John 6: Jesus, the bread from heaven

• v.1-15 Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
• v.16-24 Jesus crosses the Lake and the crowd follow later
• v.25-59 Jesus the Bread of Life
• v.60-71 Many Disciples Desert Jesus

v.1-15 Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

v.1-4 A ‘crowd situation’ arises

v.1,2  Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick.

v.3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples.

v.4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near.

[Note: Jesus crossed the Sea again and sat on a mountainside to teach. Passover was coming up.]

v.5-9 Jesus tests the faith of the Philip

v.5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?”

v.6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

v.7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

v.8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up,

v.9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

[Note: Seeing the crowd Jesus asked Philip how they could feed them; he did it to test Philip but Philip focused on the resources needed. Andrew spoke up for he had a small boy with him with some food.]

v.10-13 Jesus feeds the crowd

v.10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there).

v.11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

v.12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.”

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

[Note: Jesus got the people to sit down, five thousand men at least, took the small amount of food, prayed over it, and then fed the crowd. He told the disciples to collect the leftovers and they collected twelve basket full.]

v.14,15 The crowd wanted to make Jesus king

v.14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

v.15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

[Note: The crowd recognized him as a prophet but knowing they wanted to make him their king, Jesus withdrew.]

v.16-24 Jesus crosses the Lake and the crowd follow later

v.16-21 Jesus walks across the lake

v.16,17 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them.

v.18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough.

v.19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened.

v.20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.”

v.21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

[Note: In the evening the disciples got into the boat to cross the lake, but it started to get rough. Some way out they saw Jesus walking toward them and he called to them to reassure them. They took him aboard and landed.]

v.22-24 The crowd want to follow Jesus

v.22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone.

v.23 Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.

v.24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.

[Note: The next day the crowd realized he had gone and some other boats arrived, so many got in the boats crossed back.]

v.25-59 Jesus the Bread of Life

v.25-29 Jesus teaches them to look for more than just bread

v.25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

v.26 Jesus declared they asked for more food, not because of the sign) Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.

v.27 Do not work for food that spoils, 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.”

v.28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

v.29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

[Note: When they found him they asked how he got there but he told them they just wanted more food, not because of who they realized he was.  He said seek eternal food rather than just earthly food. What must we do, they asked. Believe in me.]

v.30-32 They ask for a sign to believe

v.30 So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do?

v.31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’

v.32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.

[Note: They ask for a sign and cite Moses giving them manna [Exo 16:4; Neh. 9:15; Psa 78:24,25]. Jesus said it was God not Moses who gave it.]

v.33-35 Jesus declares himself as God’s ‘bread’

v.33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

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

v.35 Then 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.

[Note: God’s bread is what comes down from heaven, that gives life. We want it, they reply. Jesus declared, I am the bread of life.]

v.36-40 Failure to believe God’s will seen through Jesus

v.36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.

v.37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.

v.38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.

v.39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.

v.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.”

[Note: But I know you won’t believe because only those the Father gives me will come. I’ve come down from heaven to do His will which is that I lose none he gives me. Whoever believes in me will have eternal life. Note the logic here: the Father will draw followers to Jesus, and those he’ll never lose. But those who aren’t called (because they refuse to believe), they won’t follow him and be saved.]

v.41-42 The Jews reject this for they think they know where he’s come from

v.41 At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”

v.42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”

[Note: The Jews grumbled at this for they knew he was a carpenter – from heaven???]

v.43-48 Jesus reiterates only open-hearted believers will respond to the Father’s call

v.43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered.

v.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.

v.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.

v.46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father.

v.47 Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.

v.48 I am the bread of life.

[Note: Jesus told them to stop grumbling and reiterates only those the Father draws will come,  just as Isaiah had said – Isa 54:13. Only the one from God has seen God and whoever believes that receives eternal life. He reiterated he was the Bread of Life.]

v.49,50 This bread brings eternal life

v.49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died.

v.50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die.

[Note: Their ancestors died even after eating the manna but the bread from heaven stops death.]

v.51-52 His physical presence is this ‘bread’

v.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.”

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

[Note: His physical presence is that ‘bread’ from heaven that brings that life and they must accept (eat) that. Of course they misunderstand.]

v.53-59 Jesus keeps on with the analogy

v.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.

v.54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.

v.55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.

v.56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.

v.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.

v.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.”

v.59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

[Note: Jesus rubs it in – you need to eat me and only those who do so receive eternal life. (If we accept he is using an analogy, we see he is meaning ‘believing’ is the equivalent of ‘eating’ and the necessary belief is that he is God who has come down from heaven. Nevertheless he understands that their hearts are set and will refuse to believe even if he makes it ultra-clear, and so rather as he often uses parables that only those close to him will understand, so here, similarly, he uses allegorical language that only real seekers will go away and think about and come to belief.

So, taking him in (truly believing in him) is real food and drink and such people become united with Jesus. Life comes from God through him to them; thus he is different from the manna for they will live for ever if they ‘eat’ him [believe]. These things he said in the Capernaum synagogue.]

v.60-71 Many Disciples Desert Jesus

v.60-62 Struggles to believe

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

v.61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?

v.62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before!

[Note: A number of his followers struggled with this so Jesus asked if this offended them; would his ascension help them [implication, stay around and see it!]

v.63-65 Only the Spirit will bring (seekers) revelation

v.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.

v.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.

v.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.”

[Note: His words come from the Spirit who brings life. yet some had never really believed which is why he talked about the Father drawing only some.]

v.66-71 The disciples declare they will stay when others leave

v.66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

v.67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.

v.68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

v.69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

v.70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”

v.71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)

[Note: A number turned away and so Jesus questioned the twelve, and Peter says there is nowhere else to go, we’ve come to believe. Yes, responds Jesus, you’re chosen, even though one of you is an enemy agent, referring to Judas Iscariot who would betray him.]

(Additional Notes:

1. In this chapter we see the first of the seven ‘I Am’ sayings of Jesus found in John’s Gospel. The significance is found in God’s description of Himself in Ex 3:14 and it is thought Jesus is identifying with his Father in this word usage. Each one makes a particularly divine claim. We have made them stand out in the text by making them red. In this chapter there are four forms of the same claim, most simply put in v.48.

2. This chapter is unique in that it is the only place where Jesus declares so clearly that he has come down from heaven, i.e. he existed in heaven before he was ‘born’ on earth.)  

For those who may wish to make a study of this chapter, to perhaps think some more about what you have been reading, use the link below: