John 6 - NLT Study Bible

6:1-15 Jesus’ feeding the 5,000 recalls the great OT miracle of bread when Israel was in the wilderness (Exod 16). The rabbis of Jesus’ day expected the coming Messiah to “rain down food from heaven” once again (Exod 16:4), and he did.

6:1-71 Each story in this chapter uses the setting of the Passover Festival (6:4) to communicate a deeper meaning.

6:5 Where can we buy bread: When the Israelites left Egypt following the first Passover and entered the desert, finding food and water was also their first concern (Exod 15:22–16:3).

6:7 Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money: Literally 200 denarii would not be enough. A denarius was equivalent to a laborer’s full day’s wage.

6:9 Barley was the grain of the poor. The loaves were similar to pita bread. The two fish would have been salted, and with the five loaves of bread would make one meal.

6:10 The headcount of about 5,000 reflected the men alone (Matt 14:21), as social custom dictated. With women and children included, the total number was far greater.

6:11 The modest meal provided the crowd with as much as they wanted, echoing the miraculous provision of manna in the wilderness (Exod 16:35). Moses had first supplied Israel with heavenly bread; Jesus was the new supplier (see note on 6:1-15).

6:14 him: Some manuscripts read Jesus. • he is the Prophet we have been expecting! The crowd understood the miracle as a fulfillment of OT promises (see Deut 18:15, 18; Mal 4:5-6).

6:15 The people were ready to force Jesus to become their king. To avoid this role, Jesus fled the crowd and commanded his disciples to go back across the lake (Mark 6:45-46).

6:18 East-west winds blowing down over the eastern cliffs of the Sea of Galilee late in the day commonly caused very rough waters and turbulent storms.

6:19 three or four miles: Greek 25 or 30 stadia [4.6 or 5.5 kilometers]. • The disciples’ fear of the storm was now surpassed by their fear of Jesus, who came walking on the water to help them. This act recalled Moses, who led Israel through the water (Exod 14; see Ps 77:19-20).

6:20 I am here (or The ‘I AM’ is here; Greek reads I am; see Exod 3:14): Jesus identified himself by the name God had revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai (see also John 4:26; 6:35).

6:21 immediately they arrived at their destination: The immediacy was yet another of Jesus’ miracles.

6:24 The crowd sailed north to Capernaum to search for Jesus because he had made Capernaum his home in Galilee (Mark 2:1).

6:26 The crowd, which had concluded that Jesus was a prophet and wanted to take advantage of him politically (see note on 6:15), failed to see the meaning of the miracle, which Jesus then explained (6:27-59).

6:26-59 This dialogue took place in the synagogue at Capernaum (6:59) shortly before Passover (6:4), when Jews read the account of the exodus from Egypt (see Exod 1–15).

6:27 Jesus’ most profound gift was not physical bread, but eternal life, which the Father authorized him to give. Physical bread is perishable; the gift of Jesus, who is himself the bread of life (6:35), will last forever. •  Son of Man is a title Jesus used for himself.

6:30 The crowd demanded a miraculous sign to demonstrate Jesus’ status as Messiah. Jews believed that when the Messiah appeared, he would duplicate the great miracle of Moses. Manna would once again fall, and everyone would consider it a second exodus.

6:31 Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat: Exod 16:4; Ps 78:24.

6:32-33 Jesus corrected the people’s argument: God, not Moses, fed Israel in the wilderness. The most important quest is to find and consume the true bread of God, who gives eternal life.

6:34 Sir, . . . give us that bread: This request parallels the request of the Samaritan woman (4:15). Spiritual awakening begins with a request for God’s gift.

6:35 Jesus’ I am statements in John depict Jesus’ identity and ministry (see also John 4:26; 8:12; 9:5; 10:7-9, 11-14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1-5). Jesus purposefully used a phrase that would make his listeners think of the OT name for God (Exod 3:14). • I am the bread of life: Jesus is the true manna that descended from God (John 6:38). He satisfies the spiritual hunger of those who believe in him (cp. John 4:10-13).

6:37 those the Father has given: God moves in people’s hearts, bringing them to Jesus.

6:37-40 Jesus’ mission in the world is sure to succeed. God sent Jesus (John 6:38) and calls people to follow him (John 6:37, 44). Those who come to him are secure in Jesus’ promise that he will not reject them or lose them (John 6:39).

6:41-42 When Jesus identified himself as the true bread . . . from heaven, the crowd faced a decision. • people: Literally Jewish people; also in 6:52. • Isn’t this . . . the son of Joseph? They stumbled because their familiarity with Jesus made his claims seem outlandish.

6:43-51 Stop complaining: Rather than defending himself against their complaint (6:42), Jesus turns to the problem of their spiritual receptivity. Those who love the Father and listen to him will believe in Jesus.

6:45 in the Scriptures: Literally in the prophets. Isa 54:13.

6:49-50 Jesus connected the manna of the Exodus with himself, then pointed out a major difference: The Israelites remained mortal and they all died, whereas the bread from heaven (Jesus himself) provides eternal life (John 6:47, 51, 58).

6:51 this bread . . . is my flesh: The gift that brings life is now unveiled. On the cross, Jesus offered his flesh for the life of the world.

6:53-58 eat the flesh . . . drink his blood: Jesus answered the question the people asked (6:52). His words hinted at the Lord’s Supper yet to come (see Luke 22:19). Since “flesh and blood” was a Jewish idiom for the whole person, Jesus might have been calling people to consume him fully by completely believing in him. Some Christian traditions see the bread as Christ’s literal flesh broken for us and the wine as his literal blood poured out for us. Receiving communion means no less than embracing Jesus’ life-giving sacrifice.

6:60-61 Jesus’ language (6:53-58) was shocking, offensive (see Gen 9:4-5), and hard to understand for his disciples, just as it was to the crowd. Were they to take him literally? How would they eat his flesh? Jesus’ answer is in 6:63.

6:63 The essence of Jesus’ gift is found in the Holy Spirit alone, not in human effort (literally the flesh). Life and understanding come through the gift of the Spirit (see John 14:15-20; 20:21-22). True life can be found only when the Holy Spirit infuses human life. To “eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood” (John 6:53) involves a spiritual rather than a physical act (see note on 6:53-58).

6:65 people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me (see 6:44): Only God’s light can penetrate the profound darkness of the world.

6:68-69 Simon Peter often served as spokesman for the Twelve (see also Matt 14:28-29; 16:16; 17:4; 18:21; 19:27; 26:33-35). • you are the Holy One of God: Other manuscripts read you are the Christ, the Holy One of God; still others read you are the Christ, the Son of God; and still others read you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. See Mark 1:24.

6:70-71 Once again Jesus demonstrated supernatural knowledge (see John 1:47-49; 4:16-19). Judas would work for evil and betray Jesus to the authorities (John 12:4; 13:2; Matt 26:14-16). • Iscariot means “man from Kerioth,” the home village of Judas’s family.