John 6

Feeding 5000 1
Jesus walks on the sea 15
Away in a boat; bread from heaven 22
Doing God's works; Jesus is manna 28
More than the son of Joseph 41
Eating flesh and blood 52
Many turn away 60
The twelve 67
Text Comments
Jesus' Galilean ministry. The story of feeding the five thousand.
Matt. 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-14.
.1 ¶ After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.
 2  And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
 3  And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.		   1 - After these things John uses this term to indicate a considerable time laps. Compare "after this" at jn0212. Assuming that the feast mentioned at jn0501 was a Passover, the present scene happened more than a year later.
  1 - Over the sea From Capernaum to the area of Bethsaida Julias lu0910.
  2 - Multitude followed More precisely, "multitude were following," apparently a reference to His popularity at that time.
  3 - Into a mountain The other gospel writers refer to it as "a desert place" meaning uninhabited mr0632.
 4  And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.

.5  When 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?
 6  And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
 7  Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

   4 - Passover He did not attend this one.
  4 - Feast of the Jews John writes to a broad readership. Jewish readers understood all about this feast.
  5 - He saith unto Philip The question appears in the other accounts but as the disciples asking Jesus mr0637. Apparently Jesus brought up the matter first to Philip whose home was in the area.
  6 - To prove him How do you think this helped Philip considering the whole story?
  7 - Penny Actually a denarius. See on mr0637.
 8  One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,
 9  There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
.10  And 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.
.11  And 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 [desired].
_________________________
  8 - Andrew Only John mentions the roles of Philip and Andrew. He was likely there.
  9 - Barley loaves Considered food for animals and poor people, but the Creator Himself would multiply the loaves to feed the people.
  10 - Men Greek anthropoi. "Men" used in the generic sense as "people." But in the phrase, the men sat, we have andres for "men" which specifies males. Only the men were counted. There could have been more than 10,000 people. Mark describes how they were seated mr0639f. Grass would have implied that there had been rain. Summer was normally dry.
  11 - Given thanks The other writers say He blessed the food. John adds that He thanked His Father for it even before the miracle took place. He had concealed His own power in taking the form of a servant ph0206ff. He depended on faith in the Father jn0519.
   This is a model for us. We may constantly praise God for our food which is a channel of life for us.
.12  When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
 13  Therefore 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.
 14  Then 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.

  12 - That nothing be lost It is easy to feel that anything free has little value. The gifts of heaven, including our daily bread mt0611 are to be appreciated. And we are blessed by seeking spiritual wisdom of the Scriptures.
  14 - That prophet Jesus fulfilled the description of the Lord's prophecy to Moses de1858.
Jesus walks on water. Mark 6:45-56; Matt. 14:22-36; John 6:15-24.
.15 ¶ When 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.
 16  And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,
.17  And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.
 18  And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.
 19  So 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.
.20  But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.
 21  Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.		   15 - By force The people had a false idea about the Messiah thinking He would come as king while His purpose was to come as the Lamb for sacrifice jn0129. This led them to reject Him. We hear twisted ideas now to keep us from being ready for His second coming. See article on futurism. Deceptions of the evil one are calculated to destroy souls. Satan had a motive for wanting them to take Him by force lu0405ff.
  16 - Went down unto the sea Parallel passages are linked in the bar above.
  17 - Toward Capernaum Jesus had sent them in a different direction, mr0645. See Galilee map. He apparently sent the storm to redirect their voyage and their minds.
  19 - On the sea "On" translates epi which is a general preposition of relative position. The phrase may be "by the sea" as in jn2101, but the connection with Peter on the water and the disciples recognition of the event as a miracle mean it is correctly translated here.
  20 - It is I Literally "I am." Christ is the self-existant one, the Creator not a creation de3239, is4310, is4604. The statement also appears at jn1319, jn1805 and, with explanation at jn0858.
  21 - Immediately at the land This could have been a miracle. Indeed God's children are always under His providential leading. But, because neither John nor Matthew mention it as a miracle, we may assume that the storm had driven the boat close to its destination.
.22 ¶ The 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:)
 24  When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.		   22 - Saw They looked around and realized the strange situation.
  23 - After ... given thanks Reference is to the miracle of the day before v11.
 25  And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
.26  Jesus 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.
.27  Labour not for the meat [food] 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.		   25 - When camest thou hither How did you get here? Jesus does not encourage their curiosity.
  26 - Not because Jesus exposes their selfish motivation. And what about us? When our income is down to less than the rent, when our friends turn against us because they don't like our religious convictions, and when we see no way to turn, what then? Do we compromise just a little feeling that God will understand. Maybe we feel that tithe isn't important just when things are tough mal0310, and that neither is church attendance he1025. It's as if we say to Jesus, "We don't see the bread and fish. We don't really believe you can help us."
  27 - Everlasting life See v52ff.
  27 - Sealed The seal was like we use a signature to indicate attestation. Compare jn0333. The Father had recognized Jesus as His Son when He was baptized – earlier in the chapter jn0317.
.28 ¶ Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
.29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
 30  They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?		   28 - What shall we do? Actually "What should we be doing?" We may see the question to imply a way of life.
  28 - Work the works The words are in je4810 where "works" indicates what God required in destroying Moab. The people speaking were already works oriented as far as salvation is concerned.
  29 - Believe on Him Listen, trust, and follow. The Greek tense indicates a practice of believing, not just acceptance of a sign.
  30 Sign Greek semeion which is translated "miracle" in v26.
 31  Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
.32  Then 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.
.33  For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.		   31 - Our fathers ex1604. According ancient Jewish commentary on ec0109, the miracle would be repeated by the Messiah.
  32 - Moses gave you not Without this statement Jesus' listeners and those who would read John's record would misunderstand the truth of the original giving of the manna as bread from heaven sent to represent Christ as the bread of life. It makes v38 clear.
  32 - But my Father ... Jesus here proclaims Himself as the Lord of the Exodus ex1604.
.34  Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
.35  And 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.
 36  But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
.37  All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
.38  For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
 39  And 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.
.40  And 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.		   35 - I am the bread of life As our physical bodies die if not fed, so our spiritual life will dry up without constant commitment to Christ. He was represented by the manna ex1621.
  37 - Not rejected Notice that those the Father gives to His Son will come. So does God choose some and reject others? Yes and no. He gave His Son to the whole world so that none would need to perish. Jesus explained this in John 3 beginning around verse 14 jn0313. God not only gives us eternal life, He gives the desire for it ac0531, ro1203, v.64.
  38 - I came down Literally, "I have come down." Thus Christ had come in a specific event (which we call the incarnation) and was then present on the earth.
  38 - Mine own will This statement shows the falsity of the skeptical view that Jesus was a human sacrifice to appease the Father's wrath.
  40 - Every one Jesus spoke in general terms in verses 37 and 38. Here are the conditions. They are for those who see Christ spiritually and believe on Him.
  40 - Everlasting life jn0851, jn1010, 1jo0512.
  40 - I will Or "I, even I will." This emphatic declaration helps us see that He is the Archangel who calls the dead to life in 1th0416. 
  40 - Raise him up The word "him" is masculine in the Greek meaning each believing individual in his or her grave. This contrasts with "it" in verse 39 shown correctly in the neuter gender. It is the individual who is called from the grave, not just a body to be connected to the individual who is a spirit.
.41  The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.
 42  And 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?
 43  Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
 44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
 45  It 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.
.46  Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.		   41 - Because He said ... which came down Reference is to v38. The next verse here, 42, shows their thinking. In the Exodus story, the people apparently did not see manna coming down. They just found it. So was the incarnation. See lu0135, jn0313.
  44,45 - No man can come ... except Beautiful insight into how Jesus worked with His Father jn0517. We come in response to the Father's call je3103 through the Holy Spirit. And Christ draws us while our coming is made possible by the Father jn1232.
  45 - Taught of God From is5413.
  45 - Learned of the Father Or "Learned from the Father."
  46 - He which is of God Instead, "He who is from the side of the Father." That is, Christ who had been at the side of the Father in heaven jn0729, jn1627, jn1708, jn0101.
.47  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
.48  I am that bread of life.
 49  Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
 50  This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
.51  I 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.		   47 - Hath everlasting life As Christ has taken our flesh we may receive His spiritual life. Although we may sleep in the grave, we begin eternal life when we accept Christ. jn0851, jn1010, 1jo0512. And we must guard against losing it re0311. The words "on me" are omitted by the NIV.
.52  The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
.53  Then 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.
 54  Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
 55  For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
 56  He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
 57  As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
 58  This 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.
.59  These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.		   53 - Eat flesh ... Compare ex0810. The spiritual life v47 is nourished by eating and drinking the spiritual life of Christ. We commemorate it in the Lord's Supper 1co1126.
  56 - He ... dwelleth in me, and I in him The close bond is the miracle of Grace. Compare jn1504.
  57 - Living Father He is a life source de0526; mt1616; ac1415 not dependent on anyone or any thing.
  57 - By the Father Literally "because of the Father." Although having life in Himself as the Father has jn0526, Christ in human form on earth was dependent on the Father jn0828.
.60 ¶ Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
.61  When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
 62  What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
.63  It is the spirit that quickeneth [makes alive]; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
.64  But 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.
 65  And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
.66  From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
   60 - Disciples Followers – not just the twelve.
   60 - Hard saying They knew what He meant. He had told them He was the bread of life v51. They needed to take His words and thus His holy character. We today are tempted to make our own Jesus – one who is only a nice guy to praise as our ticket to heaven while forgetting about the part of taking up our cross and following His unselfish life.
   65 - Except it were given unto him Our natures are not prone to righteousness. Somehow God shows us the beauty  of a relationship with Christ. The choice is ours. What a tragedy that most refuse the invitation! v37.
  66 - Walked no more Sadly the decision made by most today.
.67  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
.68  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
.69  And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
 70  Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
 71  He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.		   69 - Living God See ps08402.
  An opportunity to bring conviction and commitment. It is good for all of us to speak of our conviction. This helps keep it fresh and safe from doubt and worry. Here is reason for prayer.
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