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 6:35 mean?

Explanation

John 6:35 is a pivotal verse within the Christian New Testament where Jesus Christ reveals a profound spiritual truth to His followers, metaphorically referring to Himself as "the bread of life." Literally, bread is a fundamental sustenance for life, and Jesus compares Himself to bread, suggesting that He is essential for spiritual life.

Beyond the literal sense, the deeper meaning speaks to the satisfaction and fulfillment Jesus offers to those who follow Him.

In essence, Jesus is saying that whoever comes to Him will have their spiritual hunger and thirst satisfied.

By "never hunger" and "never thirst," it speaks to a continual and eternal satisfaction, unlike physical food which only temporarily sates.

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

This verse is a part of the discourse that follows the miracle of feeding the 5,000 with five barley loaves and two small fishes.

The context is that Jesus is speaking to a crowd that had sought Him out after this remarkable sign.

During this time, messianic expectations among Jews included hopes for a provider who would meet all needs.

The crowd would have understood "bread" as a basic necessity of life, and they lived in a context where food scarcity was real and immediate.

Thus, when Jesus refers to Himself as the "bread of life," He is situating Himself within these messianic expectations while also transcending them with a deeper spiritual message.

Theological Insights

Theologically, different denominations interpret this verse in a variety of ways.

In Catholicism, this passage is often seen as prefiguring the Eucharist, where the literal body of Christ is said to be present in the bread and wine.

Protestants generally interpret the verse more metaphorically, focusing on a personal and spiritual relationship with Jesus that nourishes the soul.

For evangelical Christians, it can highlight the importance of faith for salvation and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse can be a source of comfort and assurance, reminding believers that they can find spiritual fulfillment in Jesus.

It suggests moving away from worldly pursuits that offer temporary satisfaction towards a more eternal and significant source of fulfillment.

It can be applied in daily life by prioritizing one's spiritual journey and relationship with Jesus, engaging in practices such as prayer, reading scripture, and participating in community worship.

Cross-References

Matthew 4:4: "But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."
John 4:14: "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."
John 7:37-38: "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, key words to consider include:

"Bread" (ἄρτος, artos): commonly refers to bread or food, but often symbolizes life-sustaining nourishment.
"Life" (ζωή, zōē): often used to indicate not just life as physical existence, but an enriched, spiritual, and eternal life.
"Cometh" (ἔρχομαι, erchomai) and "believeth" (πιστεύω, pisteuō): both present-tense verbs, signifying continuous action.

Understanding the original language nuances helps in grasping the continuous, ever-present nature of the spiritual sustenance Jesus offers.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures, bread is a symbol of life and sustenance, and various religions have deities associated with bread and the harvest.

For instance, in Egyptian mythology, Osiris was connected with wheat and the growth of crops.

In the Greco-Roman world, goddesses like Demeter and Ceres were worshipped for their roles in agriculture and fertility.

Jesus presenting himself as the "bread of life" would resonate with multiple cultural understandings of bread as a symbol of life, while redirecting that to a spiritual plane.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, the idea of nutrition and satisfaction from food can be seen as an allegory in this verse.

While physical nutrition is essential for life and wellbeing, Jesus is suggesting a type of spiritual nutrition that fulfills deeper existential needs. Science recognizes that psychological and spiritual well-being are integral to overall health.

This verse invites reflection on the non-physical aspects of human needs, an area of ongoing interest in fields such as psychology and behavioral science.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have offered interpretations of John 6:35.

William Barclay notes the significance of Jesus using "I am" mirroring God's self-identification in the Old Testament and emphasizing the life-giving power of faith in Him.

Matthew Henry's commentary suggests that Christ is the sustenance of spiritual life and that by believing in Him, people become united with Him.

Craig S.

Keener, in his commentary, points to the socio-historical aspect of bread as a staple food in Jesus' time, stressing the importance of recognizing Jesus' claims against this backdrop.

Overall, commentators often converge on the view that Jesus' statement is a profound declaration of His role as a spiritual sustainer.

John 6

John 6

What does John 6:35 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 6:35 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?