retired again to the mountain himself alone.

Jesus Walks on Water

(Matthew 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52)

16And when evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17and having entered into the boat, they were going over the sea to Capernaum, and darkness had already come, and Jesus had not come unto them, 18the sea also -- a great wind blowing -- was being raised, 19having pushed onwards, therefore, about twenty-five or thirty furlongs, they behold Jesus walking on the sea, and coming nigh to the boat, and they were afraid; 20and he saith to them, 'I am he, be not afraid;' 21they were willing then to receive him into the boat, and immediately the boat came unto the land to which they were going.

22On the morrow, the multitude that was standing on the other side of the sea, having seen that there was no other little boat there except one -- that into which his disciples entered -- and that Jesus went not in with his disciples into the little boat, but his disciples went away alone, 23(and other little boats came from Tiberias, nigh the place where they did eat the bread, the Lord having given thanks), 24when therefore the multitude saw that Jesus is not there, nor his disciples, they also themselves did enter into the boats, and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus; 25and having found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, 'Rabbi, when hast thou come hither?'

Jesus the Bread of Life

26Jesus answered them and said, 'Verily, verily, I say to you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw signs, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were satisfied; 27work not for the food that is perishing, but for the food that is remaining to life age-during, which the Son of Man will give to you, for him did the Father seal -- even God.' 28They said therefore unto him, 'What may we do that we may work the works of God?' 29Jesus answered and said to them, 'This is the work of God, that ye may believe in him whom He did send.' 30They said therefore to him, 'What sign, then, dost thou, that we may see and may believe thee? what dost thou work? 31our fathers the manna did eat in the wilderness, according as it is having been written, Bread out of the heaven He gave them to eat.' 32Jesus, therefore, said to them, 'Verily, verily, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread out of the heaven; but my Father doth give you the true bread out of the heaven; 33for the bread of God is that which is coming down out of the heaven, and giving life to the world.' 34They said, therefore, unto him, 'Sir, always give us this bread.'

35And Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of the life; he who is coming unto me may not hunger, and he who is believing in me may not thirst -- at any time; 36but I said to you, that ye also have seen me, and ye believe not; 37all that the Father doth give to me will come unto me; and him who is coming unto me, I may in no wise cast without, 38because I have come down out of the heaven, not that I may do my will, but the will of Him who sent me. 39'And this is the will of the Father who sent me, that all that He hath given to me I may not lose of it, but may raise it up in the last day; 40and this is the will of Him who sent me, that every one who is beholding the Son, and is believing in him, may have life age-during, and I will raise him up in the last day.'

41The Jews, therefore, were murmuring at him, because he said, 'I am the bread that came down out of the heaven;' 42and they said, 'Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we have known? how then saith this one -- Out of the heaven I have come down?' 43Jesus answered, therefore, and said to them, 'Murmur not one with another; 44no one is able to come unto me, if the Father who sent me may not draw him, and I will raise him up in the last day; 45it is having been written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God; every one therefore who heard from the Father, and learned, cometh to me; 46not that any one hath seen the Father, except he who is from God, he hath seen the Father. 47'Verily, verily, I say to you, He who is believing in me, hath life age-during; 48I am the bread of the life; 49your fathers did eat the manna in the wilderness, and they died; 50this is the bread that out of the heaven is coming down, that any one may eat of it, and not die. 51'I am the living bread that came down out of the heaven; if any one may eat of this bread he shall live -- to the age; and the bread also that I will give is my flesh, that I will give for the life of the world.'

52The Jews, therefore, were striving with one another, saying, 'How is this one able to give us his flesh to eat?' 53Jesus, therefore, said to them, 'Verily, verily, I say to you, If ye may not eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and may not drink his blood, ye have no life in yourselves; 54he who is eating my flesh, and is drinking my blood, hath life age-during, and I will raise him up in the last day; 55for my flesh truly is food, and my blood truly is drink; 56he who is eating my flesh, and is drinking my blood, doth remain in me, and I in him. 57'According as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, he also who is eating me, even that one shall live because of me; 58this is the bread that came down out of the heaven; not as your fathers did eat the manna, and died; he who is eating this bread shall live -- to the age.'

59These things he said in a synagogue, teaching in Capernaum;

Many Disciples Turn Away

(Matthew 8:18-22; Luke 9:57-62; Luke 14:25-33)

60many, therefore, of his disciples having heard, said, 'This word is hard; who is able to hear it?' 61And Jesus having known in himself that his disciples are murmuring about this, said to them, 'Doth this stumble you? 62if then ye may behold the Son of Man going up where he was before? 63the spirit it is that is giving life; the flesh doth not profit anything; the sayings that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life; 64but there are certain of you who do not believe;' for Jesus had known from the beginning who they are who are not believing, and who is he who will deliver him up, 65and he said, 'Because of this I have said to you -- No one is able to come unto me, if it may not have been given him from my Father.'

Peter's Confession of Faith

(Matthew 16:13-20; Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:18-20)

66From this time many of his disciples went away backward, and were no more walking with him, 67Jesus, therefore, said to the twelve, 'Do ye also wish to go away?' 68Simon Peter, therefore, answered him, 'Sir, unto whom shall we go? thou hast sayings of life age-during; 69and we have believed, and we have known, that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.' 70Jesus answered them, 'Did not I choose you -- the twelve? and of you -- one is a devil. 71And he spake of Judas, Simon's son, Iscariot, for he was about to deliver him up, being one of the twelve.

The Miracle of the Loaves and Fish

¹ After this, Jesus crossed over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. ² A large crowd kept following Him, because they had seen the miracles He performed, healing the sick and restoring those who were suffering. ³ Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down there with His disciples. ⁴ The Jewish festival of Passover was approaching, a sacred time of remembrance and hope for Israel.*

⁵ When Jesus looked up and saw the huge crowd coming toward Him, He turned to Philip and said, “Where can we buy enough bread to feed all these people?” ⁶ He asked this to test Philip, because Jesus already knew what He was going to do.* ⁷ Philip replied, “Even if we had half a year’s wages, it wouldn’t be enough to buy enough bread for each person to get just a little!”

⁸ Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. ⁹ “There’s a boy here with five barley loaves and two small fish, but what good is that for such a large crowd?”

¹⁰ Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” The area was covered in soft grass, and about five thousand men were seated, not counting women and children.* ¹¹ Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed the bread to those who were seated. He did the same with the fish, giving them as much as they wanted. ¹² When everyone had eaten their fill, He told His disciples, “Gather up the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” ¹³ They gathered the leftovers and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves. Nothing was lost!*

¹⁴ When the people saw this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, this is the Prophet who is to come into the world!” ¹⁵ Realizing that they were about to come and force Him to be their king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by Himself.

Jesus Walks on Water

¹⁶ When evening came, the disciples went down to the sea, ¹⁷ got into a boat, and set off across the water toward Capernaum. It was already dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. ¹⁸ A strong wind was blowing, and the waters grew rough.

¹⁹ After they had rowed for about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the water, coming toward the boat! They were terrified, ²⁰ but He called out to them, “Don’t be afraid! It’s Me!”* ²¹ Then they were willing to take Him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

The Bread of Life

²² The next day, the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea realized that Jesus had not gotten into the boat with His disciples. There had been only one boat, and they knew He hadn’t left with them. ²³ Then some boats from Tiberias arrived near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.

²⁴ When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Him. ²⁵ When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they asked Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?”

²⁶ Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you’re looking for Me not because you understood the miracles, but because you ate the bread and were filled. ²⁷ Don’t work for food that spoils, but for food that lasts forever, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him, God the Father has placed His seal of approval.”

²⁸ They asked, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

²⁹ Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.”*

³⁰ So they asked Him, “What miraculous sign will You give that we may see it and believe You? What will You do? ³¹ Our ancestors ate manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

³² Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, it wasn’t Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is the One who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

³⁴ “Sir,” they said, “give us this bread always.”

³⁵ Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty. ³⁶ But as I told you, you have seen Me, and still you do not believe. ³⁷ All those the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never drive away. ³⁸ For I have come down from heaven not to do My will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me. ³⁹ And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day. ⁴⁰ For My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

The Response of the Crowd

⁴¹ At this, the Jews began to grumble because He said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” ⁴² They said, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know His father and mother. How can He now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”

⁴³ “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. ⁴⁴ “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. ⁴⁵ It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from Him comes to Me. ⁴⁶ No one has seen the Father except the One who is from God; only He has seen the Father. ⁴⁷ Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.

⁴⁸ I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹ Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. ⁵⁰ But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. ⁵¹ I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

⁵² Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”

⁵³ Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴ Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. ⁵⁵ For My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink. ⁵⁶ Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in them. ⁵⁷ Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me. ⁵⁸ This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” ⁵⁹ He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Many Disciples Turn Away

⁶⁰ On hearing it, many of His disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”

⁶¹ Aware that His disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? ⁶² Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where He was before! ⁶³ The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. ⁶⁴ Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray Him. ⁶⁵ He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless the Father has enabled them.”

⁶⁶ From this time, many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him.

Peter’s Confession of Faith

⁶⁷ Jesus asked the Twelve, “Do you want to leave too?”

⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ We have come to believe and to know that You are the Holy One of God.”

⁷⁰ Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” ⁷¹ He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray Him.

Footnotes:

6:4: Passover is a central Jewish festival commemorating God’s deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt.

6:6: Jesus often tested His disciples to deepen their understanding of faith and reliance on God.

6:10: Five thousand men, not counting women and children, emphasizes the miraculous nature of this event, with the potential number of people fed being much higher.

6:13: The twelve baskets of leftovers symbolize God’s abundant provision and the fullness of His blessings.

6:20: The phrase “It’s Me” (ἐγώ εἰμι, egō eimi) is significant, echoing God’s name revealed to Moses (Exodus 3:14) and emphasizing Jesus’ divine identity.

6:29: Belief in Jesus is emphasized as the primary “work” God requires, rather than human effort or law-keeping.

6:66: This verse highlights the turning point where many disciples left Jesus, revealing the difficulty of fully accepting His message of spiritual life.

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of John 6?
2Introduction to John 6
3Context of John 6
4Ancient Key Word Study
5Compare & Contrast
6John 6 Unique Insights
7John 6 Connections to Yeshua
8John 6 Scriptural Echoes
9John 6 Devotional
10Did You Know

What is the meaning of John 6?

Introduction to John 6

John 6 stands as one of the most profound chapters in Scripture, containing the magnificent “Bread of Life” discourse where Yeshua (Jesus) reveals Himself as the true manna from heaven. This pivotal chapter bridges the physical and spiritual realms through the miraculous feeding of the five thousand, Yeshua walking on water, and His revolutionary teaching that would ultimately divide His followers between those who truly believed and those who couldn’t accept His hard sayings.

Azrta box final advert

The chapter masterfully weaves together themes of provision, faith, divine identity, and the intimate relationship between the Father and the Son, while challenging readers to move beyond seeking mere physical satisfaction to embracing the spiritual sustenance that only the Messiah can provide.

Context of John 6

This chapter follows the healing at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5) where Yeshua demonstrated His authority over the Sabbath and declared His equality with the Father. The transition to John 6 shows a shift in location to Galilee, where Yeshua’s ministry was reaching a critical juncture. The feeding miracle and subsequent discourse represent a turning point in His public ministry, as many who had followed Him for the signs would ultimately turn away when confronted with the deeper spiritual implications of His identity and mission.

Within the larger Johannine narrative, this chapter serves as a crucial component of what scholars call the “Book of Signs” (chapters 1-12). The two miracles presented—the feeding of the five thousand and walking on water—demonstrate Yeshua’s sovereignty over creation while pointing to His divine nature. More importantly, the chapter forms part of John’s larger theological purpose stated in John 20:31: “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.”

The chapter also connects profoundly with the exodus narrative and the wilderness experience of Israel, particularly through its emphasis on manna and the people’s response to God’s provision, creating a theological bridge between the Old and New Covenants.

Ancient Key Word Study

  • Bread (ἄρτος/artos): More than just physical sustenance, this word carries deep theological significance in Jewish thought. When Yeshua declares Himself the “bread of life,” He’s drawing on the rich symbolism of manna, the showbread in the Temple, and the bread of the Presence, suggesting His role as the ultimate divine provision for spiritual life.
  • Life (ζωή/zoe): This term specifically refers to divine, eternal life rather than mere biological existence (βίος/bios). When used in connection with bread, it creates a powerful metaphor for Yeshua as the source of divine sustenance that leads to eternal existence with God.
  • Flesh (σάρξ/sarx): In this context, the word goes beyond its physical meaning to encompass the full reality of Yeshua’s incarnation. His use of this term in connection with eating His flesh was particularly shocking to His Jewish audience and remains one of the most challenging aspects of His teaching.
  • Draw (ἑλκύω/helkuo): This verb, used in verse 44, implies divine enabling rather than coercion. It’s the same word used in the Septuagint for God’s drawing people to Himself with cords of loving-kindness (Hosea 11:4).
  • Eat (τρώγω/trogo): Rather than using the more common ἐσθίω (esthio), John employs this more graphic term which literally means “to chew or gnaw.” This intensifies the reality of what Yeshua is teaching about truly partaking of Him.
  • Give (δίδωμι/didomi): This word appears frequently in the chapter, emphasizing the Father’s role in giving both the Son and those who come to Him, highlighting divine initiative in salvation.
  • Believe (πιστεύω/pisteuo): The continuous aspect of this verb in many instances suggests an ongoing process of trust rather than a one-time decision, emphasizing the enduring nature of true faith.
  • Work (ἔργον/ergon): When the crowds ask about doing the “works of God,” this term takes on special significance in contrasting human effort with divine grace and the one true “work” of believing in Yeshua.
  • Remain/Abide (μένω/meno): This key Johannine term suggests intimate, permanent relationship and appears in crucial statements about mutual indwelling between Yeshua and believers.
  • Come Down (καταβαίνω/katabaino): Used repeatedly to describe both the manna and Yeshua Himself, this word emphasizes divine origin and initiative in provision for human need.

Compare & Contrast

  • John 6:35: “I am the bread of life” employs the definite article (ὁ ἄρτος) rather than just “bread,” emphasizing exclusivity. The choice of “life” (ζωής) over “living” (ζῶν) points to Yeshua as the source rather than merely a sustainer of life.
  • John 6:44: The use of ἑλκύω (draw) rather than ἄγω (lead) or φέρω (bring) suggests gentle divine attraction rather than forceful compulsion, reflecting God’s respect for human agency while maintaining His sovereign initiative.
  • John 6:51: The phrase “living bread” combines ζῶν with ἄρτος, creating a deliberate contrast with the manna that couldn’t prevent physical death, while emphasizing Yeshua’s eternal nature.
  • John 6:53-54: The shift from φάγητε (eat) to τρώγων (chewing/gnawing) intensifies the imagery, emphasizing complete participation in Messiah’s life rather than casual acceptance.
  • John 6:63: The contrast between πνεῦμα (spirit) and σάρξ (flesh) clarifies the spiritual nature of the preceding discourse, preventing purely literal interpretation.
  • John 6:66: The use of ἀπῆλθον (went away) rather than simply leaving suggests a decisive break, emphasizing the finality of their rejection.
  • John 6:68: Peter’s confession uses ῥήματα (spoken words) rather than λόγους (general words), emphasizing the specific teaching authority of Yeshua.

John 6 Unique Insights

The feeding miracle in this chapter contains fascinating numerical symbolism often overlooked. The five loaves correspond to the Torah’s five books, while the two fish might represent the dual nature of Messiah’s authority as prophet and king. The twelve baskets of fragments collected point to the twelve tribes of Israel, suggesting the complete nature of Messiah’s provision for His people.

Rabbinic literature provides interesting parallel insights. The Midrash Rabbah on Ecclesiastes discusses how the first redeemer (Moses) brought down manna, and so too would the final redeemer bring down manna. This expectation helps explain why the crowd sought to make Yeshua king after the feeding miracle—they saw Him as fulfilling this messianic expectation.

The early church father Origen noted that John uniquely mentions the barley loaves, connecting this to the first fruits offering of barley at Passover. This detail places the miracle within the context of Jewish festival theology and anticipates Yeshua’s ultimate sacrifice as the true Passover lamb.

The walking on water miracle contains elements that would have reminded John’s Jewish readers of the creation narrative, where God’s Spirit hovers over the waters. The Greek phrase “I am” (ἐγώ εἰμι) used by Yeshua in this context echoes the divine name revealed to Moses, suggesting a theophany rather than just a miracle.

John 6 Connections to Yeshua

This chapter presents some of the most explicit declarations of Yeshua’s divine identity and mission. His claim to be the bread of life directly connects to His incarnation and sacrificial death, providing the theological foundation for understanding both His person and work. The repeated emphasis on His coming down from heaven establishes His pre-existence and divine origin, while His discourse on eating His flesh and drinking His blood points forward to His atoning death and the intimate union believers have with Him through faith.

The parallel between the manna in the wilderness and Yeshua as the true bread from heaven creates a powerful typological connection between the exodus narrative and Messiah’s redemptive work. Just as the manna sustained Israel physically in their journey to the Promised Land, so Yeshua sustains His people spiritually on their journey to eternal life. This connection is deepened by the timing of these events near Passover, suggesting that Yeshua is deliberately presenting Himself as the fulfillment of all that the exodus and its commemorative feast represented.

John 6 Scriptural Echoes

The chapter resonates deeply with several Old Testament passages:

  • The feeding miracle echoes 2 Kings 4:42-44 where Elisha feeds 100 men with twenty loaves
  • The manna discourse connects to Exodus 16 and Psalm 78:24
  • Walking on water recalls Job 9:8 where God alone stretches out the heavens and tramples the waves of the sea
  • The theme of divine teaching echoes Isaiah 54:13
  • The grumbling of the people mirrors Exodus 16:2-3

John 6 Devotional

This chapter challenges us to examine what truly satisfies our spiritual hunger. Like the crowd that followed Yeshua for physical bread, we often seek Him for temporary benefits rather than for who He is. The invitation is to move beyond surface-level faith to a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him as our true source of life.

Consider your own spiritual appetite: Are you seeking the “bread that perishes” or the eternal bread of life? Yeshua’s hard saying about eating His flesh and drinking His blood reminds us that following Him requires full commitment and intimate participation in His life, not just casual association.

Take time to reflect on how you respond when Yeshua’s teachings challenge your understanding or comfort zone. Will you, like Peter, recognize that He alone has “the words of eternal life,” or will you turn away when His words become difficult?

Did You Know

  • The feeding of the 5,000 is the only miracle (besides the resurrection) recorded in all four Gospels, underscoring its significance in early Christian teaching.
  • The Greek word for “filled” (χορτάζω) in the feeding miracle was typically used for feeding animals, emphasizing the abundance of the provision—they were completely satisfied, not just given a snack.
  • The location of this miracle near Bethsaida would have reminded readers of the prophecy in Isaiah 9:1-2 about light coming to Galilee of the Gentiles.
  • The gathering of twelve baskets of fragments likely had special significance for John’s original readers, as early Christians saw this as a picture of the church’s mission to gather in the dispersed people of God.
  • The Greek phrase “dark had already come” has theological significance in John’s Gospel, often symbolizing spiritual opposition or lack of understanding.
  • The distance the disciples had rowed (25-30 stadia) corresponds to about 3 miles, placing them in the middle of the Sea of Galilee where the water was deepest and most dangerous.
  • The word used for “hard saying” (σκληρός) in verse 60 is the same word used in the Septuagint to describe Pharaoh’s hardened heart.
  • The phrase “flesh and blood” was a common Jewish idiom for human nature, making Yeshua’s literal use of the terms even more shocking to His audience.
  • Ancient Near Eastern culture viewed the sea as a symbol of chaos and evil, making Yeshua’s mastery over it a clear demonstration of divine authority.
  • The Greek construction of “I am” (ἐγώ εἰμι) in verse 20 is identical to God’s self-revelation in the Septuagint version of Exodus 3:14.

sendagiftfinal

This website has over 46,000 Biblical resources and is made possible through the generosity of supporters like you. If you’ve been blessed by these resources, please consider sending a gift today.

Bible Themes
Share your love
Jean Paul Joseph
Jean Paul Joseph

After a dramatic early morning encounter with King Jesus, I just couldn’t put my Bible down. The F.O.G took a hold of me and this website was born. Learn more about the F.O.G.

Articles: 46824

Add your first comment to this post

Related Posts

Encounter Him Send a Gift Scroll Top