Day #291

Sermon - Audio
John 6 - Reading
John 6 - Audio

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John 6

v. 1-15 – Throughout this chapter John dealt with the theme of sustenance, both material and spiritual. The crowd correctly interpreted the miracle of feeding the multitude as Messianic. Verse 15 reflects a misunderstanding by the same audience: the people wanted to force Jesus to define His mission and work – to become a king who would rival the Herodians or the Romans. Jesus wanted no part of such a kingship.

v. 5 – Since Philip came from Bethsaida, the nearest town, it was natural for Jesus to question him.

v. 8-9 – “the barley loaves” are reminiscent of 2 Kings 4:42-44 where Elisha multiplies such loaves.

v. 19 – Walking on the sea is not something Jesus did just to amaze the disciples, but rather it is a powerful, visible demonstration of Jesus’ sovereignty over the world He created.

v. 20 – Jesus’ words, “It is I,” represent the Greek phrase ego eimi, which in other contexts may be translated “I am”. Here it may allude to God’s self-identification as “I am who I am” (Ex. 3:14) and may be an indication of Jesus’ divinity.

v. 22-59 – John continues with his presentation of Jesus as the fulfillment of Israel’s exodus. After crossing the lake, Jesus taught about himself as the bread that had come from heaven. Jesus and the crowd compare and contrast the manna in the wilderness with Jesus feeding 5000 and the reality of the redemption that the feeding signifies.

v. 27 – This seal would signify certification of Jesus as God’s Son.

v. 28-29 – Jesus replies that the “work” God requires is that people “believe” in the Messiah.

v. 32 – The “true bread from heaven” would be something that nourishes people eternally and spiritually and is infinitely superior to the manna given in OT times, which was able to meet only physical needs.

v. 53 – “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood” cannot be intended literally. As Jesus has done frequently in this Gospel, He is speaking in terms of physical items in this work to teach about spiritual realities. Here, to “eat” Jesus’ flesh has the spiritual meaning of trusting or believing in Him, especially in His death for the sins of mankind. Similarly to “drink his blood” means to trust in His atoning death, which is represented by the shedding of His blood. Although Jesus is not speaking specifically about the Lord’s Supper, there is a parallel theme.

v. 66 – Many of these early disciples were not genuine disciples of Christ, for they turned back. Their initial faith was not genuine and they were perhaps following Jesus only because of the physical benefits He gave.

v. 69 – “We have believed” implies that Jesus’ disciples at this point had genuine, saving faith (though they would still have to learn much more about Jesus’ death and resurrection and the meaning of these things for them).