John Chapter Six
Jesus Feeds Five Thousand Men
[Text parallels Matthew 14:13-23, Mark 6:31-46 and Luke 9:10-17]
6:1 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.
John “fast forwards” to a period long past the events and discourse of chapter five since Jesus had already returned to the Galilee region, as reported in the Synoptic Gospels (see Matthew 5:1-8:34; 9:18-11:30; 12:15-14:12; Mark 3:7-6:30; and Luke 6:12-9:10). His fame and celebrity status increased significantly during this period, which explains the large number of people tracking His every move. The Sea of Galilee is known by many names in the Bible, including the Sea of Chinnereth (see Numbers 34:11; Joshua 13:27); the Sea of Chinneroth (see Joshua 12:3); Lake Gennesaret (see Luke 5:1); and now John adds one more to the list, the Sea of Tiberias, named after the town on the western shore in honor of the emperor.
6:2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.
John reports that as a result of Jesus’ healing ministry a large crowd was now following Him. He and His disciples went up on a mountain where they sat down. John informs us it was now springtime as the Passover was near.[1] This is the only miracle that John records that was also reported by the other gospel writers. All four gospel accounts include this event.
6:5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 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 they for so many?”
Jesus seeing that a large crowd was approaching, He turns to Philip, one of His disciples, and asks him, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” John adds that this was a test for Philip as Jesus, that being God, He already knew what He was going to do. Philip responded with a quick assessment, possibly already knowing how much money they had on hand, “Two hundred denarius worth of bread would not be enough…” Andrew then noted that there was a boy who had five loaves of bread and two fish, but then added (possibly while sighing), “But what are they for so many?”
6:10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.
Jesus instructs them to have the people sit down on the grass. John, like the other gospel writers, notes that there were about five thousand men.[2] Since the Passover was near, there may have been a large number of men heading for Jerusalem.
Jesus took the bread, gave thanks and then distributed the loaves to everyone seated. He did the same with the fish and everyone present had more than enough to eat. When everyone was finished, Jesus had His disciples go and pick up all of the remaining leftovers. They were able to fill twelve baskets from all of the bread that was left.[3]
6:14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” 15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
The people were able to connect this free meal to Jesus being sent by God. This supernatural multiplication of food made a significant impact on the people. They believed that Jesus was indeed “the Prophet” who was to come into the world (per the prophecy recorded in Deuteronomy 18:15-19). Jesus, knowing what they were planning on doing, to take Him by force and make Him King, withdrew from the crowd by going back up the mountain alone.
Jesus Walks on the Water
[Text parallels Matthew 14:24-33 and Mark 6:45-52]
6:16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
Per Jesus’ instructions, “Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.” (Mark 6:45), the disciples got in a boat and started across the lake. It is interesting to note that Mark records their destination as being Bethsaida while John refers to Capernaum as their landing place. While both cities are in the same direction and only six miles apart from each other, they are not the same location. It appears that Bethsaida was their original destination (the Greek word before Bethsaida, translated as ’to’ in Mark 6:45 is ‘pros’,[4] is in the accusative case referring to a place, person, or thing moving toward something) but perhaps due to the strong winds decided to stop at Capernaum. Some believe that the disciples were only told to go to the other side of the lake and therefore headed toward Bethsaida (being further east), but Jesus wanted them to go to Capernaum.
Jesus caught up to them by walking on the water. Since seeing someone walking on water is not a typical sight, the disciples were naturally frightened. Knowing their fear, Jesus called out to them saying, “It is I; do not be afraid.” John records that they were glad to bring Jesus on board, but then makes an interesting observation, that immediately the boat was at the land. Matthew notes that Peter desired to meet Jesus on the water and briefly walks on water himself, but none of the accounts offer explanation as to how they ‘immediately’ approached Capernaum. Some believe they were ‘supernaturally’ transported or propelled. Others believe either a mist or some form of cloud that had initially shrouded the land was blown away revealing their location near the shore.
I Am...The Bread of Life
6:22 On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away 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 went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
The next morning the crowd noticed that Jesus and His disciples were gone, but no other boats were missing. They likely heard from men on boats in the area that Jesus did not depart with the disciples. Apparently knowing where the disciples were heading, the people got into their boats and pursued Jesus and found Him in Capernaum.
6:25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”
When the people arrived in Capernaum they questioned Jesus how He got there. Instead of answering the question, Jesus tells them that they are only pursuing Him for a free meal. He instructs them to not labor for food that perishes, but for food that will lead to eternal life, food that will be provided by Him. For on Jesus, God the Father has set His seal (Greek ’esphragisen’,[5] to seal something using a signet from someone with authority, in context it refers to a guarantee).
6:28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
Hearing Jesus’ instructions, “Do not work for food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life…” the crowd ask Him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Focusing on what must they do, looking for protocol or procedure, they instead hear that God will be doing the work, all they have to do is to believe Him, the One God the Father has sent. Still thinking of physical food they ask Jesus for a sign, something that they may see and believe Him. They further ask what work will He do? An interesting question since the day before He fed thousands out of just a few pieces of bread and fish. They noted that their forefathers ate manna and quote Nehemiah 9:15, implying that Moses gave them bread from heaven, but they are quickly corrected by Jesus pointing out that the bread came from His Father, not Moses. Jesus bridges the giving of physical food from heaven to the true bread from heaven, the bread of God. The bread that gives life to the world. Still thinking in terms of a physical food to be eaten, they ask Jesus to, “give us this bread always.”
6:35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
Jesus offers the first of seven “I Am” discourses recorded in John’s gospel. Each discourse reveals an attribute of Jesus and His divinity.[6] Here Jesus proclaims He is the “Bread of Life” and that whoever comes to Him will not hunger and whoever believes in Him will not thirst. Not referring to the physical need for nourishment and water in this life, but to life with Him for eternity, Jesus explains that coming to and believing in Him is the only way to enter heaven. He further explains to the crowd that they have seen many things He has done as evidence to who and what He is (such as feeding thousands just the day before) but yet they still do not believe Him.
Jesus continues by noting that all that all of the people God the Father has given Him will indeed come to Him and they will never be sent away. Jesus then tells them that He came down from heaven, not to do His own will, but to do the will of His Father, specifically to raise ‘it’ (verse 39, Greek ‘auto’,[7] usually a personal pronoun referring to self, but the word can also be a reference to a third person, perhaps in context the word ’them’ would be more appropriate thus referring to all believers) on the last day (the Day of the Lord). Everyone who looks on the Son when they die, believing that Jesus will save them, will have eternal life with Him. No one will be overlooked or lost.
6:41 So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is not this 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 them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 No one can 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 has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— 46 not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father.
The Jews begin to grumble after hearing Jesus say He is the bread that came down from heaven. Their minds still only able to perceive the physical nature, reject Jesus’ claims because they know His family, where He grew up, they essentially thought of Him as being the “boy next door.” And now He claims that He came down from heaven? Jesus begins His response by telling them not to grumble among themselves. He then instructs them that no one comes to Him unless God the Father gets their attention. The Greek word translated here as ‘draw’ (‘helkysē’)[8] does refer to drawing something or someone toward but is often translated as ‘hauled’ or ‘dragged’, implying force. Jesus then quotes Isaiah 54:13 saying those that were drawn in will be taught by God, and everyone who has heard and learned about Him from the Father will come to Him and will be saved. Jesus clarifies that no one has seen the Father except for Him who is from God and that learning from Him is the equivalent as hearing and learning from His Father.
47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever 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 one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
Jesus again reiterates that whoever believes in Him has eternal life and that He is the Bread of Life. He reminds them that their forefathers ate the manna in the wilderness, but they eventually died. But the bread that He offers, the bread that comes down from heaven, anyone who eats of this bread will not die. Jesus now proclaims that He is the “Living Bread” that came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, that person will live forever. He then explains to them that the bread He is speaking about is His flesh.
6:52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 So 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 have no life in you. 54 Whoever feeds on 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 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” 59 Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.
The idea of eating human flesh was immediately rejected and rightfully repulsed all those listening. They questioned how could someone offer their flesh to someone else to eat? Jesus replied, “…unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you…” This response is perhaps one of the more controversial segments in the entire Bible. One can easily understand why His audience had a problem with eating human flesh and drinking human blood. However, this was not the subject of this discourse, and of course Jesus was not in any way promoting cannibalism. Even though the idea of cannibalism is referenced several times in Scripture (see Leviticus 26:29; Deuteronomy 28:53-57; 2 Kings 6:28-29; Jeremiah 19:9; Lamentations 2:20; 4:10; Ezekiel 5:10) it is always presented as a negative inhuman act of desperation. So, what was Jesus talking about? Some like to gloss over this subject by saying He was referring to the practice of ‘Communion’ (also known as ‘Eucharist’), that is only partially true. But since communion had not yet been instituted, His audience would not have known what He was talking about, although they do share a common theme.
Like many of Jesus’ illustrations, He is using a physical example to convey a spiritual truth. Sadly, many, including several today, have missed the lesson being taught. There are a number of parallels between physical eating and the gospel message:[9]
Eating Gospel
Hunger for food Hunger for Jesus and the Word of God
Eating is for self Salvation only available for individuals
Choose to eat One can accept Jesus or reject Him
Food is digested Holy Spirit dwells inside person
Food must be trusted Person must trust Jesus
Even though there is a parallel between the lamb being eaten on Passover and Jesus being the Passover Lamb, the lesson in no way encourages, promotes nor allows the actual consumption of human flesh or blood.[10]
Repeated several times, the lesson is that whoever feeds on Jesus’ flesh (being fully sustained by Him, trusting in Him) and drinks His blood (accepts what He did for them, knowing that without the shedding of blood there cannot be forgiveness, see Hebrews 9:22) has eternal life. Jesus will raise that person on the last day; they will abide in Him and He in them; and live because of Him. Unlike the bread that came down from heaven during Moses’ day (manna), this Bread of Life, Jesus, when consumed will lead to eternal life.
John records that Jesus said these things while teaching in a synagogue in Capernaum.
Considerations
We can reason and understand to some degree the dichotomy of our existence, being made of at least two components[11], however, we can only truly relate to our physical component, our bodies. In the physical realm we can use our five senses, we can see, hear, taste, feel, and smell. But our spiritual side is not so precise or able. Due to our greater grasp of our physical reality we often neglect or forget about our spiritual component.
The Bible is the only authority regarding our spiritual nature (although many “spiritually aware” people may disagree). The Bible teaches that every person’s spiritual component has needs, just like the body has needs. Even though it will not cease to function if it is not fed like our bodies, it does need guidance and encouragement to stay in alignment with God’s will and instruction.
Sections in the Bible like Jesus’ discourse on being the Bread of Life, are often referred to as “Food for the Soul.” Referring to a spiritual consumption, Jesus is telling his audience and everyone reading these verses, that we need to feed on Him. After all, it is our spiritual nature that accepts Jesus as our Savior, it is our spiritual nature that was transformed (see Romans 12:1-2), and it is our spiritual nature that influences our physical bodies. Since our bodies have not yet been transformed (still corrupt with sin and still able to sin) it is vital for every Christian to continue consuming food for the soul by reading and growing in the Word of God, beginning with the Bread of Life.
Jesus Knew From the Beginning
6:60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
Several of Jesus’ disciples (apparently from the group that followed Him, but not His inner circle of disciples) also had difficulty in understanding and accepting Jesus’ discourse on being the Bread of Life, especially, no doubt, when He referred to eating His flesh and drinking His blood. Knowing their thoughts, Jesus asks them if they took offense at what He said. He then asks them a hypothetical question, “What if they were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?” In other words, would they believe Him if they were to see Him ascend back into heaven? Knowing that they were likely repulsed by the idea of eating human flesh, Jesus clarified that the Bread of Life discourse was not about the physical world but instead was about their spiritual life. Noting that even when His words were explained there would be some that would not believe. John adds an interesting parenthetical statement, that Jesus knew from the beginning who would not believe Him and also knew who would betray Him. Which explains Jesus’ comment about not being able to come to accepting and believing in Jesus unless it was granted to them by His Father.
Considerations
Jesus asks those that He perceived as not accepting His teaching, “Do you take offense at this?” The Greek word ’skandalizei’[12] refers to a trap or a stumbling block, something that causes one to stumble or fall. Typically in history those that were offended by someone else’s opinion, it was typically mutually agreed upon that it was okay to disagree. However, today that is no longer a valid assumption, people polarize over the simplest of disagreements, as each side demands that the other side concede. This condition makes it difficult to evangelize as the gospel message is often considered offensive. Understanding that the pride of thinking your own opinion is right and thus the only opinion that matters is one of Satan’s sharpest tools, Christians need to understand that sometimes being offensive is the only way for some to see and hear the truth.
For most of the people that were following Jesus they had it relatively easy. The hardest thing they had to do was to track and keep up with Him. While it is true that many of those that heard Jesus’ discourse on being the Bread of Life did not understand, there were undoubtedly some that did understand, but didn’t like the idea that in order to be a true follower of Jesus, they needed to change the way they thought and then act accordingly.
Christianity, being a relationship with Jesus requires one to, like any other relationship, make an effort. How much effort? Is it too much to give Jesus our all? Life becomes an extension of our relationship between us and Jesus. When asked what was the greatest commandment, Jesus responded by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law? And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:36-40) Is your relationship with Jesus comfortable without much effort or is it vibrant with challenges?
John does not mention if he meant the beginning of Jesus’ ministry or the beginning of time when Jesus knew who would not accept Him. However, since Jesus is omniscient, He would have known from the beginning of time. This is an important point to remember. Jesus knew from the beginning of time and creation, who would and who would not accept His free gift of salvation throughout all of history. This is an vital factor to consider when examining the differences between having free will to choose Jesus or that decision being made as a result of predestination.[13]
The Words of Eternal Life
6:66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall 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 answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.
John reports that many of Jesus’ disciples walked away after hearing the last discourse. Jesus then turned to his inner circle, the twelve disciples and asks them if they want to leave as well. Using both his given name ‘Simon’ and his new name ‘Peter’, John notes that Simon Peter asks Jesus, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” Simon Peter acknowledges that Jesus is the Messiah, and as the Messiah He has the words of eternal life, that He is indeed the Bread of Life, they understood the lesson. Jesus, instead of noting Simon Peter’s confession, He asks them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” An interesting conundrum, someone chosen by Jesus to follow yet later will betray Him. John adds that Jesus was referring to Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, who would later betray Jesus. The word ‘devil’ (Greek ‘diabolos’)[14] refers to a false accuser, Satan is also called the ‘Devil’ because of his false accusations.[15]
⇐Previous Chapter (Introduction/Index) Next Chapter⇒
[1] Since the law required three mandatory pilgrimages to Jerusalem, one in the springtime (Feast of Unleavened Bread), one in early summer (Pentecost) and one in the fall (Feast of Tabernacles), this event near Passover took place sometime between six months (to the last festival) to a year (previous year's Passover) after the unnamed Jewish feast listed in John 5:1.
[2] See commentary and Considerations under Matthew 14:15-21.
[3] See commentary under Mark 6:42-44.
[4] Strong’s Greek 4314.
[5] Strong’s Greek 4972.
[6] See “I Am” in the Introduction to John.
[7] Strong’s Greek 846.
[8] Strong’s Greek 1670.
[9] List adapted from MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). John 1–11 (p. 258). Moody Press.
[10] See also "The Lord's Supper" in the Introduction to Passover under Matthew 26:14-16 regarding the consumption of body and blood.
[11] See Considerations under Matthew 26:43-46 regarding "Dichotomy" and under Luke 1:56 regarding "The Third Component."
[12] Strong’s Greek 4624.
[13] See Appendix 3 "Election and Predestination."
[14] Strong’s Greek 1228.
[15] See Considerations under Matthew 4:11 "Introducing Satan."