John 6NASB
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John6

New American Standard

1After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias).

2A large crowd was following Him, because they were watching the signs which He was performing on those who were sick.

3But Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.

4Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near.

5So Jesus, after raising His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread so that these people may eat?”

6But He was saying this only to test him, for He Himself knew what He intended to do.

7Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not enough for them, for each to receive just a little!”

8One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him,

9“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are these for so many people?”

10Jesus said, “Have the people recline to eat.” Now there was plenty of grass in the place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number.

11Jesus then took the loaves, and after giving thanks He distributed them to those who were reclining; likewise also of the fish, as much as they wanted.

12And when they had eaten their fill, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover pieces so that nothing will be lost.”

13So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with pieces from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.

14Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

15So Jesus, aware that they intended to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself, alone.

16Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea,

17and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.

18In addition, the sea began getting rough, because a strong wind was blowing.

19Then, when they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat; and they were frightened.

20But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”

21So they were willing to take Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

22The next day the crowd that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other small boat there except one, and that Jesus had not gotten into the boat with His disciples, but that His disciples had departed alone.

23Other small boats came from Tiberias near to the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks.

24So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats and came to Capernaum, looking for Jesus.

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

26Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate some of the loaves and were filled.

27Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”

28Therefore they said to Him, “What are we to do, so that we may accomplish the works of God?”

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

30So they said to Him, “What then are You doing as a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work are You performing?

31Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’”

32Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven.

33For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world.”

34Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”

35Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; the one who comes to Me will not be hungry, and the one who believes in Me will never be thirsty.

36But I said to you that you have indeed seen Me, and yet you do not believe.

37Everything that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I certainly will not cast out.

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

39And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of everything that He has given Me I will lose nothing, but will raise it up on the last day.

40For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

41So then the Jews were complaining about Him because He said, “I am the bread that came down out of heaven.”

42And they were saying, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say, ‘I have come down out of heaven’?”

43Jesus answered and said to them, “Stop complaining among yourselves.

44No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

45It is written in the Prophets: ‘And they shall all be taught of God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.

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

47Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who believes has eternal life.

48I am the bread of life.

49Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.

50This is the bread that comes down out of heaven, so that anyone may eat from it and not die.

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

52Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”

53So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves.

54The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

55For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink.

56The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him.

57Just as the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, the one who eats Me, he also will live because of Me.

58This is the bread that came down out of heaven, not as the fathers ate and died; the one who eats this bread will live forever.”

59These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.

60So then many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This statement is very unpleasant; who can listen to it?”

61But Jesus, aware that His disciples were complaining about this, said to them, “Is this offensive to you?

62What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before?

63It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh provides no benefit; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit, and are life.

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

65And He was saying, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”

66As a result of this many of His disciples left, and would no longer walk with Him.

67So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to leave also, do you?”

68Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.

69And we have already believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”

70Jesus answered them, “Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.”

71Now He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot; for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray Him.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for John 6.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: Five thousand miraculously fed. (1–14). Jesus walks on the sea. (15–21). He directs to spiritual food. (22–27). His discourse with the multitude. (28–65). Many of disciples go back. (66–71).

vv1-14

John relates the miracle of feeding the multitude, for its reference to the following discourse. Observe the effect this miracle had upon the people. Even the common Jews expected the Messiah to come into the world, and to be a great Prophet. The Pharisees despised them as not knowing the law; but they knew most of Him who is the end of the law. Yet men may acknowledge Christ as that Prophet, and still turn a deaf ear to him.

vv15-21

Here were Christ's disciples in the way of duty, and Christ was praying for them; yet they were in distress. There may be perils and afflictions of this present time, where there is an interest in Christ. Clouds and darkness often surround the children of the light and of the day. They see Jesus walking on the sea. Even the approaches of comfort and deliverance often are so mistaken, as to become the occasions of fear. Nothing is more powerful to convince sinners than that word, “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest;” nothing more powerful to comfort saints than this, “I am Jesus whom thou lovest.” If we have received Christ Jesus the Lord, though the night be dark, and the wind high, yet we may comfort ourselves, we shall be at the shore before long.

vv22-27

Instead of answering the inquiry how he came there, Jesus blamed their asking. The utmost earnestness should be employed in seeking salvation, in the use of appointed means; yet it is to be sought only as the gift of the Son of man. Him the Father has sealed, proved to be God. He declared the Son of man to be the Son of God with power.

Cross References

John 6
v14Deuteronomy 18:15-18fulfillment

The crowd recognizes Jesus as 'that prophet' promised by Moses in Deuteronomy.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB

v31Psalms 78:24quotation

The Old Testament text explicitly quoted by the crowd regarding the giving of manna.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v45Isaiah 54:13quotation

Direct quotation from the prophets identifying that all God's children will be taught directly by Him.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v69Matthew 16:16thematic

Peter's confession here parallels his landmark declaration of Jesus as the Christ, Son of God.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v92 Kings 4:42-44typology

Elisha's miraculous feeding of one hundred men with twenty barley loaves prefigures Christ's greater miracle.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v19Job 9:8thematic

Job attributes treading the waves of the sea uniquely to God; Jesus does so in flesh.

Supported by JFB

v31Exodus 16:4-15typology

The historical account of the manna, which Jesus contrasts with Himself as the true Bread.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v39John 17:12thematic

Fulfills Christ's declaration that He will lose nothing of what the Father has given Him.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v44Jeremiah 31:3thematic

Illuminates the concept of being divine 'drawn' to God by His lovingkindness and grace.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v46John 1:18thematic

Confirms that only the unique Son has seen the Father, acting as the sole direct revealer.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v62John 3:13thematic

Explains Christ's preexistence and ascension as the Son of man descending from and returning to heaven.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB

Direct theological parallel: the letter/flesh profiteth nothing, but the Spirit gives life.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v64John 13:11thematic

Explicitly confirms Jesus knew from the beginning who would betray Him, specifically Judas.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

Synoptic parallel account of the feeding of the five thousand with identical details.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v5Mark 6:35-44thematic

Synoptic parallel of the feeding, noted by commentators for harmonizing differing details.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v5Luke 9:12-17thematic

Luke's parallel account of the miracle of the loaves and fishes.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v15Mark 6:45-52thematic

Parallel account of Jesus walking on water and retiring to pray.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v21Psalms 107:30fulfillment

Illuminates the miraculous, immediate arrival of the disciples' ship to their destination.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v38Psalms 40:8thematic

The Messianic resolution to do God's will, perfectly matched by Christ's statement of purpose.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v39John 10:27-30thematic

Parallels the promise of ultimate security for those given to the Son by the Father.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v44John 6:65thematic

Jesus restates this exact sovereign drawing principle to explain the defection of many disciples.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v49Exodus 16:15typology

The Old Testament type of manna, contrasted with Christ as the true living Bread.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v56John 15:4thematic

Develops the mutual indwelling motif ('abide in me, and I in you') established in the bread discourse.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v57John 5:26thematic

Connects Jesus' source of life in the Father to the believer's source of life in Jesus.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v65John 6:44thematic

Directly links to Jesus' earlier statement that no one can come unless the Father draws him.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v70John 17:12thematic

Jesus describes Judas as the son of perdition, lost despite being chosen among the twelve.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v70John 15:16thematic

Contrast between Jesus choosing His true disciples and choosing the twelve, which included Judas.

Supported by John Calvin

Moses' doubt about feeding a large multitude echoes Philip's calculation of insufficient bread.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v15John 18:36contrast

Jesus rejects an earthly kingship by force because His kingdom is not of this world.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v35Isaiah 55:1-3allusion

The prophetic invitation to come, eat, and drink without money, satisfying hunger and thirst.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v37John 6:44thematic

Expands on the divine drawing required for anyone to come to Christ.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v37John 17:2thematic

Connects the Father's sovereign gift of believers to the Son with the execution of eternal life.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v38Matthew 26:39-42thematic

Demonstrates Christ's supreme dedication to doing the Father's will rather than His own.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v42Luke 4:22thematic

Parallel account showing the crowd's offense at His ordinary origins: 'Is not this Joseph's son?'

Supported by Matthew Poole

v46Matthew 11:27thematic

Synoptic parallel showing that only the Son knows and can reveal the Father.

Supported by John Calvin

v67Joshua 24:15-22thematic

Joshua's choice to Israel parallels Jesus' testing question to the twelve, 'will ye also go away?'

Supported by Matthew Henry