Tyndale Open Study NotesJohn 6

Jesus feeding the 5,000 recalls the Old Testament story of manna (bread from heaven) when Israel was in the wilderness (Exodus 16). In that story, God provided bread each day for his people.

In the time of Jesus, some Jewish teachers believed that the Messiah would again give bread from heaven (Exodus 16:4). They expected a new act of divine provision.

When Jesus fed the crowd, he met this expectation. However, he was not only giving physical bread. He was pointing to himself as the true bread from heaven, who gives life to the world.

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

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

Barley was a grain for poor people. The loaves were like pita bread. The two fish were likely salted. Together with the five barley loaves, they made one meal.

The count of about 5,000 included only the men, as was the usual way of counting in that culture (Matthew 14:21). Including women and children, the total number of people was much greater.

The simple meal provided the crowd with as much as they wanted. This was similar to the miracle of manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16:35). In that earlier story, God gave bread from heaven through Moses. Now, Jesus provided bread for the people in a similar way.

Truly this is the Prophet who is to come into the world: The crowd understood the miracle as a fulfillment of Old Testament promises (see Deuteronomy 18:15, 18; Malachi 4:5–6).

they were about to come and make Him king by force: To avoid this role, Jesus fled the crowd and commanded his disciples to go back across the lake (Mark 6:45–46).

Strong east-west winds often blow down from the eastern cliffs of the Sea of Galilee. These winds usually come late in the day.

When the wind rushes down toward the water, it can quickly stir up high waves. As a result, the lake can become very rough and dangerous. Sudden and violent storms were common in that area.

The disciples were afraid of the storm. Then they saw Jesus walking on the water toward them. At that moment, their fear of the storm was replaced by fear and awe of him. Jesus came to help them. By walking on the water, he showed his authority over nature.

This act recalled Moses, who led Israel safely through the water (Exodus 14; see Psalm 77:19–20).

It is I (literally, I am): Jesus identified himself by the name God had revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai (see Exodus 3:14; also see John 4:26; 6:35).

at once the boat reached the shore where they were heading: The healing happened at once. This immediate result was another miracle performed by Jesus.

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

This dialogue took place in the synagogue at Capernaum shortly before Passover (6:4, 59). During Passover, Jews would read the story of the exodus from Egypt (see Exodus 1–15).

The crowd had decided that Jesus was a prophet. They even wanted to use him for their own political goals (see 6:15).

However, they did not understand the true meaning of the miracle. They focused on the bread and the signs.

Jesus then explained what the miracle really meant. He taught that people should not work only for food that spoils. Instead, they should seek the food that gives eternal life (6:27–59).

The greatest gift Jesus gives is not physical bread, but eternal life. The Father gave Jesus the authority to do this.

Physical food spoils. But Jesus, who is the bread of life, offers a gift that lasts forever (6:35).

The crowd asked Jesus for another miraculous sign. They wanted proof that he was the Messiah.

Many Jews believed that when the Messiah came, he would repeat the great miracle connected with Moses. They expected manna to fall from heaven again, as it had in the wilderness.

If that happened, people would see it as a second exodus. It would remind them of how God rescued Israel from Egypt and fed them in the desert.

Jesus corrected the people's argument: God, not Moses, fed Israel in the wilderness.

The most important goal in life is to seek the true bread from God. This bread is not ordinary food. It is the gift that gives eternal life. To “eat” this bread means to believe in Jesus and depend on him.

Those who receive this bread share in the life that comes from God and lasts forever.

Sir, … give us this bread: This is similar to the request of the Samaritan woman (4:15). Spiritual awakening begins with a request for God’s gift.

• In the Gospel of John, the “I am” statements reveal who Jesus is and what he came to do (see also 4:26; 8:12; 9:5; 10:7–9, 11–14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1–5). Jesus used the words I am on purpose. These words would remind his listeners of the name of God in the Old Testament (Exodus 3:14).

• I am the bread of life: Jesus is the true manna that came from God (John 6:38). He satisfies the spiritual hunger of those who believe in him (compare 4:10–13).

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

Everyone the Father gives Me: God acts to bring people to Jesus so that they believe in him.

• When Jesus called himself the bread that came down from heaven, the crowd had to make a decision.

• Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph: The people questioned Jesus because they thought they knew him and his family.

  Their familiarity with him made his claims seem strange and unbelievable. Since they saw him as an ordinary man from their town, they struggled to accept what he said about himself.

Stop grumbling: Instead of defending himself against their complaint, Jesus addresses their lack of spiritual receptivity (their openness to God; see 6:42). Those who love the Father and listen to him will believe in Jesus.

Jesus connected the manna of the exodus story with himself. Then he said why he was different from the manna the Israelites received from God.

The Israelites remained mortal and they all died. But the bread from heaven (Jesus himself) provides eternal life (6:47, 51, 58).

this bread … is My flesh: The gift that gives life is now made clear. On the cross, Jesus gave his body so that the world might receive life.

eats My flesh and drinks My blood: Jesus answered the question the people asked (6:52). His words pointed ahead to the Lord’s Supper, which would come later (see Luke 22:19). In Jewish speech, the phrase “flesh and blood” referred to the whole person. In this context, Jesus was calling people to receive him fully by completely believing in him.

Ever since the Protestant Reformation, there have been three main interpretations of the words of Jesus about the bread and wine:

1. Transubstantiation: The bread and wine are believed to change into the actual body and blood of Christ, while still appearing to be bread and wine.

2. Real Presence: Christ is understood to be truly present in the sacrament in a mysterious but real way that is beyond human understanding.

3. Memorial or Symbolic View: The bread and wine are seen as symbols. The act of sharing them recalls Christ’s death and resurrection, and believers receive spiritual benefit through faith.

What Jesus said was shocking and offensive (6:53–58; see Genesis 9:4–5). It was hard for his disciples and the crowd to understand. Should they take him literally? How could they eat his flesh? Jesus answers in John 6:63.

The true source of the gift Jesus gives is the Holy Spirit, not human effort. In this context, the flesh refers to what humans can do on their own. Life and understanding come through the gift of the Spirit (see 14:15–20; 20:21–22). True life is found only when the Holy Spirit gives life to people.

no one can come to Me unless the Father has granted it to him (see 6:44): Only God’s light can shine into the deep darkness of the world.

Simon Peter often spoke on behalf of the 12 apostles (see also Matthew 14:28–29; 16:16; 17:4; 18:21; 19:27; 26:33–35).

• Once again, Jesus showed supernatural knowledge (knowledge beyond normal human ability; see 1:47–49; 4:16–19). He knew what was in people’s hearts (their innermost selves) and what would happen in the future.

  Jesus knew that Judas would betray him. Judas later betrayed Jesus to the authorities (12:4; 13:2; Matthew 26:14–16).

• Iscariot means “man from Kerioth.” Kerioth was the home village of Judas’s family.