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Summary

John 6:1–14 – Feeding the Five Thousand

What happens:
Jesus crosses the Sea of Galilee and a large crowd follows because they have seen his signs. He asks Philip where to buy food for them. A boy offers five barley loaves and two fish. Jesus gives thanks, distributes the food through the disciples, and everyone eats until satisfied. The disciples gather twelve baskets of leftovers.

What it means:
Jesus provides abundantly for both physical need and spiritual hunger. His miraculous multiplication points to his identity as the true Bread of Life who satisfies deeper longings.


John 6:15–21 – Walking on Water

What happens:
After dismissing the crowd, Jesus retreats to a mountain. Evening falls and the disciples’ boat is far from land in rough seas. Jesus walks on the water toward them, and they are terrified. He reassures them, climbs into the boat, and immediately they reach the shore where they were heading.

What it means:
Jesus’ mastery over nature reveals his divine authority. His presence dispels fear and brings his followers safely to their destination when they recognize him.


John 6:22–35 – Seeking the True Bread

What happens:
The next day the crowd finds Jesus in Capernaum and asks for more signs. Jesus rebukes their focus on perishable food and urges them to work for the food that endures to eternal life. They ask what they must do; Jesus answers that they must believe in him whom the Father has sent. He declares himself the Bread of Life that came down from heaven.

What it means:
Jesus shifts attention from temporary provision to lasting sustenance found only in him. Belief in Christ as the heavenly Bread transforms daily existence into eternal communion with God.


John 6:36–40 – Promise of Resurrection

What happens:
Jesus explains that all the Father gives him will come to him, and he will never drive anyone away. He promises to raise them up on the last day and that his will is to grant eternal life to all who look to the Son and believe in him.

What it means:
Faith in Jesus secures an unbroken relationship with him and the guarantee of resurrection. God’s saving purpose is accomplished through Jesus’ steadfast welcome and sovereign work.


John 6:41–51 – Flesh and Breath

What happens:
The Jews grumble that Jesus, son of Joseph, claims to have come down from heaven. Jesus responds that unless they eat his flesh and drink his blood, they have no life in them. He explains that whoever eats this Bread will live forever and that the Bread he gives is his flesh for the life of the world.

What it means:
Jesus uses vivid imagery to convey the necessity of close union with him. Spiritual life flows from partaking in his sacrifice and ongoing communion, not merely from physical descent or heritage.


John 6:52–59 – True Spiritual Food

What happens:
The crowd disputes how Jesus can give them his flesh to eat. Jesus intensifies the teaching: whoever eats his flesh and drinks his blood remains in him and he in them. He declares that his flesh is real food and his blood real drink, and that whoever feeds on him has eternal life, for he lives because of the Father. He concludes that this teaching is spirit and life.

What it means:
Jesus calls for a faith that embraces his sacrificial death as the source of spiritual nourishment. True worship involves receiving his life by the Spirit, transcending literalism to grasp deeper reality.


John 6:60–71 – Reaction and Peter’s Confession

What happens:
Many disciples grumble at the hard teaching and turn back to follow him no more. Jesus asks the Twelve if they want to leave too. Simon Peter replies that Jesus has the words of eternal life and they have come to believe and know that he is the Holy One of God. Jesus acknowledges that one of the Twelve will betray him, referring to Judas Iscariot.

What it means:
Commitment to Jesus demands perseverance when his message challenges comfortable assumptions. True discipleship rests on personal confession of Christ’s divine authority, even amid betrayal.


Application

  • Invite Jesus to satisfy your deepest spiritual hunger rather than seeking temporary solutions
  • Recognize his authority over every circumstance and trust his presence to dispel fear
  • Place saving faith in Jesus as the Bread of Life to receive eternal sustenance and hope
  • Embrace intimate union with Christ through his sacrifice, living by his Spirit beyond mere rituals
  • Stand firm in discipleship when teachings challenge you, confessing Jesus as the source of life

Bible

1After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.

2And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

3And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.

4And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.

5When 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?

6And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

7Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

8One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,

9There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

10And 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.

11And 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.

12When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

13Therefore 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.

14Then 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.

15When 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.

16And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,

17And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.

18And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.

19So 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.

20But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.

21Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.

22The 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;

23(Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)

24When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.

25And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

26Jesus 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.

27Labour 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.

28Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

30They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

31Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

32Then 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.

33For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

34Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

35And 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.

36But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

37All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

38For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

39And 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.

40And 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.

41The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.

42And 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?

43Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

44No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

45It 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.

46Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.

47Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

48I am that bread of life.

49Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.

50This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

51I 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.

52The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?

53Then 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.

54Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

55For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

56He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

57As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

58This 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.

59These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

60Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

61When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?

62What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?

63It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

64But 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.

65And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

66From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

67Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

68Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

69And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

70Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?

71He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

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