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 6:61 mean?

Explanation

John 6:61 is a verse wherein Jesus confronts a moment of dissent among His disciples.

The preceding verses in John 6 detail a discourse where Jesus speaks metaphorically of Himself as the "bread of life" and talks about eating His flesh and drinking His blood, a concept that left many disciples bewildered and questioning.

The phrase "When Jesus knew in himself" suggests His divine awareness of the disciples' private grumblings or doubts.

The term "murmured at it" refers to the way they were discussing these teachings among themselves, likely with skepticism or discomfort.

The question "Doth this offend you?" is Jesus' direct address to the disciples, inquiring whether His teaching is causing them to stumble or turn away in disbelief.

It encapsulates the theme where the spiritual message of Jesus is a stumbling block to those who are unable or unwilling to understand its deeper spiritual significance.

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

This verse is situated within the context of Jesus’ ministry in the first century, when He was teaching the crowds and performing miracles.

This particular incident occurs after the feeding of the five thousand, which led to a discourse about the true bread from heaven.

In Jewish culture, bread was a fundamental part of sustenance, and by calling Himself "the bread of life," Jesus was making a claim that He is essential for spiritual survival.

The concept of consuming flesh and blood was, however, foreign and offensive to the Jewish sensibility, as it juxtaposed against the Mosaic law that prohibited the consumption of blood (Leviticus 17:10-14).

Theological Insights

Theological interpretations of this verse vary among Christian denominations and scholars.

In Catholic theology, this verse often emphasizes the faith and doctrine of Transubstantiation, where the bread and wine become the actual body and blood of Christ.

Protestant views might focus more on the symbolic meaning of Jesus' words, emphasizing the need for spiritual insight to understand the metaphor since they generally do not hold to Transubstantiation.

Evangelicals might take this verse as a lesson on the cost of discipleship and the necessity of faith in understanding Jesus’ teachings.

All these viewpoints confront the challenges that difficult teachings may pose to faith.

Practical Applications

The practical applications of John 6:61 involve the response to difficult or challenging teachings. In contemporary times, believers may encounter teachings in scripture or doctrine that are hard to comprehend or accept.

This verse underscores the importance of openness to divine truth, even when it confronts personal beliefs or cultural norms. It challenges individuals to consider whether certain teachings “offend” or cause them to stumble in their faith journey and to explore these areas with faith and prayer.

Cross-References

John 6:60 - "Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?"
John 6:66 - "From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him."
Matthew 11:6 - "And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me."
1 Corinthians 1:23 - "But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;"

Language Study

The Greek term for "knew" (γινώσκω - ginōskō) conveys a sense of perceiving or being aware, which implies Jesus' divine insight into the hearts and minds of His disciples.

"Murmured" (γογγύζω - gogguzō) suggests quiet or secretive complaining, reflecting the unrest that was not openly addressed.

The word "offend" is translated from the Greek word "σκανδαλίζω" (skandalizō), the root of the English word "scandalize," which in this context means to cause to stumble or to fall away.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The themes within this verse can be compared to other ancient cultures that had cultic practices involving the eating of sacred meals or consumption of foods associated with divine beings.

However, the direct consumption of a deity's flesh and blood as a path to eternal life is mostly unique to Christianity. Religious parallels may be drawn with rituals that symbolically include the divine in communal meals, as seen in some forms of Paganism or mystery religions.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the verse does not directly touch on scientific concepts, as it is primarily focused on spiritual and theological aspects.

However, modern psychology looks at human responses to challenging concepts, including cognitive dissonance, which might be relevant to how the disciples are struggling to integrate Jesus' difficult teachings with their own understanding.

Commentaries

Commentators have provided varying insights on John 6:61.

Matthew Henry's commentary emphasizes the omniscience of Christ, knowing the hearts and complaints of His disciples.

He points out that the disciples' offense in Christ's easier teaching is a worrying sign for their reaction to His more profound and difficult teachings to come, such as His death and resurrection.

The MacArthur Study Bible notes call us to discern the spiritual truth in Jesus' words and point to the subsequent desertion of many disciples as a result of this teaching, illustrating the difficulty of truly committing to Jesus' teachings.

John 6

John 6

What does John 6:61 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 6:61 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?