John Chapter 6
Context: Chapter 5 was all about one Sabbath day in Jerusalem. Now, in Chapter 6, we see Jesus, one day in a remote area and the next day, He was teaching in Capernaum:
John 6:1 After these things, Jesus went away to the other side of the sea of Galilee, which is also called the Sea of Tiberias.
John 6:2-6 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.
- Mark fills in some more detail: Mark 6:33-36 They saw them going, and many recognized him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to him. 34 Jesus came out, saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things. 35 When it was late in the day, his disciples came to him, and said, "This place is deserted, and it is late in the day. 36 Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages, and buy themselves bread, for they have nothing to eat." 37 But he answered them, "You give them something to eat." They asked him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give them something to eat?"{200 denarii was about 7 or 8 months wages for an agricultural laborer.}
John 6:7 Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that everyone of them may receive a little."
John 6:8-9 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?"
John 6:10-15 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."{See Deut 18:15, 18; Mal 4:5-6 .} 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.
John 6:16-21 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.
- Don't miss that miracle, just as Jesus got into the boat!
John 6:22-25 On the next day,{in Capernaum vs.17} 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?"
- Notice, in the next verse, Jesus did not answer their question, but rather told them exactly what they needed to hear instead.
John 6:26-27 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."
John 6:28 They said therefore to him, "What must we do, that we may work the works of God?"
John 6:29 Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."
John 6:30-31 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.'"(they quoted Psalm78:24 )
- They thought Moses did this(see vs.32). Why? Psalm 78:24 was misunderstood. Let's look at it in context and we will see why:
- Psalm 78:17-24 Yet they{children of Israel in the wilderness} still went on to sin against him, to rebel against the Most High in the desert. 18 They tempted God in their heart by asking food according to their desire. 19 Yes, they spoke against God. They said, "Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? 20 Behold, he[Moses(Numbers20:11)] struck the rock, so that waters gushed out, and streams overflowed. Can he[Moses] give bread also? Will he provide flesh for his people?" 21 Therefore Jehovah heard, and was angry. A fire was kindled against Jacob, anger also went up against Israel, 22 because they didn't believe in God, and didn't trust in his salvation. 23 Yet he[Jehovah] commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven. 24 He rained down manna on them to eat, and gave them food from the sky. 25 Man ate the bread of angels. He sent them food to the full.
- Exodus 16:4 Then Jehovah said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from the sky for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law, or not.
- Nehemiah praying => Neh.9:6,7,15 You are Jehovah even you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their army, the earth and all things that are on it, the seas and all that is in them, and you preserve them all. The army of heaven worships you. 7 You are Jehovah, the God who chose Abram, and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gave him the name of Abraham... 15 and [Jehovah (vs7)] gave them bread from the sky for their hunger, and brought forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and commanded them that they should go in to possess the land which you had sworn to give them.
John 6:32-33 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[Jesus(vs35] is that which comes down out of heaven[vs.38], and gives life[vs/63] to the world."
- Words in this color show Jesus speaking of himself -- usually as if He were another person.
- Notice that Jesus identified His Father as the one who gave the manna. And we saw in the old testament that it was Jehovah who gave the mana. So, Christ's Father is Jehovah and the Creator. We also see verification from the new testament that Christ's Father created all things through through His only-born Son:
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Hebrews 1:1-2 God... Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
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John 1:3-4 (NLT) " God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.
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Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in GOD[the Father], WHO CREATED ALL THINGS BY JESUS CHRIST: -Paul
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John 6:34 They said therefore to him, "Lord, always give us this bread."
John 6:35-40 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."
John 6:41-42 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?'"
John 6:43-47 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.'{Isaiah 54:13} 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.
- Notice Jesus said "has eternal life". "Has" is present tense, meaning it has already happened. How can that be? Do we have "eternal life" right now? See the Bible study titled "Never Die" => http://sidnash.org/docs/NeverDie.html
- What is the condition of this "eternal life"? Jesus said it is for those who believe in His Father (see Jn17:1,3 ), learn from His Father(vs.45) and believe in Him(Jesus vs.47). See also John 3:14-17 .
John 6:48-51 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[Jesus] 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."
John 6:52 The Jews therefore contended with one another, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
John 6:53 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.
- Notice the phrase "life in yourselves", compare that with this teaching of Jesus:
- John 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son also to have life in himself:
John 6:54-59 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;(see Jn5:26 ) so he who feeds on me, he will also live because of me.{Do you feed daily on Jesus?} 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." 59 He said these things in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
John 6:60 Therefore many of his disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying! Who can listen to it?"
John 6:61-63 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?{see Mark 16:19 } 63 It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.
- In my opinion, this is one of the most-important teachings of Jesus. Notice He said "It is the spirit who gives life". This is Jesus interpreting what He said earlier => "He who eats this bread will live forever." In both cases, Jesus was speaking of Himself. More specifically, He further-defined "the spirit", when He said, "The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life." You can read more about the spirit of Jesus in our study of John 15 => http://sidnash.org/docs/John15.html
- When we eat Jesus, actually eat His words, we assimilate His teachings into our minds. That, my friend is how we can have Christ in us, which give us the hope of glorification - life everlasting. ( Colossians 1:27 )
John 6:64-65 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."
John 6:66-69 At this, many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 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."{Other manuscripts read you are the Christ, the Holy One of God; still others read you are the Christ, the Son of God; and still others read you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.}
John 6:70-71 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.
Desiring to live by every word that comes from the mouth of Jehovah ( Deut8:3; Matt4:4 )
-Sid Nash: 03/09/2024. Latest version: http://sidnash.org/docs/John6.html