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 6:60 mean?

Explanation

John 6:60 pertains to an event in which Jesus's disciples react to one of his teachings.

The "hard saying" referenced in the verse likely refers to the preceding discourse where Jesus discussed the need to eat his flesh and drink his blood (John 6:53-56) as a metaphor for faith and reliance on him for spiritual life.

This teaching was difficult for many to understand or accept.

It was contrary to Jewish law and could have been considered blasphemous or repulsive.

The verse expresses the disciples' bewilderment and dissatisfaction with the complexity and perceived offensiveness of Jesus's metaphorical language.

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Historical Context

The verse is set within the Gospel of John, written approximately between 90-100 AD.

Jesus is believed to be addressing his followers in the first century Jewish context, likely in Galilee.

Judaism strictly forbade the consumption of blood as well as cannibalism, making Jesus's figurative language particularly shocking.

This event occurs after the feeding of the five thousand, where Jesus performs a miracle to feed a large multitude, which sets the stage for his subsequent teaching on being the Bread of Life, a spiritual sustenance.

Theological Insights

According to Christian theology, this verse illustrates the concept of the "Bread of Life" and the idea of Jesus as essential to spiritual sustenance and eternal life.

While some see this teaching as a precursor to the establishment of the Eucharist (Communion), others view it as a moment of sifting true belief from mere following.

The difficulty of Jesus's teaching allows for the differentiation between those who are willing to search for deeper meanings and those who cannot move beyond the literal interpretation of his words.

Practical Applications

This verse can be used to acknowledge that some aspects of faith and spiritual teachings may be challenging to understand or accept. It invites modern believers to approach difficult teachings with an open heart and a willingness to delve deeper into their meanings.

The verse also encourages believers to seek understanding through study, meditation, and prayer, especially when confronted with teachings that challenge their preconceptions or comfort zones.

Cross-References

John 6:53-56 - Jesus speaks of eating his flesh and drinking his blood to have eternal life.
Matthew 13:21 - Reference to those who fall away when they face trouble understanding teachings.
John 6:66 - As a result of this hard teaching, many of Jesus's disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
1 Corinthians 11:24-26 - Paul discusses the Lord's Supper, connecting it to Jesus’s teachings on his body and blood.
Hebrews 5:11 - Paul speaks of teachings that are hard to understand, which require maturity and practice to grasp.

Language Study

In the Greek text, the term for "hard" is "σκληρός" (sklēros), which can mean hard to understand, harsh, stern, or unpleasant.

The term for "saying" is "λόγος" (logos), often referring to a word, speech, principle, or doctrine.

"Who can hear it?" implies the ability not just to hear the words but to accept and understand them.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

When comparing Jesus's teachings to other ancient myths and religions, many have deities or spiritual leaders who deliver enigmatic or challenging messages to their followers.

The motif of 'hard teachings' can be seen in various cultures where disciples or believers are tested in their faith or comprehension of deeper truths, such as the Delphic maxims in Greek religion or the paradoxical koans in Zen Buddhism.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific viewpoint, the difficulties in understanding metaphorical or abstract language can be related to cognitive processes involved in language comprehension and symbolic thinking.

Neuroscience and psychology might explore how parables or difficult teachings activate different regions of the brain compared to literal language.

They might also consider individual differences in cognitive styles that can influence one's response to complex teachings.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and commentators have offered interpretations of John 6:60:

Matthew Henry suggests that the teaching was hard not because it was difficult to understand, but because it was contrary to the pride and sensuality of the human heart.
William Barclay points out that the real test of faith comes when one is confronted with difficult teachings that require a commitment beyond intellectual assent.
Craig S.

Keener emphasizes the pivotal role of Jesus’s “hard saying” in identifying true discipleship, as many who followed him for miracles could not accept his demand for deep belief.

Scholars agree that the "hard saying" served as a crucial turning point for many of Jesus's followers, demanding a decision about their commitment to his teachings.

John 6

John 6

What does John 6:60 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 6:60 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?