John 6 - CSB Study Bible for Women

6:1-15 The mountain Jesus ascended was east of the Sea of Galilee, an area known as the Golan Heights (v. 3). The feeding of the 5,000 is the one miracle recorded by all the Gospel writers (Mt 14:15; Mk 6:35; Lk 9:12).

6:18-21 John is one of three Gospels that reports Jesus walking on the Sea of Galilee. Only Luke does not mention the “walking on the water miracle” (cp. Mt 14:25; Mk 6:48). Characteristically, John uses these fourth and fifth miraculous signs to introduce another lengthy discourse from Jesus.

6:22-26 This “Bread of Life” discourse (6:22-40) functions in John’s narrative in much the same way that the parable of the sower did in the Synoptic Gospels. Jesus used this discourse as a “weeding out” tool to separate true believers from those who followed Him merely to benefit from His miracles. Also, the discourse clearly communicates that Jesus, as the Bread of Life, is the true fulfillment of the Passover, a festival mentioned elsewhere in John (2:13,23; 7:2; 10:14; 11:55; 12:1; 13:1; 18:28,39).

6:30-33 One must have faith in Jesus Himself. Faith based on the performing of miracles is not enough. A contrast is made between Jesus and Moses, under whose leadership God supplied manna to feed the Israelites as they left Egypt and made their journey through the wilderness for 40 years. “Manna”—a small, round wafer that appeared with the morning dew—was gathered by the people, made into cakes, and baked or boiled (Ex 16:13-36). The OT “manna” was a prototype pointing to Jesus, the true bread from heaven who would provide unfailing sustenance and satisfaction.

6:35 “I am the bread of life” is the first of seven “I am” axioms, which are recorded only in John. The metaphors Jesus used include:

• “the bread of life” (6:35,41,48,51);

• “the light of the world” (8:12);

• “the gate for the sheep” (10:7,9);

• “the good shepherd” (10:11,14);

• “the resurrection and the life” (11:25);

• “the way, the truth, and the life” (14:6); and

• “the true vine” (15:1,5).

6:37-40 True followers of Christ have great assurance because Christ will not lose a single one the Father has given Him. These verses support the eternal security of the believer. However, one must not ignore the immediate context of these verses. Only those who are true believers are secure. Hence, you must make sure that your faith is based solely on Christ Himself and not merely on His miracles.

6:51-58 There has been much debate concerning the meaning of eating Christ’s flesh and drinking His blood. Some have argued that these words are a reference to the Eucharist. However, nothing in the immediate context warrants this interpretation. Rather, eating Christ’s flesh and drinking His blood are vivid metaphors describing the kind of relationship true believers must have with Christ. The necessity of food intake in the physical realm carries over as analogous to receiving Christ (i.e., partaking of His body in a figurative sense, in order to have spiritual life). Jesus’s followers must be willing to identify with Him and assimilate His life within their own lives so that they will be willing to suffer and die with Him.

6:60-67 Clearly not many who were following Jesus at the time were willing to so identify themselves with Him. Many walked away because the teaching was too hard. After this, Jesus addressed the Twelve.

6:68-71 These verses represent the kind of confession given by Peter in the Synoptic Gospels. Jesus is the Holy One of God, and He alone has the words of eternal life. Thus, John was presenting the Twelve as true followers of Christ because they were the ones who stuck with Him.