John 6 - New Spirit-Filled Life Bible

6:1 John identifies the Sea of Galilee with the name by which it was called when he wrote the Gospel. Tiberias, a city located on the lake’s western shore, was founded about A.D. 20, so the lake probably was not known by its name during the ministry of Jesus.

6:4 John’s second reference to the Feast of Passover, likely a year after the one mentioned in 2:13, does not require Jesus to go to Jerusalem. Rather, in this case it serves as backdrop for the discourse on Jesus as the Bread of Life (6:41–58). See note on Ex. 12:1–11.

6:5–13 See section 5 of Truth-In-Action at the end of John.

6:9–14 Apart from the Resurrection, the feeding of the 5,000 is the only miracle recorded in all four Gospels.

6:12, 13 See note on Matt. 14:20.

6:14, 15 The people’s response of This is truly the Prophet reflects the popular belief that a prophet like Moses, who fed the Israelites with manna, would come into the world to establish an earthly paradise. This sparked their messianic fervor, and they wanted to install Jesus as their political “bread-Messiah,” making Him king by force. Jesus would have none of it (see Matt. 4:1–4).

6:16–21 In contrast to their concept of Jesus as an earthly ruler with limited power, in walking on the water Jesus reveals Himself as having supreme authority in all the universe.

6:22–71 This lengthy section provides us with the most in-depth NT explanation of the significance of Communion and how it is vastly more than a mere ordinance commemorating Jesus’ death.

6:28–30 The people placed primary emphasis on their works for God and on God’s works for them (signs), whereas with Jesus, singular focus is on believing (that is, trusting) in the One whom God sent.

6:35 See section 5 of Truth-In-Action at the end of John.

6:48–51 See section 5 of Truth-In-Action at the end of John.

6:48 This is the first of the seven I am sayings of Jesus, unique to John’s Gospel. There is an unmistakable parallel to God’s covenant name (Yahweh) by which He revealed Himself to Moses in Ex. 3:14, “I AM WHO I AM.” Jesus makes the pronouncement “I am the bread of life” three times (vv. 35, 48, 51). He is the “real” heavenly bread, the true life-sustaining power; anything else, regardless of its religious significance in past or present, is an inadequate substitute.

6:49–59 Jesus carried the argument a step beyond the essential recognition that He is the Bread of Life. To believe in Him means to partake of Him.

6:53–58 See section 2 of Truth-In-Action at the end of John.

6:53 To eat the flesh of Jesus and to drink His blood are to be understood spiritually. The expressions point to the violent sacrificial death He would suffer and the necessity of believers partaking in the benefits of His death by coming to Him and believing in Him (v. 35). Although we need not see in this the necessity of our partaking of the Eucharist in order to obtain salvation, it does teach the very vital importance of Communion in strengthening our souls, bringing healing into our lives, and for testifying to our faith.

6:60 The saying (vv. 35–58) was hard in that it was difficult to accept.

6:71 Iscariot means “Man of Kerioth.” Since Kerioth was in southern Judah, Judas Iscariot appears to have been the only non-Galilean disciple.