John 6

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

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

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

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

When 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?

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

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

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

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

And 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.

And 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.

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

Therefore 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.

Then 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.

When 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.

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

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

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

So 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.

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

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

The 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;

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

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

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

Jesus 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.

Labour 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.

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

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

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

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

Then 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.

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

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

And 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.

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

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

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

And 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.

And 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.

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

And 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?

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

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

It 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.

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

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

I am that bread of life.

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

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

I 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.

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

Then 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.

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

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

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

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

This 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.

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

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

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

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

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

But 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What does John 6:25 mean?

Explanation

John 6:25 contains a question posed by the crowd to Jesus after they have discovered that He has crossed the Sea of Galilee.

This occurs after the miraculous event of the feeding of the five thousand, where Jesus had provided food for a vast crowd from just five loaves and two fish.

When they find Jesus on the other side of the sea, they are puzzled as to how He could have gotten there because they did not witness Him embark on a boat with His disciples the evening before.

Their calling Him "Rabbi," which means teacher, indicates a level of respect for His teaching authority.

This verse sets the stage for the following discourse in which Jesus will reveal deeper spiritual truths, shifting the focus from His physical presence and actions to His spiritual teachings and identity.

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

The historical context of John 6:25 is within the period of Jesus' ministry in the regions around the Sea of Galilee.

During this time, the Jewish people were living under Roman occupation, and there was a strong anticipation of a Messiah who would liberate and lead them.

Jesus' miraculous works, particularly the feeding of the thousands, resonated with the expectations of a prophet-like figure who would emerge to fulfill the promises of the Old Testament.

The discussion in this chapter of the Gospel of John occurs around the time of the Passover, linking Jesus' teachings to the Jewish tradition and its central story of deliverance.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse conveys the idea that Jesus' followers are often more interested in the physical signs and miracles He performs rather than His spiritual message and identity.

From the Christian perspective, this verse is a precursor to the revelation that Jesus is the "Bread of Life," symbolizing the sustenance that comes from a spiritual relationship with Him.

It highlights the distinction between worldly expectations of the Messiah as a political liberator and the Christian understanding of Jesus as a spiritual savior.

Practical Applications

From this verse, one can derive a practical application about seeking depth in one's spiritual journey.

Rather than being satisfied with surface-level events or "signs," believers are encouraged to look for deeper understanding and connection with the divine.

This challenges individuals to consider the motivations behind their religious inquiries, are they seeking Jesus (or spirituality in general) for material benefits, or are they truly interested in learning and growing in their faith?

Cross-References

John 6:26-27: "Jesus 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.

Labour 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."

Matthew 14:22-33: The account in Matthew of Jesus walking on water, which is the event that preceded Him appearing on the other side of the Sea of Galilee.
John 4:34: "Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work."

Language Study

In this verse, the word "Rabbi" is of Hebrew origin (רַבִּי, rabbi), which literally translates as 'my master' and denotes a person who has authority, often in teaching or religious matters.

The Greek term for "camest thou" (ἐληλύθας, elēlythas) in its root form is used in the perfect tense, indicating a completed action with continuing effects, which in this context refers to Jesus' arrival.

This language analysis indicates that the crowd acknowledges Jesus' teaching authority and is curious about how and when He arrived, emphasizing their focus on the miraculous aspects of His ministry.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various ancient cultures, including Jewish culture, miracles and supernatural signs were often signs of divine favor or displeasure.

Prophets in the Hebrew Bible frequently performed signs to verify their calling by God.

In comparison, other religious traditions also have figures who perform miracles, like the avatars in Hinduism or the miracle workers in ancient mythologies.

Jesus' miracles set Him apart and serve as actions that fulfill Jewish prophecies and point to His identity as the Messiah, while in other cultures, similar actions might illustrate the power of gods or serve as allegories for moral teachings.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific standpoint, the occurrence of Jesus being found across the Sea of Galilee without having been observed traveling by boat defies natural explanation, inviting skepticism or interpretation as metaphor among non-believers.

In contrast, within Christian theology, such events are regarded as miracles, interventions by God that suspend natural laws.

While science examines phenomena that can be empirically tested and replicated, miracles by definition are unique events that cannot be subjected to scientific validation.

commentaries

Commentators offer various perspectives on this verse:

Some suggest that the crowd's question reveals their superficial interest in Jesus' miracles rather than His message, as they were more amazed by His unexplained travel across the lake than by the profound teachings He could offer.
Others highlight the fact that the crowd referred to Jesus as "Rabbi," acknowledging His authority as a teacher, which sets the stage for His teaching on being the Bread of Life.
There is also discussion on the miracles of Jesus as signs pointing to His divine nature and identity, which is a recurring theme in the Gospel of John.
Some commentaries reflect on the geographical movement in the Gospel narratives, proposing that Jesus’ movements from place to place are symbolic and intentional, designed to bring about encounters where spiritual truths can be revealed and understood.

John 6

John 6

What does John 6:25 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does John 6:25 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?