John6

Jesus miraculously feeds five thousand men with five barley loaves and two small fishes, then walks on water to His disciples during a storm. The next day, He teaches the multitude about seeking spiritual food over physical, declaring Himself the "bread of life" and emphasizing that believing in Him grants everlasting life. Many disciples find this teaching difficult and depart, but Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ. Jesus then reveals that one of the twelve, Judas Iscariot, is a betrayer.

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Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the sea of Galilee, which isthe seaof Tiberias.

And a great multitude followed him, because they beheld the signs which he did on them that were sick.

And Jesus went up into the mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.

Now the passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.

Jesus therefore lifting up his eyes, and seeing that a great multitude cometh unto him, saith unto Philip, Whence are we to buy bread, that these may eat?

And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

Philip answered him, Two hundred shillings’ worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little.

One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him,

There is a lad here, who hath five barley loaves, and two fishes: but what are these among so many?

Jesus said, Make the people sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

Jesus therefore took the loaves; and having given thanks, he distributed to them that were set down; likewise also of the fishes as much as they would.

And when they were filled, he saith unto his disciples, Gather up the broken pieces which remain over, that nothing be lost.

So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves, which remained over unto them that had eaten.

When therefore the people saw the sign which he did, they said, This is of a truth the prophet that cometh into the world.

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

Jesus Walks on the Sea

And when evening came, his disciples went down unto the sea;

and they entered into a boat, and were going over the sea unto Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.

And the sea was rising by reason of a great wind that blew.

When therefore they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they behold Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the boat: and they were afraid.

But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.

They were willing therefore to receive him into the boat: and straightway the boat was at the land whither they were going.

The People Seek the Wrong Bread

On the morrow the multitude that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, save one, and that Jesus entered not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples went away alone

(howbeit there came boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks):

when the multitude therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they themselves got into the boats, and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

And when they found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw signs, but because ye ate of the loaves, and were filled.

Work not for the food which perisheth, but for the food which abideth unto eternal life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him the Father, even God, hath sealed.

They said therefore unto him, What must we do, that we may work the works of God?

Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

They said therefore unto him, What then doest thou for a sign, that we may see, and believe thee? what workest thou?

Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.

Jesus therefore said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, It was not Moses that gave you the bread out of heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread out of heaven.

For the bread of God is that which cometh down out of heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

They said therefore unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

Jesus Declares, 'I Am the Bread of Life'

Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall not hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

But I said unto you, that ye have seen me, and yet believe not.

All that which the Father giveth me shall come unto me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

For I am come down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

And this is the will of him that sent me, that of all that which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.

For this is the will of my Father, that every one that beholdeth the Son, and believeth on him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

The Jews therefore murmured concerning him, because he said, I am the bread which came down out of heaven.

And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how doth he now say, I am come down out of heaven?

Jesus answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him: and I will raise him up in the last day.

It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God. Every one that hath heard from the Father, and hath learned, cometh unto me.

Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he that is from God, he hath seen the Father.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth hath eternal life.

I am the bread of life.

Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.

This is the bread which cometh down out of heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

The Bread of Life: Eating His Flesh

I am the living bread which came down out of heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: yea and the bread which I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.

The Jews therefore strove one with another, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?

Jesus therefore 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 not life in yourselves.

He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me, and I in him.

As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he that eateth me, he also shall live because of me.

This is the bread which came down out of heaven: not as the fathers ate, and died; he that eateth this bread shall live for ever.

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

The Hard Saying and Division

Many therefore of his disciples, when they heardthis, said, This is a hard saying; who can hear it?

But Jesus knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at this, said unto them, Doth this cause you to stumble?

What then if ye should behold the Son of man ascending where he was before?

It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life.

But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who it was that should betray him.

And he said, For this cause have I said unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it be given unto him of the Father.

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

Peter's Confession and Judas’s Betrayal

Jesus said therefore unto the twelve, Would ye also go away?

Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

And we have believed and know that thou art the Holy One of God.

Jesus answered them, Did not I choose you the twelve, and one of you is a devil?

Now he spake of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

Study Notes for John 6

Verse 1

The Sea of Galilee is also called the Sea of Tiberias, named after the city built by Herod Antipas. This geographical detail helps place the miracle in the region of the Decapolis.

Verse 4

The proximity of the Passover feast (springtime) links the miracle of the bread to the Old Testament themes of God’s provision for Israel in the wilderness (Exodus), setting the stage for Jesus' discourse on the true manna.

Verse 6

Jesus asks the question 'to prove him' (Philip), demonstrating Jesus’ omniscience while testing the faith and practical understanding of his disciples.

Verse 9

Barley loaves were the cheapest and coarsest food, typically eaten by the poor. This detail emphasizes the humble nature of the provision that Jesus multiplied.

Verse 14

The crowd identifies Jesus as 'that prophet' expected to come into the world, likely referring to the great prophet like Moses promised in Deuteronomy 18:15. They recognize his authority but misunderstand his mission.

Verse 15

The crowd sought to enthrone Jesus by force as an earthly, material king who could lead a political revolution and provide economic security. Jesus withdrew because his kingship was spiritual, not political.

Verse 19

The distance covered (about 3.5 to 4 miles) shows the disciples were far out on the sea when the storm arose, highlighting the severity of their situation before Jesus intervened.

Verse 20

The phrase 'It is I' is the Greek *Egō Eimi* ('I Am'), a subtle but powerful declaration of divine presence and authority over creation, echoing the name of God revealed to Moses (Exodus 3:14).

Verse 26

Jesus distinguishes the crowd's motivation: they seek him for physical, temporary satisfaction ('loaves') rather than for the spiritual and eternal significance of the sign ('miracles').

Verse 27

To be 'sealed' means to be authenticated. God the Father has certified Jesus as the true provider of life, commissioning him with authority for his work.

Verse 29

Jesus defines the true 'work of God' not as ritualistic adherence to the Law, but as the foundational act of faith: believing in the one whom God has sent.

Verse 31

The people demand a sign comparable to the manna provided through Moses, equating Jesus’ authority to the Old Covenant provision and challenging him to surpass it.

Verse 32

Jesus corrects their understanding, clarifying that the manna came from God, not Moses, and was merely a physical type. Now, the Father is giving the 'true bread'—a spiritual, eternal reality.

Verse 35

This is the first of the seven great 'I Am' statements in John’s Gospel, identifying Jesus as the sole source of eternal spiritual sustenance and satisfaction. Belief is equated with coming to him.

Verse 37

This verse presents both divine sovereignty ('All that the Father giveth me') and human responsibility ('him that cometh to me'), affirming that God initiates salvation while promising security to the believer.

Verse 42

The Jews focus on Jesus’ known human parentage ('son of Joseph') to refute his claim of pre-existence and divine origin, illustrating their reliance on physical evidence over spiritual revelation.

Verse 44

Jesus emphasizes the necessity of divine grace, stating that belief is impossible unless the Father acts first to 'draw' (or lead) the individual to the Son.

Verse 45

Jesus quotes Isaiah 54:13, showing that the ability to be drawn by the Father fulfills prophecy—those who hear and learn from God will inevitably come to Christ.

Verse 51

The metaphor shifts from simply believing in Jesus as the source of life to the sacrificial nature of his work. His 'flesh' refers to his body given in death for the atonement of the world.

Verse 53

This highly provocative language emphasizes the absolute necessity of fully identifying with (or participating in) Christ’s sacrificial death. It foreshadows the institution of the Lord’s Supper (Eucharist).

Verse 56

To 'dwell in me, and I in him' speaks of profound, mystical union between the believer and Christ, achieved through the spiritual reality represented by eating and drinking.

Verse 59

The location is specified as the synagogue in Capernaum, the center of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee, indicating the public and authoritative nature of this challenging teaching.

Verse 60

Many of Jesus' followers found the teaching concerning eating his flesh and drinking his blood too difficult to accept, demonstrating the offense of the cross.

Verse 63

Jesus clarifies that his words must be understood spiritually, not literally. The 'flesh' (carnal understanding) profits nothing; his teachings convey the life-giving power of the Spirit.

Verse 64

Jesus’ foreknowledge of Judas’s betrayal and the lack of faith among some disciples underscores his full awareness of the opposition and challenges he faced.

Verse 66

This verse marks a major crisis point in Jesus’ ministry, where the difficulty of his spiritual demands caused many who were merely curious or seeking material gain to abandon him.

Verse 68

Peter’s confession is a recognition that Jesus, despite the difficulty of his teachings, is the exclusive source of eternal life, indicating a faith based on spiritual truth rather than physical signs.

Verse 70

Jesus affirms his sovereign choice of the twelve while exposing the presence of profound evil ('a devil') among them, highlighting the mystery of human free will alongside divine knowledge.

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John6

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

Jesus Walks on the Sea

The People Seek the Wrong Bread

Jesus Declares, 'I Am the Bread of Life'

The Bread of Life: Eating His Flesh

The Hard Saying and Division

Peter's Confession and Judas’s Betrayal

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