John 6:67–71

⁶⁷ Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” ⁶⁸ But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ⁷⁰ Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” ⁷¹ He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.

 Commentary 

Vs. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”

With the departure of many of His followers, Jesus now asks the twelve if they also want to go away. For with the Lord Jesus Christ the door is always open to come in and remain with Him, or to leave as one wishes. And so, the consequences of such decisions (both good or bad) remain with us.

Vs. 68-69 ⁶⁸ But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Simon Peter then as is the first to respond, and in doing so as the disciple’s unofficial spokesman and “leader”, he is adamant that neither he, nor any of the twelve want to leave Jesus, for he says to Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (vs. 68). In Simon Peters declaration (vs. 68-69) then we see genuine faith, for when the pressure was on to depart from Jesus and follow “the crowd”, Peter along with the eleven choose to take their stand with the Lord Jesus Christ. For as Peter also says,’ “Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ^{Vs. 69} The question then is have you come to know and believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God, For in Him alone is everlasting life!

Vs. 70-71 ⁷⁰ Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” ⁷¹ He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.

Now Jesus in answering like this indicates that He already knew that Simon Peter and the others believed in Him, for He choose them, except one, whom Jesus here calls a devil, for though He also chose Judas Iscariot, Jesus chose him not for his faith in Him, but for the fulfillment of the Scripture, for it would be Judas Iscariot the son of Simon who would betray Him.

 Scripture Quotations 

New King James Version (1982): Thomas Nelson.

 

 

 

John 6:60–66

⁶⁰ Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” ⁶¹ When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? ⁶² What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? ⁶³ It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. ⁶⁴ But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. ⁶⁵ And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.” ⁶⁶ From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.

Commentary

Vs. 60-62 ⁶⁰ Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” ⁶¹ When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? ⁶² What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?

When many of Jesus’ followers heard what He had just said they said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” Meaning that it was not so much hard for them to understand, as it was hard for them to hear it, or bear it, for it was offensive to their “sensibilities.” Now when Jesus knew in Himself that they were complaining about His doctrine He did not capitulate, or try to make His teaching more palatable to them, rather He confronted their unbelief by saying to them, …“Does this offend you? ⁶² What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?” ^{Vs. 61-62} For if they were offended by Him saying that He was the true bread of life come down from heaven, what would they say if they saw Him ascend back to heaven?

Vs. 63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”

The Lord Jesus Christ now makes it clear that the flesh profits nothing, because eternal life does not come through it, (by seeking to satisfy its cravings and desires) but only through the Holy Spirit! “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be Spiritually minded is life and peace” (Rom. 8:6). Therefore, Jesus now makes it clear that the bread from heaven which they are to eat is not His literal flesh to live forever, but rather it is by the Spirit that eternal life comes to all who believe in Him. Thus, to eat His flesh and to drink His blood is to accept and believe in His Person and His Word unconditionally, for when anyone does the Spirit comes and brings them to everlasting life!

Vs. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.

From the beginning then when people begin to follow Him, Jesus knew who they were who did not believe in Him; thus, their grumblings did not move Him in the slightest to change or altar what He said or did. Indeed, He knew from the beginning who they were who would betray Him. The same then holds true today, for many will start off following Him and then at some point they too will be offended by Him and walk away, and some of them will even go on to betray Him, and seek to undermine Him, His Word and His people!

Vs. 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

The Lord Jesus Christ then reasserts His Father’s Sovereignty over all things, including coming to Him, for no one can come to Him, (to believe in Him), unless it has been granted them by His Father (consider Acts 13:48).

Vs. 66 “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.”

 And so, it was with that Word that many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Again, this reality plays itself out in every generation as many people will begin to follow the Lord Jesus Christ but not all will finish their race with Him!

Scripture Quotations 

New King James Version (1982): Thomas Nelson.

 

 

 

 

John 6:22–59

²² On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone—²³ however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks—²⁴ when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. ²⁵ And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?” ²⁶ Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. ²⁷ Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” ²⁸ Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” ²⁹ Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” ³⁰ Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? ³¹ Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” ³² Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” ³⁴ Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” ³⁵ And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. ³⁶ But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. ³⁷ All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. ³⁸ For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. ³⁹ This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. ⁴⁰ And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” ⁴¹ The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” ⁴² And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” ⁴³ Jesus therefore answered and said to them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. ⁴⁴ No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. ⁴⁵ It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. ⁴⁶ Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. ⁴⁷ Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. ⁴⁸ I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹ Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. ⁵⁰ This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. ⁵¹ I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” ⁵² The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?” ⁵³ Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴ Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. ⁵⁵ For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. ⁵⁶ He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. ⁵⁷ As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. ⁵⁸ This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.” ⁵⁹ These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.

Commentary

Vs. 22-24 ²² On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone—²³ however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks—²⁴ when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

This is now the day after Jesus fed the multitudes and had walked on the water to the disciples before bringing them to land on the western side of the Sea of Galilee where Capernaum was. However, the people that Jesus miraculously fed had remained on the other side of the Sea (and now others had joined them from the region of Tiberias) these then were all gathered together there, for though they saw the disciples leave the previous evening,  they did not see Jesus leave with them, and so they stayed there hoping to see Jesus again. However, when they did not see Jesus, nor His disciples, they all got into boats and also came to the region of Capernaum.

Vs. 25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?”

Now when the arrived at Capernaum they found Jesus, and when they found Him, they were confused as to when He arrived there, for they did not see Him depart from the other region, and they could not fathom how He arrived there before them. So, they asked Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?”

Vs. 26-27 ²⁶ Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. ²⁷ Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

Jesus though moves right past their novel question to the heart of the matter, for He knows their hearts, and so He says to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Now in Jesus statement is an indictment of their seeking Him, for they were not seeking Him because of who He was as the Son of Man which He revealed to them through the miraculous feeding of them all, no they were only seeking Him because He had met some temporal need in their life! That is, He fed them when they were hungry, but after they had eaten, they did not want Him per-say, rather they only wanted Him to provide for them again! Therefore Jesus knowing this about them, and knowing the grave pitfall of pursuing Him only for what He can do for us here and now, now says to them, “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” ^{Vs. 27}

Jesus then is clearly trying to redirect there focus from pursuing free meals giving through the hands of the Son of Man, which only perish after they are consumed, and thus leave the soul still unsatisfied, to pursuing Him because He can give them the food which endures to everlasting life! Which as He says He will give them (if they believe in Him) because God the Father has set His seal upon Him. That is, God the Father by His Spirit has Verified and Certified and Sanctified the Son of Man as His. Therefore, it is the Son of Man who gives eternal life to whom the Father gives to Him. Thus, people who only pursue Jesus because He can increase their wealth, or fix their health, or resolve their marriage etc. are sadly risking missing Him and eternal life completely! Because they too are only “laboring” for the food that perishes, and not “laboring” for that which endures to everlasting life!

Vs. 28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”

The multitudes then when they heard Jesus say that, now ask Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Which is a valid question and yet it only stems from the heart of pride and unbelief, for only those who do not believe think that they can work for or earn their salvation (Eph. 2:8-9).

Vs. 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

Jesus now gives the most concise and precise answer on how one works the works of God and gets eternal salvation by saying, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” Thus, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the demarcation line between eternal salvation and eternal condemnation! For truly it is the work of God that anyone can and will believe in Him!

Vs. 30-31 ³⁰ Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? ³¹ Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ”

Sadly, rather then rejoicing when they heard this, or saying something like Lord I believe in You please save me too, they only ask a sign from Jesus, saying to Him “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do?” ^{Vs. 30} Thus in them we see the fickleness of mankind who as soon as he is fed quickly forgets who it is who fed him, and how He fed him! And so, they ask from Jesus a sign of God on demand, a work of God on demand, to perform a sign for them so that they might believe, however God does not work, nor show signs according to our demands! For He demands from us our faith in Him then He will show us His mighty Works! Now to qualify their request they also say to Jesus: “Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” ^{Vs. 31}

Thus Jesus’ multiplying the seven loaves and two fish to feed five thousand people in their sight was not a sign enough for them that He was the Son of God, for they now quote the Scripture in Psalm 78:24 which recalls how God gave their fathers the manna, i.e. bread from heaven to eat. Now in their recalling this they are basically looking back to Moses and implying that he is greater than the Son of Man because this happened during his tenure.

Vs. 32-33 ³² Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

Jesus then quickly rebukes their confidence in Moses by saying to them that Moses did not give them the bread from heaven, i.e. manna, rather it is Jesus’ Father who now gives the true bread from heaven (vs, 32). For the bread their ancestors ate was a temporary food, it only lasted during the 40 years of the wilderness wanderings of the Israelites, and it ceased the day when they entered the promised land. As well their manna never left any of them satisfied, it was only enough to sustain them, but never enough to quell their hunger and desires for more. Therefore, Jesus rightly calls Himself the true bread from heaven given by God in heaven to everyone who believes in Him. “For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” ^{Vs. 33} Thus only the Lord Jesus Christ gives life to all who eat of Him. 

Vs. 34-35 ³⁴ Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” ³⁵ And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

Having heard this the Jews now ask for this “bread” from Jesus (vs. 34). Yet Jesus it is not taking about temporal bread, He is talking about Himself come down from God in heaven to give life to everyone who believes in Him! Therefore, in one profound statement now Jesus says of Himself, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” ^{Vs. 35} In Jesus’ statement then is the promise and guarantee of not only eternal life, but also eternal satisfaction! For nothing can satisfy our souls thirst and hunger other than to be reunited with God again!

Vs. 36 “But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.”

The Lord Jesus Christ’s makes it now plain and clear that those Jews though actually seeing and hearing Him, (their Messiah in the flesh no less), yet they did not believe in Him, incredible! Thus, they can claim to belong to Moses, or Abraham, or God in heaven Himself all they want, but if they do not believe in His Son Jesus Christ then they do not belong to any of them!

Vs. 37 “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.”

Here Jesus makes it clear that it is His Father in heaven who moves in people’s hearts and minds to bring to Him all that belong to Him. Therefore, Jesus Promises that “…the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” For the Son of Man rejects no one given to Him by the Father.

Vs. 38 “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”

Here the Lord Jesus confirms that He has not come to do His own Will, but the Father who sent Him. Unlike then those who reject Him, and thus reject Will of God for themselves, which is to believe in Him and have everlasting life for themselves!

Vs. 39-40 ³⁹ This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. ⁴⁰ And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” 

God the Father’s Will for us who believe in His Son is that we should not be lost by Him, but rather that we should be raised up at the last Day, which is a reference to the resurrection of the Dead when the just, that is those who have been justified by Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, will be given their eternal bodies and taken home to be with God the Father in heaven forever. In these verses then is not only the Promise of God’s Son Jesus Christ assuring us of our eternal salvation, because He Himself has undertaken to fulfill it, but also His Resurrection Promise of raising us up at the last Day! Thus, every believer down through ages has been, and is being eternally secured by the Lord Jesus Christ!

Vs. 41-42 ⁴¹ The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” ⁴² And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”

At this point the Jews having lost the ability to hear, i.e.  understand Jesus’ Words, they now begin to complain about Him. And so, they point to His declaration when He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” ^{Vs. 41} Only to criticize Him for it! For being blinded to that beautiful reality, they begin to assess Jesus by His earthy parents, saying of Him, “…Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” ^{vs. 42} Now Joseph was not Jesus’ Father, God in heaven is, for Jesus was only born of the Virgin Marry, not begotten by her and her husband Joseph! Thus, in them we see that you are either growing in faith, or growing more hardened in unbelief!

Vs. 43-44 ⁴³ Jesus therefore answered and said to them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. ⁴⁴ No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

Jesus knowing that they were complaining about His Words amongst themselves now tells them not to murmur, (for they were not building faith in themselves or anyone else by doing so), And so once again in the face of their unbelief Jesus Christ declares, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” ^{Vs. 44}  There is then in Jesus’ own Words a declaration of the Sovereignty of God!

Vs. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.

Not only then does God draw people to Himself (by speaking to our hearts), He also teaches us through His Word. For it is His Word that first draws us, and then it is His Word that teaches us about Him. Jesus Christ then as the Living Word of God is not only Savior, but He is our Teacher!

Vs. 46 “Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father.”

Now in teaching us God the Father does not have to appear to us. For He speaks to us through His Word! Therefore, only One has seen the Father, His Son Jesus Christ whom He sent to us!

Vs. 47 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.”

While in the midst of speaking some very profound things to us the Lord Jesus Christ once again reaffirms that everyone who believes in Him has everlasting life! For you do not need to understand all the deep mysteries of God to be saved by His Son! All you need to do is repent and believe in Him!

Vs. 48 “I am the bread of life.”

The Lord Jesus Christ now returns to the most appropriate metaphor of His Person, saying, “I am the bread of life.” for He is the Bread of Life, and to eat of Him, to feed on Him and His Words, is to have everlasting life! For there is nothing else that bring us to life other than the Lord Jesus Christ!

Vs. 49 “Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.”

Now in saying this Jesus is rebuking the Jews false confidence that their ancestors were fed by God (Ps. 78:25), and thus they themselves by default then belong to God. For though God fed their fathers manna in the wilderness, they all died, for none came to eternal life through the manna, for that manna was given them as a symbol of the Lord Jesus Christ who would bring them (and all who believe in Him) to life!

Vs. 50 “This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die.”

Jesus then is trying to redirect their thoughts and trust and confidence away from that manna to Himself, for He is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die!

Vs. 51 “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

Unlike the dead manna which brought no one to life, the Lord Jesus Christ is the living bread which came down from heaven, therefore if anyone eats of this bread they will live forever! Now the bread that the Lord Jesus Christ is talking about is His flesh, that is His Person Crucified on the Cross which was done by God through Himself for the life of the world!

Vs. 52 The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”

Clearly then the Jews were not understanding Jesus’ Word, for having both seen and heard Him, all they can do now is grumble even more amongst themselves saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”

Vs. 53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.

Jesus though does lesson His metaphor about Himself one bit. Indeed, He doubles down on what He has been saying, by now saying, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.”

At a glance then this seems a hard lesson, but it is not, it is merely Jesus telling us that we cannot partake of only a little of the Lord Jesus Christ. We must have Him all, that is we must take and eat of all of Him, both His flesh and His blood! For there is nothing of His Person (nor His Word) that we can refuse to believe, or reject!

Vs. 54 “Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Jesus now returns to His Promise of everlasting life given to everyone who believes in Him (vs. 47), who eats His flesh and drinks His blood, for everyone who does so has the Promise of being raised from the dead on the last day to spend eternity with God in heaven!

Vs. 55 “For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.”

Again, the manna did not satisfy the cravings of the Israelites in their wilderness wandering days. Indeed, nothing in heaven or on earth does, except having the Lord Jesus Christ and feeding on Him, thus He rightly says that His flesh is food indeed and His blood is drink indeed, for only He can satisfy our souls hunger and thirsts!

Vs. 56 “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.”

Now to eat the Lord Jesus Christ’s flesh and to drink His blood is not the observance of the ceremonial communion which He instituted the night of His Crucifixion. For one can do these and still not believe in Him! Therefore, to eat of His flesh and drink of His blood is to by faith consume Him wholly! For when one does, believing in Him, and thus receiving Him without reservation, He likewise comes and abides in us (Rev. 3:20). Now Jesus Christ’s flesh is His Body broken for us on the Cross for our eternal salvation, while His blood is what cleanses us of all our sins, for without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin (Heb. 9:22).

Vs. 57 “As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.”

Feeding on the Lord Jesus Christ then is to listen and believe and receive His Word into one’s heart. For when one does one has all that makes for life, free, full, and abundant, for only His Word brings us to life, by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, to Spiritually live one must feed on the Lord Jesus Christ, for one’s souls’ hunger cannot be satisfied any other way.

Vs. 58-59 “This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.” ⁵⁹ These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.

The Lord Jesus Christ then in closing His address to them once again declares that He is the bread which came down from heaven, a bread then that is exceedingly Superior to the manna which the Jews fathers ate and still died, for if anyone east of Him they will live forever! Now Jesus said these things to them in their synagogue (that is the Jews place of worship) as He taught them in Capernaum.

Scripture Quotations 

New King James Version (1982): Thomas Nelson.

 

 

John 6:15–21

 ¹⁵ Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone. ¹⁶ Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, ¹⁷ got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. ¹⁸ Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. ¹⁹ So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. ²⁰ But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” ²¹ Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

Commentary

Vs. 15 “Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.”

The people there then having experienced this great Spiritual awakening now want to come and take Jesus by force and make Him King. Thus, they were adamant about what they had just seen and experienced. However, that could not be, because the Lord Jesus Christ still had His destiny with the Cross to fulfill. And so, when Jesus perceived the hearts and desires of the people, He departed from them all, and went to a mountain by Himself.

Vs. 16-17 ¹⁶ Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, ¹⁷ got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them.

The disciples then when evening had come, went down to sea and got into the boat and began to cross over to go to Capernaum, now it was already dark, indicating that they themselves had waited till everyone else had crossed the sea. Now usually sea crossings at night in open vessels are to be avoided on open waters, however the Sea of Galilee was land locked and because of the surrounding geography high winds and sudden storms were much more common in the day time hours as opposed to the late evening hours when the seas was at is calmest.

Vs. 18 “Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing.”

Therefore, this was an unusual event, and not just an ordinary storm, but as we read in the other gospel accounts the sea began to overtake their vessel so that the disciples began fearing for their lives!

Vs. 19 “So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid.”

The disciples then panicking begin to row with all their might so that they might make it to the shoreline. And so, having traveled three or four miles under such conditions they would’ve been utterly exhausted and incapable of going any further, or making it on their own. It is then at that point in their journey that they see Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat, and so seeing Jesus walking on the sea towards them in the midst of this perilous storm now makes them afraid, because no man, except the Son of Man can defy the laws of physics, and subdue the forces of nature, by His own Will. Jesus then is revealing Himself to them in a way that He had never revealed Himself to the crowds when He fed them!

Vs. 20-21 ²⁰ But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” ²¹ Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

Now when Jesus drew near to them, He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” And not a ghost as some of them thought (see Matt. 14:25-26). Therefore, when they realized it was Jesus Himself, they willingly received Him into the boat, and when they did the boat was at the land where they were going! Thus, Jesus not only saved them, but He also brought them to their final destination which I believe parallels just how He saves us and brings us to our finial destination with Himself in heaven! Therefore, you don’t have to fear the storms of this life, for you belong to the Lord Jesus Christ who has saved you and sealed you for the day of redemption!

Scripture Quotations 

New King James Version (1982): Thomas Nelson.

 

 

John 6:1–14

 ¹ After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. ² Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased. ³ And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. ⁴ Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. ⁵ Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” ⁶ But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. ⁷ Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.” ⁸ One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, ⁹ “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?” ¹⁰ Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. ¹¹ And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. ¹² So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” ¹³ Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. ¹⁴ Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

Commentary

Vs. 1 “After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.”

Jesus (along with the twelve disciples) now leaves the western region of Galilee and crosses over the Sea of Tiberias, which is the same as Sea of Galilee, Tiberias being the Roman designation for the Sea of Galilee.

Vs. 2 “Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.

 Now as Jesus and the disciples crossed many people followed them, “…because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.” Thus, they were being moved by the miraculous signs that He showed in healing those who were diseased. Which is fine, but one must not go looking for these as if one can only have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by observing or experiencing these. For by default believing in Christ means that one believes in whom one does not see (consider John 20:29; Heb. 11:3). 

Vs. 3 “And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.”

Having arrived there ahead of the multitudes, Jesus now goes up on the mountain (that is the highest point there) and sits down with His disciples. From that vantage point then they would’ve been looking over the Sea.

Vs. 4 “Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.”

Now that the commanded yearly Passover feast was near and people were still flocking to Jesus, rather than the appointed place for it to be observed is significant and revealing about both Jesus, (who is its fulfillment), and the people who were pursuing Him, who had not found fulfillment in observing it!

Vs. 5-6 “Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” ⁶ But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.”

When Jesus saw the multitude coming towards them His first thought was about their well-being, for He they had traveled at least a days journey by boat and that they would now be hungry, and so He now asks Philip (who was one of the twelve disciples with Him), “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” However, in asking this Jesus was not seeking an answer from Philip, rather He was setting the stage for Himself to do a great work for, and show great sign to the multitudes, in the midst of His disciples. 

Vs. 7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.”

Philip then in considering Jesus’ question now realizes the impossibility of them feeding them, for he say’s to Jesus: “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.” And even if the disciples had two hundred denarii there was no place near in that region where they could buy bread and then bring it to them!

Vs. 8-9 ⁸ One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, ⁹ “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”

Now Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother in likewise considering the pressing need could only see the impossibility of them meeting it, rather then seeing the reality of Jesus Christ’ s Person meeting the need through what we entrust to Him, who was right there in their midst! And so, Andrew points to a young lad who was there who had but five barely loaves and two small fish, but in Andrews mind there simply was not enough for them to do anything to help anyone, which is always crippling to steeping out in faith! For steeping out in faith is not something that we do in our own strengths, but in our weaknesses, for Christ’s strength is made perfect in our weaknesses! (2 Cor. 12:9).

Vs. 10 Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

And so, when Jesus heard that He said to the disciples, “Make the people sit down.” So, the disciples went through the crowds getting the people to sit down in groups of fifties on the grass (Luke 9:14) and the number of the people was about five thousand. This then is no small gathering, but this is 50x as much people as Elisha the prophet (who had a double portion of the spirit of the prophet Elijah resting on him) miraculously fed in ancient times (see 2 Kings 4:43).

Vs. 11 “And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.”

And so when the people were seated Jesus takes the loaves from the disciples, and when He had given thanks, (for what He had at hand), He now distributes the bread and the fish to the disciples, and then the disciples gave these to the multitudes of people sitting down, and not just a portion of food, but as much as they desired! Therefore, in this we see the multiplication work and principal of the Lord Jesus Christ who takes what we place in His hands and multiplies it, before returning it to us to distribute to meet whatever needs need to be met, both inside and outside of the house of faith. For in giving first we will have an abundance for every good work (2 Cor. 9:8)!

Vs. 12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.”

Now in saying this Jesus reveals that what He sows He sows with full regard of losing nothing, neither His Word, nor His disciples, or whatever He does in our lives, He does with the intent of losing nothing!

Vs. 13 “Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.”

The disciples then not only fed the multitudes and themselves but also there were twelve baskets with the fragments of the barely loaves that were left over, enough then to give everyone a piece of bread when they departed!

Vs. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

The people then having seen the sign Jesus did in miraculously feeding them all, and having been filled by it, now declare of Jesus Christ, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Which is a designation that God had promised the children of Israel that He would raise up a Prophet for them who speak the Word of God directly to them all (Deut. 18:15-19). In Jesus Christ then these people have rightly discerned who His Person truly is! That said, a profession of faith built on seeing or experiencing miraculous signs and wonders can be a very fickle faith indeed. For as we will later see they will pursue Jesus not for who He is, (and thus wanting to be with Him because of who He is, and thus have and enjoy the life, and the Spirit fruits, and fellowship with God that He gives to us who believe in Him) but only for what He can do for them in meeting their immediate needs.

Scripture Quotations 

New King James Version (1982): Thomas Nelson.

 

 

 

John 5:31–47

 ³¹ “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. ³² There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. ³³ You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. ³⁴ Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. ³⁵ He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. ³⁶ But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. ³⁷ And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. ³⁸ But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. ³⁹ You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. ⁴⁰ But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. ⁴¹ “I do not receive honor from men. ⁴² But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. ⁴³ I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. ⁴⁴ How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? ⁴⁵ Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. ⁴⁶ For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. ⁴⁷ But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

Commentary

Vs. 31-32 ³¹ “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. ³² There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.

 Here the Lord Jesus Christ makes it abundantly clear that He is not some self-professed Savior (as we so often find in this world, as men down through the ages declare themselves to be something they actually are not, and thus start their own cults and religions). Therefore, Jesus Christ does bear witness of Himself lest He be mistakenly grouped amongst these. For as the law of God indicates, “by the mouth of two or more witnesses every word shall be established.” (Deut. 19:15; 2 Cor. 13:1) Therefore Jesus Christ does not bear witness of Himself, rather God His Father does! And there can be no greater witness then Him. That said there still must be another witness, and as we will see that person is John the Baptist.

Vs. 33 “You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.”

Here then the Lord Jesus Christ reminds the Jews that they sent to John, and he without hesitation or reserve bore witness to Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God and Savior of the world! Therefore, he rightly declared in fulfilment of God’s Word truth that the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son, the Messiah has come!

Vs. 34 “Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.”

Even though both God the Father bore witnesses to the Lord Jesus Christ at His Baptism, and John himself bore witness of the Lord Jesus Christ from the time of his meeting Him, until the time of His arrest and death. No one else did, for Jesus did not go around “courting the favor of the Jews” seeking a good testimony from them, rather He knew who He is and He let His Word and His Works reveal to one and to all who He is! And so, in saying these things Jesus is not seeking to condemn the Jews (or anyone else), rather He is saying these things because He wants all people to come to a knowledge of the truth and be saved by Him!

Vs. 35 “He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.”

Here the Lord Jesus calls John the Baptist “the burning and shining lamp” which the people initially rejoiced in seeing his light, for John harkened back to the days of Elijah in their eyes, and so for them John was someone they could easily identify with, however John did not come to preach Elijah, or Moses, or the prophets, rather John came by the Will of God with the sole purpose of declaring the Lord Jesus Christ, to prepare the way for Him, and thus through his ministry of repentance and baptism John was sent by God to prepare the people of Israel to receive the Messiah! However, many there in Israel did not move beyond rejoicing in seeing Johns ministry, and so they fell short of salvation, because they did not in repentance and faith turn to the One whom he preached. Just like today there are people who will rejoice in seeing a Godly man minister the Gospel, and yet they will not take the personal step of faith and receive our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, whom their ministries declare.

Vs. 36 “But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.”

If Johns witness (i.e. ministry) convinced people that he was sent by God, how much more than should the Lord Jesus Christ’s! For Jesus’ witness (i.e. ministry) is by His Person and Nature exceedingly greater than Johns, with all the signs and wonders and miracles and healings, along with the very Words of God, which no man had ever heard until He arrived, all bear complete and full witness of Him that He is the Son of God! As Jesus says, “…for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.” Do not then ever discount the Works of God that the Lord Jesus Christ has done, for these were done to bear witness of Him!

Vs. 37 “And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.”

Jesus the Son of God now declares that God the Father Himself, who sent Him, has testified of Him (vs. 37). For throughout God’s Word there is an overwhelming and abundant Testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ, telling of His birth, His life, His death, His Resurrection, and His Reign, you name it is in there, and so God the Father has testified that the Lord Jesus Christ is His Son, not only on earth, but also in the heavens where His voice is heard and His form is seen everywhere! Therefore, both angels and demons know for certain that Jesus Christ is the Son of God!

Vs. 38 “But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.”

Here then is the sad testimony of those Jews who do not believe. For though they were entrusted with the Word of God, with keeping it and preserving it, yet it did not penetrate their hearts and lives, therefore Jesus tells them, God’s Word does not abide in them, “…because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.” For you can have all the religious services and practices that you want, but if you do not have the Word of God abiding in you, you will not have the Son of God abiding in you, for the two are inseparable. Thus, to deny one is to deny the other, to refuse to believe the One, is to refuse to believe the other.

Vs. 39-40 ³⁹ You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. ⁴⁰ But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

Here then the Lord Jesus condemns them for their zeal for the Scriptures, and yet not finding Him in them. For though they search the Scriptures, they do find the Lord Jesus Christ in them, who gives eternal life to all who come to Him. And yet they are not willing to come to Him, that they may have life.

Vs. 41 “I do not receive honor from men.”

Here the Lord Jesus declares that He does not receive honor from men, because He does not seek it, nor does He want it, for He will not be conformed to anyone’s pre-conceived notion of what He should be! For Jesus is not a politician who weighs out the advantages or disadvantages of holding this view or that, of saying this thing or that. For He is God, and He is the Truth Personified. Therefore, He does not seek the favor or honor from men by conforming Himself into an image of what they want and desire.

Vs. 42 “But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.”

Of all the charges that the Lord Jesus could lay against their religious persons, practices, and zeal, none is more damming than this, that they do not have the love of God in them! For God is love and everyone who knows Him loves (1 John 4:8, 16, 20-21 etc.). Religious practices or service then that is devoid of love is useless (1 Cor. 13).

Vs. 43-44 ⁴³ I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. ⁴⁴ How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?

The Lord Jesus Christ came in His Father’s Name, (the Supreme of All), and yet they do not receive Him! Though they will receive others (who come in their own names) who are essentially just like themselves. Therefore, Jesus says to them all, “How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?” For to seek the honor that comes only from God is to put His Word and doing His Will expressed in it above all else. Thus, to seek the honor that comes only from God is to completely shun being a “man-pleaser”, rather than a God pleaser, which is what we are called as disciples of Christ to be. Which than means standing for the truth, both inside and outside of the House of Faith. For anyone can be conformed to this world, and thus receive honor from those who belong to it, when they do, but only a few have the conviction and the courage to stand with the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word when that is not the popular, or even an acceptable thing to do. Therefore, if you’re a “closet disciple” come out of it and make your stand with Christ and don’t be a religious hypocrite, rather be a person of conviction and faith with and for Him!

Vs. 45-47 ⁴⁵ Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. ⁴⁶ For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. ⁴⁷ But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

The Lord Jesus Christ now rebukes their arrogance and false confidence in themselves and their practices by saying to them, He does not need to accuse them to the Father, for Moses in whom they trust accuses them, because Moses in the Law wrote about Christ. Indeed, the whole Law with its sacrifices and services was to foretell of (and or point people) to the Lord Jesus Christ. And so, for them to so zealously uphold these, (as if by observing these they had eternal life) and yet not see Jesus Christ in either the Laws Words, or its religious services and practices, is the most damming thing of all! Indeed, Jesus goes beyond that and says of them that they neither believe Moses, nor Him, ⁴⁶ For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. ⁴⁷ But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” For cannot have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ unless they believe the Word of God for the two are inseparable!

Scripture Quotations 

New King James Version (1982): Thomas Nelson.