“words” is the translation of the Greek word rhema which means “message.” Jesus gave them the message from God the Father (7:16, 12:48-49). However, here “words” is plural indicating the different things God has told Jesus to pass on to His disciples (3:34, 6:63,68). This passage stresses the revelation of God so the essential thing here is not the example of Jesus, nor the things He did, but the words He passed on that came from the Father.

John 7:16  Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me.

John 12:48-49  There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.  For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it.

John 3:34  For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.

John 6:63  The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

John 6:68  Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

The disciples are spoken of in respect to three things they have done with Jesus. First, they have “received” those words, which contrasts them with most of the men of their time including the religious leaders of the nation which supposedly is God’s possession. Godet remarks that “The harvest seems scanty, no doubt; eleven Galilean artisans after three years labor! But this is enough for Jesus: for in these eleven He beholds the pledge of the continuance of the divine work on the earth.” The lesson here for us is to not be disappointed by what seems to be small results. God can do infinitely wonderful things with our supposedly “small” results. Secondly they have come to know for sure that Jesus is of divine origin and has come straight from God (John 16:30, Matt 16:16). And thirdly, they are described as men of faith; they have believed that God sent Jesus. This is similar to knowing that Jesus came from the Father, but it is not identically the same (John 6:69). How are knowing and believing alike and different? McGarvey says “But where knowledge was impossible, they trusted to Jesus and believed.” Note also that the second point is about His origin and the third of His mission.

John 16:30  Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”

Matthew 16:16  Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

John 6:69  We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”