John 6

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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;

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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?

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

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.

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.

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

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

I am that bread of life.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What does John 6:18 mean?

Explanation

In John 6:18, the author describes a scene where Jesus' disciples are on a boat on the Sea of Galilee when a strong wind begins to stir up the waters, causing the sea to grow turbulent.

This verse is part of the larger narrative surrounding the miracle of Jesus walking on water.

The literal meaning is straightforward , it speaks of a meteorological event, a strong wind causing a rough sea.

At a deeper level, the occurrence of the great wind and agitated sea often symbolize the trials and tribulations the disciples faced without Jesus' immediate presence, and their turmoil until he arrives to bring peace.

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Historical Context

The Sea of Galilee, also known as Lake Tiberias, is a freshwater lake in Israel.

It is below sea level and surrounded by hills, making it susceptible to sudden and violent storms as a result of the contrasting temperatures between the sea and the surrounding terrain.

During the time of Jesus, the sea was a common place for fishing and trade, and many of his disciples were fishermen familiar with its conditions.

This passage was written in the context of a Jewish society under Roman occupation, where storms could have been seen as metaphors for chaos and divine intervention.

Theological Insights

From a theological viewpoint, this verse can be seen as symbolic of God’s power over creation, as Jesus later demonstrates by walking on water despite the storm.

Christians interpret this as reassurance that even in the midst of life's chaos, Jesus is sovereign and can command peace. This story is often cited to encourage faith and trust in God’s presence and help during difficult times.

Furthermore, some theologians might draw a parallel to the Holy Spirit as the 'wind' that moves and shapes the faith of believers.

Practical Applications

The verse can be applied to everyday life by reminding individuals that they may encounter unexpected challenges or 'storms'.

In such situations, the teachings suggest that one should maintain faith and not be overwhelmed by fear or anxiety.

It reassures believers that, like the disciples, they are not alone and that God is with them in the midst of their difficulties, capable of providing peace and calm.

Cross-References

Matthew 8:24 - "And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep."
Mark 4:37 - "And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full."
Psalm 107:29 - "He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still."
Psalm 89:9 - "Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them."

Language Study

Key Greek words of the original text of John 6:18 include:

"Sea" (θάλασσα, thalassa): Often used literally to describe a body of water, but can also be symbolic of chaos or the unknown.
"Arose" (ἐγείρω, egeirō): Can mean to wake or to stir up, indicating the beginning or escalation of the storm.
"Great" (μέγας, megas): Denoting something of magnitude or high degree; intense.
"Wind" (ἄνεμος, anemos): Refers to wind, but can also suggest a force or spirit.
"Blew" (πνέω, pneō): Means to breathe or blow, giving life to the wind element in the story.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures, the sea is often seen as a symbol of chaos and disorder, a common theme in mythology.

In the Hebrew Bible, narratives such as the story of Jonah and the great fish, or the parting of the Red Sea, also present the sea as a place of divine action.

In other religious traditions, such as Greek mythology, gods like Poseidon controlled the seas, while in Norse mythology, the god Aegir was lord of the ocean.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific viewpoint, the sudden storms on the Sea of Galilee are not uncommon due to its geographical and topographical characteristics, making the events of John 6:18 plausible from a meteorological perspective.

The area is known for its intense storms caused by the convergence of warm air from the sea and cool air from the surrounding mountains.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and commentators have interpreted John 6:18 in multiple ways:

Some focus on the historical accuracy of the event, describing the commonality of such storms on the Sea of Galilee.
Others delve into the spiritual meaning behind the storm, viewing the situation as a test of the disciples' faith and their recognition of Jesus as the Son of God who has authority over nature.
Additionally, commentators frequently discuss the significance of the disciples' fear and Jesus' subsequent walking on the water as emblematic of Jesus' divine power and the peace he can provide in times of trouble.

John 6

John 6

What does John 6:18 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does John 6:18 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?