But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. The Jews were the ones who had brought up the matter of the manna; Jesus now contrasts it with the true bread from heaven of which the manna was only a type. It merely sustained the body …
Author Archives: Tim Conrad
John 6:49
Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. The manna, which was the only food for the Israelites for the 40 years they wandered in the desert, could not prevent their physical deaths. All the grown men except 2 died during those 40 years. Nu 26:65 Nu 26:65 For the LORD had told …
John 6:48
I am the bread of life. “I am” = Jesus states simply and yet emphatically the overwhelming truth to which the manna and the feeding of the 5000 pointed, again with overtones of deity. This is the third symbol of Jesus from the Old Testament listed in the book of John. The first was Jacob’s …
John 6:47
I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. “believes” = “believeth on” (KJV) = pisteuo = to believe to be true so that one places confidence in it; to be persuaded and commit trust to. Just believing in Jesus (giving mental assent to His existence and state of being) does not bring …
John 6:46
No-one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. Jesus wanted to dispel any misunderstanding about how the people would be taught of God. They could never come directly to God and receive instruction from Him; they were in need of a mediator. There is only …
John 6:45
It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. It is written in the prophets (Isa 54:13). This is not a direct quote from any of the prophets. Jesus certainly knew the exact wording as did the Jews …
John 6:43-44
“Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. “No-one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. “draw” = to drag like a net. Jesus repeats what He had just said in verse 37, but this time with more force. Before He implied …
John 6:42
They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?” The Jews object to Jesus saying that he came down from heaven. This would indicate His superiority to them which they would be unable to accept. Odeberg reveals the …
John 6:41
At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” “murmured” = like the Israelites did against God in the wilderness. Hoskyns states that these Jews “preserve the genuine succession of unbelief” from their forefathers. (qt’d Morris 370) This word indicates a sound “like …
John 6:40
For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” “looks to” (NIV) “seeth” (KJV) = theoreo = to view attentively, to survey so as to discern, to find out by seeing. Bailey says that …
John 6:39
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. Jesus tells us specifically what God’s will is: Those who have been drawn by the Father into the salvation of Jesus shall be secure in …
John 6:38
For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. Jesus makes 4 bold points in this statement: He was originally in heaven and came from there to earth He did not come to do His own will His goal on earth is …
John 6:37
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. All of Christ’s power comes from the Father; He never takes the credit for Himself. “Christ is God’s gift to men, but the believers are his gift to Christ.” (PNT) Morris points out that, “People …
John 6:36
But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. “But” shows a great contrast between what Jesus wants and what they want: He wants to give them heaven, but they only want earth. They ask for a sign that they might believe, but their very asking demonstrates their unbelief. …
John 6:35
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. “I am” = is very emphatic and, as Morris points out, “has overtones of divinity.” John quotes several of the “I am” statements of Jesus: #6:35,41,48,51; 8:12; …
John 6:34
“Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.” The Jews had all kinds of wild fantasies about the manna: “in the manna were all kinds of tastes, and every one of the Israelites tasted all that he desired; for so it is written in Deut 2:7, ‘these forty years the Lord thy God …
John 6:33
For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Chrysostom observed that the manna gave nourishment (trophê), but not life (zôê).” (RWP) Jesus points out 3 attributes of the true bread of God: it comes from heaven it gives life it is for the whole world …
John 6:32
Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. The Jews thought that the manna was a gift from Moses. “there arose up three good providers, or pastors for Israel, …
John 6:31
Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” The Jews had an expectation and quoted Psalm 72:16 to prove that the Messiah would be a greater Moses and give them manna once more. This was the current expectation of the Messiah. II Baruch …
John 6:30
So they asked him, “What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? The questions and answers in this interchange between Jesus and the Jews closely resemble the talk between Him and the Samaritan woman in John 4, except there is a different conclusion. There Jesus …
John 6:29
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” Jesus replied to their plural “works” with the singular “work.” There is only one work that is required and that is to believe on Jesus. The tense of “believe on” is such that it literally means “keep on believing.” …
John 6:28
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Even though their question indicates some sincerity on their part, they totally missed Jesus’ point about Him giving them eternal life. The Jews recognized 613 precepts of the Law. These men wanted to know which of these precepts or what works in addition …
John 6:27
Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” These men were outwardly prepared for the highest teaching but not inwardly. Jesus, nevertheless, gave it to them, but they would …
John 6:26
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Jesus ignores their question and goes right to the importance of the matter. They had seen the multiplication of the loaves and the healings He had done, …
John 6:25
When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Since Capernaum was a small town, there was little difficulty in finding Jesus. They who had just tried to make Him King now referred to Him as “Rabbi,” or “teacher.” Knowing that He had not …
John 6:24
Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus. Upon finding that Jesus was no longer around, the crowd went to Capernaum, the direction in which the disciples had gone, in order to find Him. They had a double motive: they …
John 6:23
Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. Tiberias was located diagonally across the lake. There were now boats on the shore from there. Either the sailors had spotted the crowd on the shore and sailed across the lake to try …
John 6:22
The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. Jesus had dismissed the crowd with their aspirations of making Him King over Israel and …
John 6:21
Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading. John leaves out much of the narrative. Only Matthew tells of Peter and his excursion on the water. Matt 14:28-32 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” …
John 6:20
But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” “This is the gospel message of peace, on the ground—the simple ground—‘It is I.’ Christ’s presence is peace to the soul. How often has he to speak this word of encouragement, even to his own! almost always when they are brought suddenly, or in …
John 6:19
When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. They were a little more than halfway across the lake. They had been rowing against the wind for several hours, but it was so strong that they were only 3 …
John 6:18
A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. Jesus had ordered them to take a boat across the sea and had not joined them. A storm arose and He was still not with them. The disciples were just trying to obey Jesus but the wind and sea were fighting against their efforts. We, …
John 6:17
where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. The ship was not their own, but probably hired out with its own crew. The journey across the lake is a living parable of the journey of our lives, which are …
John 6:16
When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, evening = late evening, when night was coming on. “his disciples went down unto the lake” — This was an order from Jesus. (Mt 14:22, Mark 6:45) Mt 14:22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while …
John 6:15
Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. The people were looking for a leader to deliver them from the Roman rule and with the death of John, they had lost their hope of his leadership, but here was one who could do …
John 6:14
After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” “miraculous sign” = the people were amazed at the miracle of Jesus, but, as Augustine points out, they were undiscerning of the miracles of God which were and are …
John 6:13
So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. Jesus had His disciples carry the baskets of leftover bread. Why didn’t He make just enough and when they needed some more, just do another miracle? It seems that He doesn’t waste …
John 6:12
When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” This indicates the abundance of the provision of Jesus for the needs of the people. His provision of resources and grace is inexhaustible to the point of having a large surplus. …
John 6:11
Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. The words Jesus would have spoken were, “Blessed art thou, Yahweh our God, King of the world, who causes to come forth bread from the earth.” (Edersheim) The hunger …
John 6:10
Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. To their credit the disciples did not hesitate to obey. What about you?
John 6:8-9
Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” “lad” (KJV) = “boy” (NIV) is a double diminutive meaning “little boy.” “barley loaves” = the cheapest and inferior type of bread. The …
John 6:7
Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” “pennyworth” (KJV) = denarius = about a day’s wage. #Matt 20:2 Thus 200 pennyworth would be about 8 month’s wages at 6 work days per week (never on the Sabbath). Mt 20:2 He agreed to pay them …
John 6:5-6
When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming towards him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. It was only natural that Jesus would ask this question …
John 6:4
The Jewish Passover Feast was near. There were many pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. Especially after the miracle-working ministry of the 12 and the beheading of John the Baptist, they would have been only too happy to turn aside to see what wonders this famous Jesus would perform. It is …
John 6:3
Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. Why did Jesus withdraw to such a secluded place with His disciples? He and they needed rest, prayer, and some quality time alone with Him to help them to know Him better. Also to escape the attentions of Herod whose territory they …
John 6:2
and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. “His miracles” = John does not record many of Jesus’ miracles, just enough for the signs that He is the Christ. There are only 2 miracles recorded by each of the 4 gospel writers: the …
John 6:1
Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), “Some time after this” = after the death of John the Baptist and the return of the 12 whom Jesus had sent out unto all of Israel to preach and heal the sick. #Mat 14:1-21, Luke 9:1-10 The feeding …
John 5:46-47
Witness #5 – Moses If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?” The Jews took pride in their following of Moses, but Jesus points out that Moses wrote about Him and they even …
John 5:45
“But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. “Your accuser is” = present tense. Moses is standing as an accuser against them even at that moment. They had rejected the testimony of Moses for the Messiah and they therefore stood accused by …
John 5:44
How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God? “you” is emphatic as was “I” in the preceding verse. Jesus said that the Jews were desiring honor for themselves (#Jo 12:43, Mt 6:1) and that anyone who put their …
John 5:43
I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. “I” is emphatic, distinguishing Jesus from all others. “you do not accept me” = Robertson, among others, calls John “the Gospel of the Rejection” (RWP) #John 1:11; 3:11,32; 12:37 …
John 5:42
but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. Jesus knows them as He knows all men. Joh 2:24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. “the love of God” = can either denote love from God or love for …
John 5:41
“I do not accept praise from men, The motive of Jesus is never to please men, but to please the Father. He has no desire to receive any praise or esteem from them. What about you? Do you let thoughts of how others might view you or your actions to determine how you do act? …
John 5:39-40
Witness #4 – The scriptures You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. If the Jews had rightly read the scriptures, they would have come to recognize who He was and …
John 5:37-38
Witness #3 – The Father And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. How has the Father borne witness to Jesus? The entire revelation of God from …
John 5:36
Witness #2 – The works of Jesus “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me. “But I” sets Jesus off from all of mankind. He is supremely different. As great as John …
John 5:33-35
Witness #1 – The Baptist “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.” “has testified” is in …
John 5:31-32
The Witnesses (John 5:31-39, 46-47) On the Sabbath Jesus healed a man who was lame for 38 years and then commanded him to take up his mat and walk, which was considered to be work, knowing full well that this would instigate a confrontation with the Jewish authorities. When this did occur, His defense was …
John 5:29-30
and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. There will come a …
John 5:28
“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice Jesus has spoken of a present judgment and now of a future one. He has claimed the power to give spiritual life and to judge and, now in this verse, He claims the power …
John 5:27
And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. “authority” = exousia = the power of choice; the liberty of doing as one pleases. “because he is the Son of man” this is the second reason given by Jesus for the Father to have given judgment to the Son. The first …
John 5:26
For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. The “life” referred to here has 2 attributes: independenceThe life of the Father is dependent upon no other. He is self-existent. That is why He called Himself “I am.” #Ex 3:14Ex 3:14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I …
John 5:25
I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. “has now come” = Jesus is talking about a present spiritual resurrection, not the future, physical one of John 5:28. “Son of God” = …
John 5:24
“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. “hears” = not just a discerning of noise with the ear; this speaks of a hearing with understanding and, thus, of action. “my word” …
John 5:23
that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. McGarvey says that “’Even as’ means in the same manner and in equal degree. The prerogative of judgment was committed unto Jesus that men might behold his true …
John 5:22
Moreover, the Father judges no-one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, “the Father judges no-one”, etc. That is to say, the Father does not act in judgment without the Son, nor the Son without the Father, for in no work is either isolated from the other. (McGarvey TFG 202) The Father, the Judge, has …
John 5:21
For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. The idea of God raising the dead was generally accepted throughout Judaism as belonging only to Him. One Rabbinic saying was, “Three keys are in the hand of God and …
John 5:20
For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. “loves” = phileo. The tense is of a continuing love. The motivation for the Father to show the Son everything is love. “greater works” What greater works is Jesus talking about here? Whatever …