Bible IndexContentsHome...Saved?..Pray...Free...Bible...Shop...Learn...Worship...U.S.B.S...Contact Us
 
 

Dave Burnette's Commentary

John Chapter 6 

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: John the Apostle
Date Penned: (85-90 AD)
Overview: Eternal Life is in Jesus-Christ Alone (c 1-21)
Theme:  Message & Ministry of Jesus Christ, The Son of God (c 2-12)
Message: Jesus Feeds the 5,000 (v 1-71)

John 6 Commentary

(6:1-15) Jesus Feeds 5,000 - Once again in this Gospel, John selects a particular place for presenting a spiritual truth about Christ. Earlier, the well in Samaria was an excellent setting for Christ to teach about the fountain of living water. Here, in chapter 6, the multiplication of the loaves provides a way for Christ to present himself as the Bread of Life.

(6:16-21) Jesus Walks on the Water - Of the three Gospel accounts of this miracle, John’s includes the fewest details. He understates the action, and apart from a brief mention of the disciples’ fright, he makes little emphasis on this event. Matthew described Peter’s walk on (then in) the water. Mark mentioned the difficulties being created by the wind and waves as well as the fact that when the disciples saw Jesus, he was passing by them. The focus of Matthew and Mark highlighted the miracle and its effects on those who participated in it; John included the miracle as yet another indication of the true identity of Jesus.

(6:22-40) Jesus is the True Bread from Heaven - To understand the action in these verses, we must back up and trace the movements of all the characters. Jesus performed the miracle of feeding the five thousand somewhere on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee (6:1). That evening, his disciples boarded a boat headed west toward Capernaum (6:17) without Jesus, who had gone up into a mountain to be alone (6:15). Then Jesus came to the disciples during the storm (6:21). So Jesus and the disciples arrived together at Capernaum (presumably before dawn). On the opposite shore, the crowd that had seen the disciples leave knew that Jesus hadn’t gone with them and that the disciples had taken the only boat. The next morning they discovered that Jesus was gone, but they knew that he had not gone with the disciples. They assumed that he must have left to join his disciples.

(6:41-59) The People Disagree That Jesus is from Heaven - Many of the crowd in Capernaum that day could not believe their ears. They knew this man’s family, yet he claimed to be the Son of God. To them, Jesus’ delusion seemed obvious. In their minds, Jesus was a local product with interesting powers and unusual authority, but was audacious when it came to speaking about himself. Jesus responded with uncompromising directness. He required then, as he requires now, an unconditional acceptance of his lordship. Any attempt to soften his claim amounts to rejection of his central message.

(6:60-71) Many Disciples Desert Jesus - Those listening to Jesus were experiencing a crisis in their determination to follow him. Many of his actions thus far had been attractive, though sometimes curious. But all this talk of consuming his body and blood was difficult to stomach. Jesus’ claims forced his followers to examine their real motives and the depth of their commitment.

 


Dave Burnette's Life Application

Have You Partaken of the Bread of Life?

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue in the book of John with Chapter 6. In our text today we see Jesus feeding the five thousand, Jesus walk on water, Jesus explain how He is the Bread of life yet the Jews do not believe. In making application we see that many still refuse to believe that Jesus is the bread of life, the Messiah, the Son of God, the Son of Man, and Deity Himself. How about you? Do you believe that Jesus is who He says He is? Let us learn from our text today and the account of John who recorded the Words and Miracles of Jesus to see that Jesus is the Bread of Life and all who come to Him and receive Him will never hunger or thirst again but will receive eternal life. 

 

.
John 6

John 6

 1After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.

 2And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

 3And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.

 4And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.

 5When 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?

 6And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

 7Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

 8One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,

 9There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

 10And 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.

 11And 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.

 12When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

 13Therefore 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.

 14Then 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.

 15When 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.

 16And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,

 17And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.

 18And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.

 19So 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.

 20But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.

 21Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.

 22The 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;

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

 24When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.

 25And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

 26Jesus 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.

 27Labour 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.

 28Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

 29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

 30They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

 31Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

 32Then 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.

 33For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

 34Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

 35And 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.

 36But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

 37All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

 38For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

 39And 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.

 40And 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.

 41The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.

 42And 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?

 43Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

 44No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

 45It 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.

 46Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.

 47Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

 48I am that bread of life.

 49Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.

 50This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

 51I 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.

 52The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?

 53Then 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.

 54Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

 55For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

 56He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

 57As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

 58This 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.

 59These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

 60Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

 61When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?

 62What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?

 63It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

 64But 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.

 65And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

 66From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

 67Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

 68Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

 69And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

 70Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?

 71He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.