John 6:1-71 - Outline of John (Book Notes menu page)
6:1. After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is [the sea] of Tiberias.
after these things- 5 to 9 months have passed since the events of ch.5 at the Pool of Bethesda.
(Considering v.4, the time elapsed, since the previous feast, depends on which feast is meant in Joh 5:1).
Galilee- Jesus had departed from Jerusalem and has been ministering in the region of Galilee.
This period of His ministry coincides with the imprisonment of John until his execution, as narrated in Mat 4:12 through Mat 14:12,13.
The event that opens John ch. 6, the sign of the 'Feeding of the 5000',
is described in all four Gospels. cp. Mat 14:13-33; Mark 6:32-52; Luke 9:12-17
6:2 And a great multitude followed him,
because they saw {lit., were seeing} his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
They followed Him, but for the wrong reasons (cp. Joh 2:23-25).
They did not understand that His mission was not physical healing, but spiritual salvation.
6:3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.
6:4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.
passover- This is the second Passover in John's Gospel.
(The first passover was recorded in 2:13,23. Jesus was crucified at the third.)
The minds of the disciples and the people would be on this feast and its significance.
Jesus prepared a feast for them and uses it to teach that He is the true Passover.
Passover is also called the Feast of Unleavened Bread. eg., Luk 22:1
6:5 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?
6:6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
6:7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them,
that every one of them may take a little.
Where shall we buy bread...?- While Jesus taught and healed the people (cp. Mat 14:14),
He gave Philip a task. Philip was from Bethsaida (Joh 1:44) which was not far away.
to prove him.- 'prove' is GK- peirazo, to tempt, test, assay, examine.
God tests believers to refine their faith. cp. Gen 22:1; Deu 8:2,16; Jam 1:2,3; 1Pet 1:7
Philip answered...- After researching available options, he brought his report to Jesus.
200 pennyworth {GK= denarii}- one denarius was a day's wage for a laborer.
Philip's assessment:
  • A man could work for the better part of a year and not have enough money to feed so many people.
  • Our group's entire treasury cannot begin to meet the need of this crowd.
Philip's advice (endorsed by other disciples):
  • "Send them away to buy for themselves..." (cp. Mat 14:15).
6:8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,
6:9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes:
but what are they among so many?
what are they...? - A small boy's lunch, could not feed a crowd.
Andrew and Philip agreed that the situation was hopeless.
There were other occasions, in biblical history, where God fed many, when the need far exceeded any visible supply (cp. Num 11:21-23; Psa 78:19; 2Kings 4:42-44). But if they remembered those miracles of provision, they saw no application to their present situation.
6:10 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.
6:11 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.
6:12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples,
Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
6:13 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.
make [them] sit down... much grass...- "As the Good Shepherd,
Jesus made the sheep (Mark 6:34) sit down in green pastures." (Mark 6:39; Psa 23:2) [TBKC]
five thousand- (not counting the women and children, Mat 14:21).
The total was probably 10,000 - 15,000 people.
he gave thanks- to God for His provision, as was His custom (cp. Luk 24:30).
he distributed...- cp. Mark 6:41 "He... broke the loaves and kept on giving to the disciples
in order that they might continue setting the bread beside them..." [Wuest]
as much as they would... when they were filled... twelve baskets...over and above...-
By this obvious multiplication of food, the Lord Jesus demonstrated His adequacy
in the face of the disciples' inadequacy. But they were slow to digest this truth.
cp. Mark 6:52; 8:17-21; also 2Cor 3:5; 9:8-10
6:14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle {the sign} that Jesus did, said,
This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
6:15 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.
those men...- The crowd reacted to being fed.-
  • Jesus is "that prophet" foretold by Moses. (Deu 18:15,18)
    To these men, He was like Moses because He had fed them in the wilderness.
  • We'll make Him our king. They would have expected Him to...They would have 'forced' their will upon Him. But it is the King's will that must prevail.
Jesus...perceived...- cp. Joh 2:24,25
Jesus...departed into a mountain...alone...- "to pray" (Mat 14:22,23).
We are not told what he prayed. But two things must have burdened His heart:
  1. That He would not be detoured from His mission as the Lamb of God.
    He will be established as the King of Israel, but not by man's will, methods or time table.
    Everything concerning Him must be according to God's plan. cp. Joh 3:14,15; Mark 8:31
  2. That His disciples would not be caught up in the political fervor of the crowd.
    Note that He 'constrained' them to depart, before He went 'apart to pray' (Mat 14:22,23).
  3. That His disciples would come safely through the storm of spiritual opposition
    which would soon turn others away (v.66,67; cp. Luk 22:31,32).
Intercession is the work of a priest. Thus, Jesus is identified as Prophet (v.14), Priest, and King (v.15).
6:16 And when even was [now] come, his disciples went down unto the sea,
6:17 And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum.
And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.
6:18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.
6:19 So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, {ie., 3 or 3.5 miles}
They were in the middle of the Sea of Galilee. Although they had been toiling in rowing all night, they had made little progress, due to the contrary winds. cp. Mat 14:24,25
they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship:
and they were afraid.
6:20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.
6:21 Then they willingly received him into the ship:
and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.
It is I; be not afraid.- cp. Mat 14:25-33; Isa 43:1-3
Matthew's account brings out their fear...
  • in the unexpected appearance of Jesus walking on the water, when they thought He was a ghost.
  • in the boistrous waves, as Peter's faith faltered in his walk with Jesus.
  • in the awesome presence of the Son of God.
[See the Book Notes at Matthew 14:24-33.]
immediately...at the land.-
"This may be another miracle or John may mean that with no delay they reached the other side, since the water was now calm. Or, it may be the language of love -- with Jesus in the boat, it didn't seem far to the other side." [McGee]
This account gives a preview to the outcome of the disciples' inner struggles (in the remainder of ch.6).
For a while, they would be confused and afraid, not really knowing who Jesus is, as they struggle against the opposition of unbelievers and the offense of the Gospel. But in the end, having recognized Him and received Him into their lives, they will come to rest their faith upon Him.
6:22 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;
6:23 (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto
the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)
6:24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples,
they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.
6:25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea,
they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
seeking for Jesus...- Their search required expenditure of thought, money & time.
But their efforts were in vain, because they sought Him for the wrong reasons (v.15b; v.26).
when camest thou hither?- Jesus does not answer their question.
His walk on the water was a private sign for His disciples.
6:26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles {signs, 'attesting miracles' [Wuest]},
but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, {Eccl 2:11; 6:7}
but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, {Isa 55:2}
which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
Jesus answered- according to His knowledge of their heart motives. (cp. Joh 2:24,25)
Like dogs, they desired food for the body. They would follow anyone who could provide it. (cp. Php 2:21; 3:19)
They did not recognize the significance of the signs that attested to His identity. cp. Joh 5:36,43
labor not for food that perishes...but for that...which endures- cp. Mat 4:4; 6:31-33
If your heart desires that which God says is of lasting value, you will find it, in finding His Son.
which the Son...shall give {not sell} unto thee.- cp. v. 29; Eph 2:8,9
Him hath God the Father sealed.- 'sealed' means: authenticated, or signified.
cp. Psa 2:6,7; Isa 42:1; Joh 5:37,38; (also note the use of the word 'seal' in Joh 3:33)
6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Self-righteous flesh thinks it can...
6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them,
This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
believe on Him...- cp. Acts 16:30,31; Titus 3:5-7
whom He hath sent {ie., sent on a mission}- to accomplish the work of salvation.
     cp. v.38,39; Joh 4:34; 5:36; 19:30
In the remainder of ch.6, Jesus shows that He and His work are essential to life.
6:30 They said therefore unto him,
What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee?
what dost thou work?
6:31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert;
as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
what sign...?- cp. 1Cor 1:22; Joh 12:37
  • Had they already forgotten the feeding of the 5000 (v.10-13)
    and the many miracles of healing (Mat 14:14) of the previous day?
  • Did they discount those as inadequate signs?
  • Had those miracles merely whetted their appetites for more free meals?
    After all, Moses had fed a much larger number of people continuously for 40 years.
    (They cited Scripture to bolster their position. eg., Neh 9:15; Psa 105:40)
    "The rabbis taught that the former redeemer, Moses, caused manna to descend from heaven for them, and that the latter redeemer, Messiah, would perform a similar miracle." [GWms]
6:32 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.
6:33 For the bread of God is
he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
Jesus corrected their misconceptions, and taught the truth.-
  1. The Father, not Moses, gave {past tense} manna. (Ex 16:15; Psa 78:4,24,25)
  2. The Father gives {present tense} the true {genuine} Bread from heaven. (v.49,50)
  3. The True Bread from heaven is Jesus, not the manna. (v.33; Joh 1:4; 5:26)
6:34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
give us this bread.- They were still focused on physical satisfaction. cp. v.27; 4:15
evermore {lit., at all times, always}- ie., not merely for 40 years.
6:35 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.
the bread of life- ie., the staple without which man cannot live.
I am...- The bread of life is a Person. The Lord Jesus Christ is revealed as-
  • the true Sabbath, in ch.5.
  • the true Feast of Tabernacles, in ch.7.
  • the true Passover (Feast of Unleavened Bread), in ch. 6.-
    -- He is the Bread which came down from heaven (v.38).
    -- He gave His flesh & blood that man might escape death and enter into life (v.53,54).
Note: In John's Gospel, Jesus makes eight "I am..." statements. The first of these is...
"I am the bread of life." (v.35)
Also see: 8:12; 8:58; 10:7; 10:11; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1
he that cometh to me... he that believeth on me...-
A right relationship to this Person brings everlasting satisfaction to a man's true need.
6:36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. {cp. v.26; 15:24}
6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me;
and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
6:38 For I came down from heaven,
not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. {4:34; 10:11; Rom 15:3; Heb 10:7-10}
6:39 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.
6:40 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.
have seen... believe not.- (v.36) 'seen' is GK= horao, to see with the eyes.
seeth... and believeth...- (v.40) 'seeth' is GK= thereo, to discern with the mind.
His words and confirming signs revealed His identity.
Their response revealed their identity. (cp. Joh 10:26,27)
Those who belong to Him, are described...
  1. from both the Divine & the human perspectives:
    Divine perspective --Human perspective --
    -- v.37, 'all that the Father gives me...'-- 'him that cometh to me...'
    -- v.40, 'this is the will of Him that sent me...'-- 'everyone that believeth' on the sent one, cp. 3:36
  2. as both a body and members...
    • corporately - (the body of believers: 'all that...' v.39)
    • individually - ('every one which...' v.40).
  3. as eternally secure in every phase of salvation:
    (a.) prior to new birth --'shall come...', v.37; Joh 17:2; 2The 2:13,14
    (b.) during natural life --
         		'...not cast out', v.37; Jude 1:1; Heb 4:15,16
    '...lose nothing', v.39; 1Pet 1:5; Heb 7:25
    (c.) beyond physical death --
         		'...have everlasting life', v.40
    'I will raise Him up at the last day', v.39,40; Joh 11:25,26
    Salvation is secured by...
6:41 The Jews then murmured at him, because
he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.
{cp. Ex 16:2,7,12-15; Joh 7:12; 1Cor 10:10}
6:42 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?
Their complaint seemed logical (cp. Mat 13:55; Mark 6:3; Luk 4:22),
but it was based on incomplete human knowledge. cp. 1:1,14; Gal 4:4.
Jesus made no attempt to set the record straight. Sin darkened hearts would not receive the truth.
6:43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them,
Murmur not among yourselves.
6:44 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.
6:45 It is written in the prophets,
And they shall be all taught of God. {Isa 54:13; cp. Jer 31:33,34}
Every man therefore that hath heard,
and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
6:46 Not that any man hath seen the Father,
save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
no man can come... - The natural man is not receptive of God's truth. cp. Joh 3:3; 12:37-40; cp. Isa 53:1
In themselves, all men are excluded from coming to Christ (v.44), or to the Father (Joh 14:6).
[Note: In John 12:32, "I will draw all men unto me," does not mean that all men will be saved, but rather, that some from 'every nation' will be saved. In context (12:20-33), 'all men' includes both Jews & gentiles, who place their faith in Christ, who was 'lifted up' to die for our sins on the cross.]
except the Father draw him...- 'draw'= drag. The word is used elsewhere of drawing fish in a net.
Those who the Father draws...
  • have been 'taught' (GK= didaktos, instructed) (ie., by the Scriptures, cp. 5:38,39)
  • have heard (GK= akouo, to hear with comprehension), and
  • have learned (GK=manthano, to increase in knowledge & understanding)
    (ie., by the Holy Spirit's conviction and instruction within an individual's heart, cp. 16:13-15).
"No one will come to Jesus as Savior unless predisposed by God's inner working. This predisposition is not of man's will or nature, but a gift from God. (v.65)" [GWms]
every man that hath heard and learned...cometh- cp. 'all...', v.37
"All so predisposed will come." [GWms]
Such individuals are moved by the Holy Spirit, to receive the Gospel, as it is in truth, the Word of God, when it is proclaimed in their hearing. eg., 1The 1:5; 2:13
not that any man hath seen the Father,
save {except} He which is of God {ie., God the Son, cp. Joh 1:18; 7:29}-
"But between those thus enlightened and the Only Begotten One of the Father, there is the immeasurable distance that separates Deity from humanity." [GWms]
6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you,
He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. {cp. 3:36, 5:24}
6:48 I am that bread of life. {cp. v.35}
6:49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
6:50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven,
that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
he that believeth...- The GK tense indicates 'present and continuing trust.'
hath everlasting life...- ie., as his 'present and abiding possession.' [TBKC]
manna- delayed death temporarily.
the living bread- cures death permanently.
6:51 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.
6:52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves,
saying, How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?
Jesus is using symbolic language to convey spiritual truths. cp. v.63; 16:25
They, being spiritually unreceptive (v.41,44; 1Cor 2:14), think He is speaking of cannibalism.
It is important to note that He is not speaking of eating physical food in any sense.
Although the symbols of v.51-57 are shared with the Lord's Supper,
these verses do not refer to participation in Communion. (See note at v.63.)
The occasion, here, is near the second Passover of His ministry.
Another year would pass before He would institute the Lord's Supper.
Jesus here explains that He fulfills the true meaning of Passover (v.4).
At the first Passover, the redeemed people were closely identified with the sacrificial lamb.
  • They ate unleavened bread while the lamb was in the house and after it was slain.
  • They placed themselves under its blood for redemption.
  • They ate its roasted flesh, on that one night only (cp. Ex 12:1-13).
  • Those not so identified were cut off from Israel, and unprotected from judgment (Ex 12:15,23).
Subsequent Passover meals would be commemorative of this redemption (Ex 12:14), but they could never duplicate that unique and historic redemption.
my flesh... for the life of the world...-
As the sacrifice of the passover lamb provided salvation, for those who were under its blood and who partook of it... in like manner, the one sacrificial death of the Lamb of God brings salvation (Joh 1:29). In effect, Jesus was saying: 'You must be fully identified with Me, if you are to benefit from the redemption provided in My sacrificial death.'
the bread... is my flesh, which I will give...- (v.51)
"Not only is the Father giving the Bread (Jesus, v.32), but also Jesus is giving Himself." [TBKC]
6:53 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.
6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life;
and I will raise him up at the last day.
6:55 For my flesh is meat indeed {ie., true food},
and my blood is drink indeed {ie., true drink}.
verily, verily...- "In reply to the impossibility of eating His flesh (v.52),
the Lord, instead of softening or modifying this seemingly harsh doctrine, intensified it by:
  • declaring it indispensable to salvation (v.53), and
  • stating that only those who thus eat and drink as a definite action (GK aorist tense, v.53),
    and continue thus eating and drinking (present tense, v.54-57), have spiritual life." [in quotes, GWms]
flesh... blood...- The separation of flesh and blood is death.
  • Jesus' death was according to God's will, and at Jesus' discretion (v.51, 'I will give... I will give...').
  • Jesus' death is the believer's life. 2Cor 5:21; Gal 2:20; Php 3:7-10
except ye... drink his blood...- These words offend the self-righteous mind in two ways:
  • the offense that I should violate the Law (to eat His flesh and drink His blood). cp. Lev 3:17
  • the offense that my sin cannot be forgiven, without Christ's sacrificial death in my stead. cp. Lev 17:10-14; Rom 3:23-26; 10:3,4.
he who drinketh... hath eternal life.- A comparison of v.47,48 with 53,54 shows that
'believing on Christ' is equivalent to 'eating and drinking' Him.
Similar symbolism is used elsewhere. cp. Deut 8:3; Jer 15:16; Ezek 2:8,9
6:56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
6:57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father:
so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
dwelleth {GK= menei, remains, abides} in me, and I in him...-
     (cp. use of this word in Joh 1:32; 14:10; 15:4)
Bread, once eaten, digested, and absorbed by the body, is inseparable from the eater.
So, the believer's life is sourced in, and bound together with, the person of Christ. cp. Col 3:3,4.
as... I live by the Father...- As the Son does not live a life independent from the Father,
so, the believer does not live a life independent from Christ (cp. Joh 4:34; 5:19; 15:5).
6:58 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.
6:59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
Jesus concludes His message in the synagogue by reviewing its major points (v.58).-
  • The bread from heaven, in Moses' day, did not give lasting life.
  • God has provided the true 'Bread of Life' in the Person of His Son.
  • The person who fully trusts in (partakes of, is inseparably joined to) Him has everlasting life.
6:60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard [this],
said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
disciples- 'those who had been following His teaching and learning from Him...' [Wuest]
Many, who call themselves 'disciples,' will not submit to His authority, even today. cp. Luk 6:46
an hard saying- 'an insufferable saying, who can submit to listen to it?' [GWms]
or, '...Offensive and intolerable is this discourse.' [Wuest]
6:61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it,
he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
offend- GK= skandalizai, to scandalize, to cause to stumble.
The noun form of this word is used in 1Cor 1:23 (a stumbling-block).
6:62 [What] and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
They were offended by His teachings...
(A) that He had come from God (v.41), and
(B) that His sacrificial death was essential to their eternal well being (v.52-54).
How much more would they be scandalized when His rejected words would be confirmed by His resurrection, ascension, and return to the Father? cp. Mark 14:61-64; Joh 3:13; 16:28
6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth {ie., makes alive}; the flesh profiteth nothing:
the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.
the Spirit makes alive.- But that life is spiritual life, and does not benefit the flesh. cp. Joh 3:5-6
Spiritual life is not conferred through eating anything physical.
the words... are Spirit... are life.-
Spiritual life is given to those who receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and place their trust in Him.
cp. v.47,48; 8:24; Rom 1:16,17; 10:8-10
Regarding the Lord's Supper (or Communion):
The Sacramental churches view v.51-58 as teaching their doctrine of Transubstantiation.
According to this doctrine, the bread and wine at the celebration of the Lord's Supper (ie., 'the Eucharist,' or 'the Mass') become the actual body and blood of the dead or suffering Christ. They teach that grace or merit is conferred to the worshipper by the physical act of eating Christ's Body and drinking His Blood.
However, this doctrine is not scriptural. Consider the following points:
  1. The food & drink which Jesus spoke of is spiritual and does not benefit the flesh (v.63).
    Neither is God's grace administered through the flesh (cp. Gal 6:14,15; Php 3:4-9).
  2. The 'one sacrifice for sins forever' which Jesus offered on the cross has made fleshly ritual obsolete.
    (Ritual had always been ineffective.) Heb 10:1-18; 13:9
  3. While Jesus is always spiritually present with His people (Mat 18:20; 28:20),
    physically, He is in only one place at a time.
    He is now seated at the right hand of the Father (Heb 1:3).
    In the future, He will bodily return to earth (Acts 1:11).
    Therefore, He cannot be bodily present at multiple altars in the eucharist.
  4. In the OT, blood made atonement at the altar.
    But it was forbidden to drink blood. (Lev 17:10-14)
    Likewise, Jesus shed His blood for us at the cross.
    His one historic sacrifice provided the means of peace with God (Col 1:20).
    Those who trust in Him "have redemption through His blood" (Col 1:14; Eph 1:7).
    Because believers possess (presently and permanently) what Jesus purchased for us with His blood, the ritualistic drinking of His 'actual' blood is not only forbidden by scripture, but also purposeless.
       The OT high priests entered into the Most Holy Place of the earthly temple, once per year, with the blood of sacrificial animals, which could not take away sin. But Christ, the true High Priest, presented His own blood within the heavenly Temple, once, and for all. His one sacrifice was completely sufficient, never to be repeated. Heb 9:11,12 (For better appreciation of the efficacy of Christ's sacrifice, read all of Hebrews ch.9-10.)
  5. In the upper room, Jesus used bread & wine as symbols of His sacrifice.-
    • He established a memorial meal:
      "...This do in remembrance of me." Luk 22:19,20; 1Cor 11:25,26
    • He referred to the cup as "this fruit of the vine" after saying "this is my blood" (Mat 26:28,29).
    • He said "this is my body" (referring to the bread) while He was still bodily present (Luk 22:19).
  6. Jesus spoke figuratively of 'eating my flesh and drinking my blood' to illustrate...
    • The necessity of believing in Him, to receive eternal life (cp. 47,48 with 53,54).
    • The necessity of a believer's vital union with Him, to live that new life (v.56,57).
      He compares this relationship to His relationship to the Father (in which physical food has no contributing role).
      [Also see the Book Notes at 1Cor 11:23-32.]
  7. The Holy Spirit joins the believer to the living Christ, not to His dead or suffering body.
    cp. v.56,57; Joh 15:4,5; 1Cor 12:12,13; 2Cor 5:14-16; Gal 2:20
6:64 But there are some of you that believe not.
(and, therefore, have no spiritual life, and are not spiritually benefited by His words. v.63)
For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, {Joh 1:47; 2:23-25
and who should betray him. {v.70,71}
6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me,
except it were given unto him of my Father. {v.37,44}
6:66 From that [time] many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
many... disciples... went back...- cp. Mat 13:20,21; 2Pet 2:20-22; Heb 10:38; 1Joh 2:19
Many individuals, who had been following Jesus, now turned back to pursue other interests. Although they had heard His teaching, the Father had neither confirmed those words to their hearts nor drawn them to the Savior. Yet, Jesus' words were confirmed, even as they turned away (v.65).
     Rather than being taught of God (v.45), their fleshly minds were offended by the Word which they heard. There may have been different points of offense for various people.
  • Some sought a political messiah, to be their king, contrary to the Father's purpose in sending His Son (v.15).
  • Some sought a provider of physical nourishment, but had no taste for the Bread of Life (v.26-27,34-36).
  • Some sought to merit acceptance before God through good works (v.28).
    But Jesus taught that salvation was the work of God alone, which He would accomplish through the Son whom He had sent, to give His flesh and blood that men might live. Whoever, would be accepted before God, must believe in God's Son and partake of His Life (v.47,48).
'Disciples,' who do not continue with Him, are not 'disciples indeed' (Joh 8:31; Mat 11:6; 2Tim 2:19).
     Note that the 'disciples' who turned back were distinct from Jesus' twelve chosen disciples (v.67).
6:67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him,
Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
6:69 And we believe and are sure {or, 'and have come to understand'}
that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
the twelve- The 12 disciples, closest to Jesus, were also struggling with His hard saying(s), but
"...to turn from the Lord Jesus is to face darkness, desolation and death." [GWms]
thou hast the words of eternal life- cp. v.40; Joh 5:24; Acts 4:12
we believe... that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
In some MSS, the last line of v.69 reads: "that thou art the Holy One of God."
(Either reading conveys essentially the same meaning.)
The twelve disciples affirmed that they recognized Jesus as 'that Christ' (the promised Messiah) who had come from heaven to accomplish the Father's work of salvation (cp. v.38,57). That Messiah is the Holy One of God (Psa 16:10; 89:18,19; Isa 49:1-7).
Note the similarities to Peter's confession in Mat 16:16,17.
As there, so here, the Lord states that there is no cause for human pride (v.70,71).
-- They did not discover this truth on their own merits.
-- Apart from Him, even they would fall away.
6:70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, {cp. Joh 15:16}
and one of you is a devil? {cp. 13:2,26,27}
6:71 He spake of Judas Iscariot [the son] of Simon:
for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.
Knowing the hearts of all men, Jesus knew that Judas' profession of faith would prove untrue, in time.
 
Lord, Like Judas, I am both privileged to follow you, and prone to falling away. I trust your heart. I dare not trust my own. Draw me near and keep me in your way. Psa 139:23,24; Jude 1:24,25

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