John 6

The Feeding of Five Thousand

1 After these [things] Jesus went away to the other side of the sea of Galilee (that is, Tiberias).

2 And a large crowd was following him because they were observing the signs that he was doing on those who were sick.

3 So Jesus went up on the mountain and sat down there with his disciples.

4 (Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near.)

5 {Then Jesus, when he looked up} and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread so that these [people] can eat?"

6 (Now he said this to test him, because he knew what he was going to do.)

7 Philip replied to him, "Two hundred denarii [worth of] bread would not be enough for them, in order that each one could receive a little."

8 One of his disciples, Andrew the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,

9 "Here is a boy who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many [people]?"

10 Jesus said, "Make the people recline." (Now [there] was a lot of grass in the place.) So the men reclined, approximately five thousand [in] number.

11 Then Jesus took the bread, and [after he] had given thanks, he distributed [it] to those who were reclining--likewise also of the fish, as much as they wanted.

12 And when they were satisfied, he said to his disciples, "Gather the remaining fragments so that nothing is lost."

13 So they gathered [them], and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.

14 Now [when] the people saw the sign that he performed, they began to say, "This one is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world!"

15 Then Jesus, [because he] knew that they were about to come and seize him in order to make [him] king, withdrew again up the mountain [by] himself alone.

Jesus Walks on the Water

16 Now when evening came, his disciples went down to the sea.

17 And getting into a boat, they began to go to the other side of the sea, to Capernaum. And it had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.

18 And the sea began to be stirred up [because] a strong wind was blowing.

19 Then [when they] had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were afraid.

20 But he said to them, "[It] is I! Do not be afraid!"

21 So they were wanting to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat came to the land to which they were going.

Discourse About the Bread of Life

22 On the next day, the crowd that was on the other side of the sea saw that other boats were not there (except one), and that Jesus had not entered with his disciples into the boat, but his disciples had departed alone.

23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread [after] the Lord had given thanks.

24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus.

25 And [when they] found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?"

26 Jesus replied to them and said, "Truly, truly I say to you, you seek me not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were satisfied!

27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but the food that remains to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has set his seal on this one."

28 So they said to him, "What shall we do that we can accomplish the works of God?"

29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God: that you believe in [the one] whom that one sent."

30 So they said to him, "Then what sign will you perform, so that we can see [it] and believe you? What will you do?

31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'

32 Then Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly I say to you, Moses did not give you bread from heaven, but my Father is giving you the true bread from heaven!

33 For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."

34 So they said to him, "Sir, always give us this bread!"

35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. The one who comes to me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty again.

36 But I said to you that you have seen me and do not believe.

37 Everyone whom the Father gives to me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never throw out,

38 because I have come down from heaven not that I should do my will, but the will of the one who sent me.

39 Now this is the will of the one who sent me: that everyone whom he has given me, I would not lose [any] of them, but raise them up on the last day.

40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks at the Son and believes in him would have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."

41 Now the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven,"

42 and they were saying, "Is this one not Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?"

43 Jesus answered and said to them, "Do not grumble {among yourselves}!

44 No one is able to come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.

45 It is written in the prophets, 'And they will all be taught by God.' Everyone who hears from the Father and learns comes to me.

46 (Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God--this one has seen the Father.)

47 Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes has eternal life.

48 I am the bread of life.

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

50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that someone may eat from it and not die.

51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats from this bread, he will live {forever}. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."

52 So the Jews began to quarrel {among themselves}, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"

53 Then Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life in yourselves!

54 The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.

56 The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood resides in me and I in him.

57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, [so] also the one who eats me--that one will live because of me.

58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not as the fathers ate and died. The one who eats this bread will live {forever}."

Many of Jesus’ Disciples Offended by His Teaching

59 He said these [things] [while] teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

60 Thus many of his disciples, [when they] heard [it], said, "This saying is hard! Who can understand it?"

61 But Jesus, [because he] knew within himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, "Does this cause you to be offended?

62 Then [what] if you see the Son of Man ascending where he was before?

63 The Spirit is the one who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

64 But there are some of you who do not believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)

65 And he said, "Because of this I said to you that no one can come to me unless it has been granted to him by the Father."

Peter’s Confession

66 For this [reason] many of his disciples {drew back} and were not walking with him any longer.

67 So Jesus said to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, [do you]?"

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

69 And we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."

70 Jesus replied to them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is the devil?"

71 (Now he was speaking about Judas [son] of Simon Iscariot, because this one--one of the twelve--was going to betray him.)

John 6 Commentary

Chapter 6

Five thousand miraculously fed. (1-14) Jesus walks on the sea. (15-21) He directs to spiritual food. (22-27) His discourse with the multitude. (28-65) Many of disciples go back. (66-71)

Verses 1-14 John relates the miracle of feeding the multitude, for its reference to the following discourse. Observe the effect this miracle had upon the people. Even the common Jews expected the Messiah to come into the world, and to be a great Prophet. The Pharisees despised them as not knowing the law; but they knew most of Him who is the end of the law. Yet men may acknowledge Christ as that Prophet, and still turn a deaf ear to him.

Verses 15-21 Here were Christ's disciples in the way of duty, and Christ was praying for them; yet they were in distress. There may be perils and afflictions of this present time, where there is an interest in Christ. Clouds and darkness often surround the children of the light and of the day. They see Jesus walking on the sea. Even the approaches of comfort and deliverance often are so mistaken, as to become the occasions of fear. Nothing is more powerful to convince sinners than that word, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest;" nothing more powerful to comfort saints than this, "I am Jesus whom thou lovest." If we have received Christ Jesus the Lord, though the night be dark, and the wind high, yet we may comfort ourselves, we shall be at the shore before long.

Verses 22-27 Instead of answering the inquiry how he came there, Jesus blamed their asking. The utmost earnestness should be employed in seeking salvation, in the use of appointed means; yet it is to be sought only as the gift of the Son of man. Him the Father has sealed, proved to be God. He declared the Son of man to be the Son of God with power.

Verses 28-35 Constant exercise of faith in Christ, is the most important and difficult part of the obedience required from us, as sinners seeking salvation. When by his grace we are enabled to live a life of faith in the Son of God, holy tempers follow, and acceptable services may be done. God, even his Father, who gave their fathers that food from heaven to support their natural lives, now gave them the true Bread for the salvation of their souls. Coming to Jesus, and believing on him, signify the same. Christ shows that he is the true Bread; he is to the soul what bread is to the body, nourishes and supports the spiritual life. He is the Bread of God. Bread which the Father gives, which he has made to be the food of our souls. Bread nourishes only by the powers of a living body; but Christ is himself living Bread, and nourishes by his own power. The doctrine of Christ crucified is now as strengthening and comforting to a believer as ever it was. He is the Bread which came down from heaven. It denotes the Divinity of Christ's person and his authority; also, the Divine origin of all the good which flows to us through him. May we with understanding and earnestness say, Lord, evermore give us this Bread.

Verses 36-46 The discovery of their guilt, danger, and remedy, by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, makes men willing and glad to come, and to give up every thing which hinders applying to him for salvation. The Father's will is, that not one of those who were given to the Son, should be rejected or lost by him. No one will come, till Divine grace has subdued, and in part changed his heart; therefore no one who comes will ever be cast out. The gospel finds none willing to be saved in the humbling, holy manner, made known therein; but God draws with his word and the Holy Ghost; and man's duty is to hear and learn; that is to say, to receive the grace offered, and consent to the promise. None had seen the Father but his beloved Son; and the Jews must expect to be taught by his inward power upon their minds, and by his word, and the ministers whom he sent among them.

Verses 47-51 The advantage of the manna was small, it only referred to this life; but the living Bread is so excellent, that the man who feedeth on it shall never die. This bread is Christ's human nature, which he took to present to the Father, as a sacrifice for the sins of the world; to purchase all things pertaining to life and godliness, for sinners of every nation, who repent and believe in him.

Verses 52-59 The flesh and blood of the Son of man, denote the Redeemer in the nature of man; Christ and him crucified, and the redemption wrought out by him, with all the precious benefits of redemption; pardon of sin, acceptance with God, the way to the throne of grace, the promises of the covenant, and eternal life. These are called the flesh and blood of Christ, because they are purchased by the breaking his body, and the shedding of his blood. Also, because they are meat and drink to our souls. Eating this flesh and drinking this blood mean believing in Christ. We partake of Christ and his benefits by faith. The soul that rightly knows its state and wants, finds whatever can calm the conscience, and promote true holiness, in the redeemer, God manifest in the flesh. Meditating upon the cross of Christ gives life to our repentance, love, and gratitude. We live by him, as our bodies live by our food. We live by him, as the members by the head, the branches by the root: because he lives we shall live also.

Verses 60-65 The human nature of Christ had not before been in heaven, but being God and man, that wondrous Person was truly said to have come down from heaven. The Messiah's kingdom was not of this world; and they were to understand by faith, what he had said of a spiritual living upon him, and his fulness. As without the soul of man the flesh is of no value, so without the quickening Spirit of God all forms of religion are dead and worthless. He who made this provision for our souls, alone can teach us these things, and draw us unto Christ, that we may live by faith in him. Let us apply to Christ, thankful that it is declared that every one who is willing to come unto him shall be made welcome.

Verses 66-71 When we admit into our minds hard thoughts of the words and works of Jesus, we enter into temptation, which, if the Lord in mercy prevent not, will end in drawing back. The corrupt and wicked heart of man often makes that an occasion for offence, which is matter of the greatest comfort. Our Lord had, in the foregoing discourse, promised eternal life to his followers; the disciples fastened on that plain saying, and resolved to cleave to him, when others fastened on hard sayings, and forsook him. Christ's doctrine is the word of eternal life, therefore we must live and die by it. If we forsake Christ, we forsake our own mercies. They believed that this Jesus was the Messiah promised to their fathers, the Son of the living God. When we are tempted to backslide or turn away, it is good to remember first principles, and to keep to them. And let us ever remember our Lord's searching question; Shall we go away and forsake our Redeemer? To whom can we go? He alone can give salvation by the forgiveness of sins. And this alone brings confidence, comfort, and joy, and bids fear and despondency flee away. It gains the only solid happiness in this world, and opens a way to the happiness of the next.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "then Jesus lifting up the eyes"
• [b]. *Here "[when]" in the translation is supplied as a component of the participle "lifting up" which is understood as temporal
• [c]. *Here "[after]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("had given thanks") which is understood as temporal
• [d]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [e]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [f]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("saw") which is understood as temporal
• [g]. *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here ("began to say")
• [h]. *Here "[because]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("knew") which is understood as causal
• [i]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [j]. *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here ("began to go")
• [k]. *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here ("began to be stirred up")
• [l]. *Here "[because]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("was blowing") which is understood as causal
• [m]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("had rowed") which is understood as temporal
• [n]. A "stade" or "stadium" (plur. "stadia") is about 607 ft (187 m), so this was around 3 miles (5 km)
• [o]. *Here "[after]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("had given thanks")
• [p]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("found") which is understood as temporal
• [q]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [r]. A quotation from Ps 78:24 which refers to the events of Exod 16:4-36
• [s]. This pronoun is neuter singular in Greek, but is collective
• [t]. This pronoun is neuter singular in Greek, but is collective
• [u]. *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here ("began to grumble")
• [v]. Literally "with one another"
• [w]. A quotation from Isa 54:13
• [x]. The switch from first person in vv. 44-45 to third person here and back to first person in vv. 47-51 suggests that this verse is a parenthetical comment by the author rather than the words of Jesus
• [y]. Literally "for the age"
• [z]. *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here ("began to quarrel")
• [aa]. Literally "with one another"
• [ab]. *This term is somewhat graphic and typically used for animals feeding, but the distinction from other Greek verbs for eating is difficult to convey in English
• [ac]. *This term is somewhat graphic and typically used for animals feeding, but the distinction from other Greek verbs for eating is difficult to convey in English
• [ad]. *This term is somewhat graphic and typically used for animals feeding, but the distinction from other Greek verbs for eating is difficult to convey in English
• [ae]. Literally "for the age"
• [af]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("teaching") which is understood as temporal
• [ag]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("heard") which is understood as temporal
• [ah]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [ai]. *Here "[because]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("knew") which is understood as causal
• [aj]. Literally "went away to the things behind"
• [ak]. *The negative construction in Greek anticipates a negative answer here, indicated in the translation by the phrase "[do you]"