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 over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.

And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

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

And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.

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?

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

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.

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.

¶ 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.

Jesus Walks on the Sea

And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,

And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.

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

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.

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

Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.

The People Seek the Wrong Bread

¶ 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;

(Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)

When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.

And when they had 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 the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

Labour 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.

¶ Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might 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 sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

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.

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

Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

Jesus Declares, 'I Am the Bread of Life'

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.

But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

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

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

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.

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.

The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.

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?

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

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.

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.

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

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

I am that bread of life.

Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.

This is the bread which cometh down from 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 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.

The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?

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.

Whoso 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, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

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.

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

The Hard Saying and Division

¶ Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?

What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they 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 should betray him.

And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Peter's Confession and Judas’s Betrayal

Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

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

And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?

He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: 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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