The version used is KJV
Themes
- [1-14]: The 4th Miracle in John's Gospel -Feeding of the 5000 using 5 loaves and 2 fish
- [15-25]: The 5th Miracle in John's Gospel - Walking on Sea of Galilee
- [26-40]: Explaining to the people and disciples of the bread of eternal life; He is the true manna
- [41-59]: Teaching to the Pharisees in the Capernaum Synagogue
- [60-69]: Choice and Peter's confession: Some continue to believe and some walk away from Jesus
- [70-71]: Predicting of Judas' betrayal by Lord Jesus
References to the Triune God
- Jesus (Ἰησοῦς)
- Lord (κύριος)
- Rabbi (ῥαββί)
- God the Father (θεός πατήρ)
- Son of Man (υἱός ἄνθρωπος)
- Christ (Χριστός)
Geo location
In and around the Sea of Galilee; norther part of Israel
- City of Capernaum mentioned by name
Timing
In the first year or second year in Jesus' ministry just before the Passover Feast [6:4]
Main Entities
- People in the region of Galilee [6:1-2]
- The 12 disciples [6:3,67]
- The Pharisees [6:41]
- Other disciples [6:3,66]
Key & Significant Words
- bread:17, manna:3, loaves:4
- believe:9, believed:1
- eternal life:2
- blood: 4
- eat:16
- words: 2
- flesh: 7
- bread of life [6:35,48], living bread [6:51], bread of God [6:33]
- living God [6:69]
Harmony of Gospels
| Theme | Matthew | Mark | Luke | John |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feeding of 5000 | 14:13-21 | 6:30-44 | 9:10-17 | 6:1-14 |
| Walking on water | 14:22-33 | 6:45-56 | 6:15-21 |
Direct OT refernces
- Passover feast [6:4] -> [Dt16:1]
- How the Israelites were fed in the wilderness with the bread of heaven [6:31] -> [Ex16:4,15,21; Num11:8; Ps78:24; Ps105:40; Ne9:15]
- And they shall be taught of God [6:45] -> [Isa54:13; Jer31:34]. The prophets referenced are Isaiah and Jeremiah
Main discourse summary
Only John's Gospel records the discourse to the disciples and the Pharises in the synagogue [26-71]. This is foundational message of the good news. In the future this message will be expanded in an elaborate ritual is done using the Feast of Pesach (פֶּסַח) during the last supper in [Matt26:26-29].
The repeated key words used indicates the core message. Believe, eat, eternal life
- The physical feeding of the people is used to demonstrate the eating of bread, although they could have been satisfied with just seeing the miracle, they were fed and were satisfied [26]. Jesus is the bread of life who gives the new life, and this has been sealed by God the Father [27]
- But the people were still stuck on physical realm, asking for a sign pointing again to the physical feeding of the Israelites in the wilderness with the bread that fell from the heaven (manna) [30-31]. Those that ate that manna are dead now [49] but eating this bread of life that Jesus is offering will have ever lasting life [51,58]
- Jesus is the bread of life [35] and if we partake in that bread, we will have eternal life as we will never hunger or thirst [36]
- God the Father gives this bread to whom He wills and when its given Jesus will not cast out/abandon/forsake that person[37,44]
- The Pharisees still wonder/question how Jesus can be the Son of God and have come from heaven, when his parents were in Nazareth [41-43]
- The bread of life is the flesh of Jesus [51] and His blood gives us eternal life [53-55]
- But the best statement is that in [56] whoever eats His flesh and drinks His blood will have Jesus dwell in us and us in Him.
- This is affirmed as He was sent by God the Father and as Jesus lives by the Father, so will anyone who eats Jesus' flesh and drinks His blood [57] and these were written in the scriptures by the prophets, that all shall be taught of God [45]
- This discourse and the option to eat the bread of life forces some of His disciples to walk away. This could be due to not understanding the allegory, as their hearts were not opened by God, as explained below, hence didnt know their prophets or the spiritual aspect of the message.
How can we eat the flesh of Jesus
The allegory to manna, is a great place to start as without the bread that fell from heaven, the Israelites would have died out in the wilderness. The miracle associated with how manna fell, how it always was sufficient for any and all, and how it was double portion leading up to sabbath, all indicate the miracle of Almighty God YHWH.
We know Jesus is referring to the entire eating of the bread message as a spiritual action, from the context in [6:27]
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.
Once this context is set building on the recent feeding of 5000, we are told of how Jesus is the bread of life and to eat His flesh. We will only focus on the flesh part and not the blood part in this study.
Ezekial in [Ez3:1-3] is commanded to eat the scrolls/book/writing and when he does eats it, he is filled and its sweet in his mouth as honey. Similarly, in [Jer15:16] Jeremiah says Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
Hence eating the word is to learn the ways of God and to live a life accordingly as the substance of the words nourishes our body. Lord Jesus is the Word (λόγος) per [Jn1:1,14] and through Him the world was created [Gen1:3-26] as God spoke it.
Therefore, the way to understand [Jn6:26-59] is the same way we understand [Ez3:1-3] and [Jer15:16] that we eat the Word of God everyday that is where our strength and nutrition comes from, which not only sustains in this life, but also provides us the life everlasting.
Translation difference
There are obvious translation difference from my NASB text to 1611 KJV based on language use, but the suttle one to point out that has direct impact to the diety of Jesus Christ is verse [6:33]
For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.
to
For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
Verb, Pronoun, Conjunction, Adjective
format is verse followed by verb/pronoun/conjunction/adjective
1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| went is |
After over of of |
2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| followed saw did were diseased |
him they his he them |
And because on |
great |
3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| went sat |
he his |
And into and with |
4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| was |
And of |
nigh |
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?
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| lifted saw come saith buy eat |
his him he we |
and unto that |
great unto bread |
6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| said prove knew do |
he him he himself he |
And for |
7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| answered hundred is take |
him them them |
of for that of |
sufficient little |
8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| saith |
his him |
of |
unto |
9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| is hath are |
they |
and but among |
small many |
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.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| said sit was sat |
And in So in about |
much |
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.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| took had given distributed were set |
he he them they |
And and and and of as |
12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| were filled said remain be lost |
they he his |
unto that |
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.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| gathered filled remained unto had eaten |
they them them |
and with of over and above |
14 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.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| had seen did said is prophet come |
they |
that of into |
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.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| perceived come take make departed |
they him him he himself |
that and by into |
16 And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| was come went |
his |
And unto |
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.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| entered went was was come |
it them |
And into and over toward And and |
dark |
18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| And by of that |
great |
19 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.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| had rowed see walking drawing were |
they they they |
about and or on and unto and |
thirty nigh afraid |
20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| saith is be |
he them It I |
But |
unto afraid |
21 Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| willingly received was went |
they him they |
into and at |
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;
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| following stood saw was save whereinto were entered went were gone |
his his his |
on of that that and that with into but that |
other other |
23 (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| came did eat had given |
they |
from nigh unto after that |
other |
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.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| therefore saw was took came seeking |
his they |
that neither and for |
25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| had found said |
they him they him |
And on of |
other unto |
26 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.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| answered said say seek saw did were filled |
them I you me |
and unto because but because of and |
27 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.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| endureth everlasting give sealed |
you him |
for but for unto of unto for |
28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| said unto do work |
they him we we |
that of |
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| answered said is believe hath |
them him he |
and unto of that on |
ye |
30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| said sign see believe dost |
They him we |
that and |
unto thou |
31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| did eat is written gave heaven eat |
Our it He them |
in as from |
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.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| said say gave |
them I you you my you |
unto unto that from but from |
true |
33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| is cometh |
he |
For of from and unto |
giveth |
34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| said unto give |
they him us |
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.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| said am cometh believeth thirst |
them I he me he me |
And unto of and on |
36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| said have seen believe |
I you me |
But unto and |
37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| giveth come cometh cast |
me me him me I |
that and in |
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| came heaven do mine own sent |
I him me |
For from but of |
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.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| is hath sent hath given lose raise |
me he me I it |
And that of but at |
last |
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.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| is sent seeth have everlasting raise |
him me him I him |
And of that and on and at |
last |
41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| murmured said am came heaven |
him he I |
at because from |
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?
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| said Is know is saith came heaven |
they we it he I |
And of and that from |
43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| answered said |
them |
and unto among |
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.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| come sent draw raise |
me me him I him |
except and at |
last |
45 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.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| is written be learned |
It they me |
in And of that and of unto |
46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| seen is hath seen |
he he |
that of |
47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| say believeth everlasting |
I you He me |
unto on |
48 I am that bread of life.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| am |
I |
of |
49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| did eat are |
Your |
in and |
dead |
50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| is cometh eat die |
from that and |
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.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| am came heaven live give is give |
I he I my I |
from if of for and that for of |
52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| strove saying give eat |
themselves us his |
among |
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.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| said say eat drink have |
them I you his you |
unto unto Except of of and in |
54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| drinketh raise |
my my I him |
eateth and and at |
eternal last |
55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| is is |
my my |
For and |
meat drink |
56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| eateth drinketh |
He my my me I him |
and in and in |
flesh |
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.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| sent live eateth live |
me I he me he me |
As and by that by |
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.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| is came heaven did eat are eateth live |
your he |
that from as and that of for |
dead bread |
59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| said taught |
he he |
in as in |
60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| had heard said is hear |
his they it |
of |
Many hard |
61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| knew murmured said |
himself his it he them you |
in that at |
unto |
62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| see ascend was |
he |
and if of before |
ye |
63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| is quickeneth speak are are |
It I you they they |
that unto and |
flesh spirit |
64 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.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| are believe knew were believed betray |
you they him |
But of that For from and |
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 | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| said said unto come were given |
he I you me it him my |
And that unto except of |
unto |
66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| went walked |
his him |
From of and with |
many |
67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| said go |
unto |
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| answered go hast |
him we |
of |
eternal |
69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| believe are |
we |
And and that of |
sure thou |
70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| answered Have chosen twelve is |
them I you you |
and of |
71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.
| v | pn | conj | adj |
|---|---|---|---|
| spake was betray being |
He he it him |
of of for of |