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 6:38 mean?

Explanation

John 6:38 presents Jesus speaking about His divine origin and His mission on earth.

In this verse, Jesus explicitly states that He has come down from heaven, which is a claim to His preexistence and divine nature.

The expression "not to do mine own will" indicates that Jesus's actions are not self-directed but are in submission to and alignment with the will of God the Father who sent Him.

This underscores the unity between Jesus and the Father, a concept that is central to Trinitarian Christian theology.

The broader context of this verse includes Jesus's discourse on being the Bread of Life, offering eternal life to those who believe in Him.

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

John 6:38 is contained within the Gospel of John, traditionally believed to have been written by the Apostle John in the late first century AD.

The historical context of this statement arises following the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand with five loaves and two fishes.

The verse is part of a dialogue between Jesus and the crowd that sought Him out after the miraculous event.

During this period, Jewish hopes for a messiah were often tied to earthly deliverance from Roman occupation and social-political liberation.

Jesus's statement that His purpose is not self-serving but divine serves to clarify misconceptions about His messianic mission.

Theological Insights

From a Trinitarian Christian perspective, this verse supports the idea that Jesus is the Son of God who was sent to fulfill a divine purpose. It offers insight into the doctrine of the Incarnation, which holds that Jesus, being divine, took on human flesh.

Additionally, the relationship between divine will and human obedience is emphasized, showcasing a model of perfect submission to God's will.

Non-Trinitarian viewpoints may interpret this verse in line with their beliefs about Jesus's role and nature, perhaps focusing on the humanity of Jesus and his role as a messenger or prophet rather than divine essence.

Practical Applications

The verse inspires believers to reflect on the importance of seeking and fulfilling God's will above their own desires.

It encourages a posture of humility and submission in one's spiritual journey and daily life, reminding individuals to prioritize divine guidance and instructions as Jesus did.

Christians might use this teaching to cultivate a life of obedience, commitment to God’s purposes, and mission-oriented living, emulating Jesus's example.

Cross-References

John 5:30: "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me."
Philippians 2:6-8: "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
Hebrews 10:7: "Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God."

Language Study

The key phrases in the original Greek text are significant:

"καταβέβηκα ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ" (katabebēka ek tou ouranou) which translates as "I came down from heaven," implies a heavenly origin or descent.
"τῇ θελήσει" (tē thelēsei) meaning "the will," connotes intent or desire, in this case, referring to the will of God.
"πέμψαντός με" (pempsantos me) meaning "the one who sent me," emphasizing Jesus as having been sent, indicating purpose and mission from the one who sent Him, here God the Father.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the ancient world, figures who claimed to descend from heaven were not uncommon in various mythologies, including Greek and Roman stories where gods descended to interact with humans.

In Judaism, Moses is seen as a prophet through whom God delivers the Law, yet he did not claim divine descent.

In contrast, Jesus's statement is significant as it asserts a unique and divine origin, setting Him apart from other historical religious leaders or mythical figures.

Scientific Perspectives

The assertion "I came down from heaven" cannot be analyzed by scientific methodology as it pertains to a metaphysical claim beyond the empirical realm.

However, the concept of submitting to a higher purpose or power can have psychological implications, such as the idea of having a purpose or mission in life, which some studies suggest can contribute to overall mental health and well-being.

commentaries

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary: Henry suggests that the willingness with which Christ came into the world is a matter of joy to the saints.

Jesus's submission to God’s will in coming to earth speaks of his divine obedience and willingness to suffer for humanity's salvation.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible: Barnes emphasizes the voluntary nature of Christ's mission, indicating that Jesus was not forced but consented to undertake the work of redemption according to the Father’s plan.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary: This commentary deepens the understanding of Jesus's divine mission, asserting that He was the "living embodiment of the divine will." The focus is on the inseparable union of Jesus with the Father and His singular focus on fulfilling the work He was sent to do.

John 6

John 6

What does John 6:38 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 6:38 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?