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Texts -- John 6:1-57 (NET)

Context
The Feeding of the Five Thousand
6:1 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (also called the Sea of Tiberias ). 6:2 A large crowd was following him because they were observing the miraculous signs he was performing on the sick . 6:3 So Jesus went on up the mountainside and sat down there with his disciples . 6:4 (Now the Jewish feast of the Passover was near .) 6:5 Then Jesus , when he looked up and saw that a large crowd was coming to him , said to Philip , “Where can we buy bread so that these people may eat ?” 6:6 (Now Jesus said this to test him , for he knew what he was going to do .) 6:7 Philip replied , “Two hundred silver coins worth of bread would not be enough for them , for each one to get a little .” 6:8 One of Jesus ’ disciples , Andrew , Simon Peter’s brother , said to him , 6:9 “Here is a boy who has five barley loaves and two fish , but what good are these for so many people ?” 6:10 Jesus said , “Have the people sit down .” (Now there was a lot of grass in that place .) So the men sat down , about five thousand in number . 6:11 Then Jesus took the loaves , and when he had given thanks , he distributed the bread to those who were seated . He then did the same with the fish , as much as they wanted . 6:12 When they were all satisfied , Jesus said to his disciples , “Gather up the broken pieces that are left over , so that nothing is wasted .” 6:13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves left over by the people who had eaten . 6:14 Now when the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus performed , they began to say to one another, “This is certainly the Prophet who is to come into the world .” 6:15 Then Jesus , because he knew they were going to come and seize him by force to make him king , withdrew again up the mountainside alone .
Walking on Water
6:16 Now when evening came , his disciples went down to the lake , 6:17 got into a boat , and started to cross the lake to Capernaum . (It had already become dark , and Jesus had not yet come to them .) 6:18 By now a strong wind was blowing and the sea was getting rough . 6:19 Then , when they had rowed about three or four miles , they caught sight of Jesus walking on the lake , approaching the boat , and they were frightened . 6:20 But he said to them , “It is I . Do not be afraid .” 6:21 Then they wanted to take him into the boat , and immediately the boat came to the land where they had been heading . 6:22 The next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the lake realized that only one small boat had been there , and that Jesus had not boarded it with his disciples , but that his disciples had gone away alone . 6:23 But some boats from Tiberias came to shore near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks . 6:24 So when the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there , they got into the boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus .
Jesus’ Discourse About the Bread of Life
6:25 When they found him on the other side of the lake , they said to him , “Rabbi , when did you get here ?” 6:26 Jesus replied , “I tell you the solemn truth , you are looking for me not because you saw miraculous signs , but because you ate all the loaves of bread you wanted . 6:27 Do not work for the food that disappears , but for the food that remains to eternal life – the food which the Son of Man will give to you . For God the Father has put his seal of approval on him .” 6:28 So then they said to him , “What must we do to accomplish the deeds God requires?” 6:29 Jesus replied , “This is the deed God requires– to believe in the one whom he sent .” 6:30 So they said to him , “Then what miraculous sign will you perform , so that we may see it and believe you ? What will you do ? 6:31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness , just as it is written , ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat .’” 6:32 Then Jesus told them , “I tell you the solemn truth , it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven , but my Father is giving you the true bread from heaven . 6:33 For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world .” 6:34 So they said to him , “Sir , give us this bread all the time !” 6:35 Jesus said to them , “I am the bread of life . The one who comes to me will never go hungry , and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty . 6:36 But I told you that you have seen me and still do not believe . 6:37 Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me , and the one who comes to me I will never send away . 6:38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me . 6:39 Now this is the will of the one who sent me – that I should not lose one person of every one he has given me , but raise them all up at the last day . 6:40 For this is the will of my Father – for everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him to have eternal life , and I will raise him up at the last day .” 6:41 Then the Jews who were hostile to Jesus began complaining about him because he said , “I am the bread that came down from heaven ,” 6:42 and they said , “Isn’t this Jesus the son of Joseph , whose father and mother we know ? How can he now say , ‘I have come down from heaven ’?” 6:43 Jesus replied , “Do not complain about me to one another . 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him , and I will raise him up at the last day . 6:45 It is written in the prophets , ‘And they will all be taught by God .’ Everyone who hears and learns from the Father comes to me . 6:46 (Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God – he has seen the Father .) 6:47 I tell you the solemn truth , the one who believes has eternal life . 6:48 I am the bread of life . 6:49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness , and they died . 6:50 This is the bread that has come down from heaven , so that a person may eat from it and not die . 6:51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven . If anyone eats from this bread he will live forever . The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh .” 6:52 Then the Jews who were hostile to Jesus began to argue with one another , “How can this man give us his flesh to eat ?” 6:53 Jesus said to them , “I tell you the solemn truth , unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood , you have no life in yourselves . 6:54 The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life , and I will raise him up on the last day . 6:55 For my flesh is true food , and my blood is true drink . 6:56 The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood resides in me , and I in him . 6:57 Just as the living Father sent me , and I live because of the Father , so the one who consumes me will live because of me .

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • Capernaum

    [ebd] Nahum's town, a Galilean city frequently mentioned in the history of our Lord. It is not mentioned in the Old Testament. After our Lord's expulsion from Nazareth (Matt. 4:13-16; Luke 4:16-31), Capernaum became his "own city....
    [isbe] CAPERNAUM - ka-per'-na-um (Kapernaoum (Textus Receptus), Kapharnaoum (Codex Vaticanus, Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Bezae; etc.)): The woe spoken by the Master against this great city has been fulfilled to the uttermost (Mt 11:23...
    [nave] CAPERNAUM A city on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus chose, as the place of his abode, Matt. 4:13; Luke 4:31. Miracles of Jesus performed at, Matt. 9:1-26; 17:24-27; Mark 1:21-45; 2; 3:1-6; Luke 7:1-10; John 4:46-53; ...

  • Jesus, The Christ

    [nave] JESUS, THE CHRIST. Index of Sub-topics History of; Miscellaneous Facts Concerning; Unclassified Scriptures Relating to; Ascension of; Atonement by; Attributes of; Compassion of; Confessing; Creator; Death of; Design of His...

  • JESUS CHRIST, 4C2

    [isbe] JESUS CHRIST, 4C2 - Second Period--After the Mission of the Twelve till the Departure from Galilee I. From the Death of the Baptist till the Discourse on Bread of Life. 1. The Murder of the Baptist and Herod's Alarms: (Matth...

  • LORD'S SUPPER; (EUCHARIST)

    [isbe] LORD'S SUPPER; (EUCHARIST) - u'-ka-rist GENERAL || I. DEFINITION II. NEW TESTAMENT SOURCES 1. Textual Considerations 2. Narratives Compared (1) Mark (2) Matthew (3) Pauline (4) Luke 3. Other Pauline Data III. PREPARATION FO...

  • MANNA

    [ebd] Heb. man-hu, "What is that?" the name given by the Israelites to the food miraculously supplied to them during their wanderings in the wilderness (Ex. 16:15-35). The name is commonly taken as derived from man, an expression ...
    [isbe] MANNA - man'-a (man; manna): The Hebrew man is probably derived, as Ebers suggests, from the Egyptian mennu, "food." In Ex 16:15, we have a suggested source of the name, "They said one to another, What is it?" i.e. manhu, wh...

  • NICODEMUS

    [isbe] NICODEMUS - nik-o-de'-mus (Nikodemos): A Pharisee and a "ruler of the Jews," mentioned only by John. He (1) interviewed Christ at Jerusalem and was taught by Him the doctrine of the New Birth (Jn 3:1-15), (2) defended Him be...

  • JUDAS ISCARIOT

    [isbe] JUDAS ISCARIOT - is-kar'-i-ot (Ioudas Iskariotes, i.e. 'ish qeriyoth, "Judas, man of Kerioth"): One of the twelve apostles and the betrayer of Jesus; for etymology, etc., see JUDAS. I. Life. Judas was, as his second name ind...

  • Symbols and Similitudes

    [nave] SYMBOLS AND SIMILITUDES Trees of life and knowledge, Gen. 2:9, 17; 3:3, 24; Rev. 22:2. Rainbow, Gen. 9:12, 13. Circumcision, of the covenant of Abraham, Gen. 17:11; Rom. 4:11. Passover, of the sparing of the firstborn, an...

  • LORDS SUPPER

    [smith] The words which thus describe the great central act of the worship of the Christian Church occur but in a single passage of the New Testament -- (1 Corinthians 11:20) Its institution . --It was instituted on that night wh...

  • Life

    [isbe] LIFE - lif (chayyim, nephesh, ruach, chayah; zoe, psuche, bios, pneuma): I. THE TERMS II. THE OLD TESTAMENT TEACHING 1. Popular Use of the Term 2. Complexity of the Idea III. IN THE APOCRYPHA IV. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT 1. In t...
    [nave] LIFE. Index of Sub-topics Miscellany of Minor Sub-topics; Brevity and Uncertainty of; Everlasting; From God; Long; Spiritual. Miscellany of Minor Sub-topics Breath of, Gen. 2:7. Called Spirit of God, Job 27:3. Tree of,...

  • JOHN, GOSPEL OF

    [isbe] JOHN, GOSPEL OF - || I. INTRODUCTORY 1. Scope of Gospel 2. State of Opinion as to Date of Appearance, etc. II. EXTERNAL EVIDENCE fOR THE FOURTH GOSPEL 1. At the End of 2nd Century 2. Irenaeus--Theophilus 3. Middle of 2nd Cen...
    [smith] This Gospel was probably written at Ephesus about A.D. 78. (Canon Cook places it toward the close of John?s life, A.D. 90-100. --ED.) The Gospel was obviously addressed primarily to Christians, not to heathen. There can be li...

  • JESUS CHRIST, 2

    [isbe] JESUS CHRIST, 2 - LITERATURE Jesus Christ: The Founder of the Christian religion; the promised Messiah and Saviour of the world; the Lord and Head of the Christian church. I. The Names. 1. Jesus: (Iesous) is the Greek equiva...

  • SABBATH

    [smith] (shabbath), "a day of rest," from shabath "to cease to do to," "to rest"). The name is applied to divers great festivals, but principally and usually to the seventh day of the week, the strict observance of which is enforced ...

  • Miracles

    [nave] MIRACLES. Index of Sub-topics Catalog of, and Supernatural Events, Of Jesus, in Chronological Order, Of the Disciples of Jesus; Convincing Effect of; Design of; Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit; Miscellany of Minor Sub-...

  • JOHANNINE THEOLOGY, 2

    [isbe] JOHANNINE THEOLOGY, 2 - VI. Eternal Life. The development of the conception of eternal life must be set along with the doctrine of the moral nature of God and the doctrine of the incarnation as one of the greatest contributi...

  • Faith

    [ebd] Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true (Phil. 1:27; 2 Thess. 2:13). Its primary idea is trust. A thing is true, and therefore worthy of trust. It admits of many degrees up to full ass...
    [nave] FAITH. 2 Sam. 22:31; Psa. 5:11; Psa. 7:1; Psa. 9:9, 10; Psa. 18:30; Psa. 32:10; Psa. 33:18, 19; Psa. 34:8, 22 vs. 1-8;; Psa. 2:12. Psa. 36:7; Psa. 40:4; Psa. 64:10; Psa. 78:7 vs. 5-7.; Psa. 84:5, 12; Psa. 112:5, 7, 8; Psa. ...

  • Philip

    [ebd] lover of horses. (1.) One of the twelve apostles; a native of Bethsaida, "the city of Andrew and Peter" (John 1:44). He readily responded to the call of Jesus when first addressed to him (43), and forthwith brought Nathanael...
    [smith] (lover of horses) the apostle was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter, (John 1:44) and apparently was among the Galilean peasants of that district who flocked to hear the preaching of the Baptist. The manner in which S...
    [nave] PHILIP 1. Brother of Herod and husband of Herodias, Matt. 14:3; Mark 6:17; Luke 3:19. 2. Tetrarch of Iturea, Luke 3:1. 3. One of the seven deacons, Acts 6:5. Successfully preaches in Samaria, Acts 8:4-14. Expounds the sc...

  • SPIRITUAL MEAT

    [isbe] SPIRITUAL MEAT - (broma pneumatikon, "food spiritual"): Nourishment for the soul, referring specifically (1 Cor 10:3) to the manna by which the children of Israel were miraculously fed and which was made by Paul propheticall...

  • Bread

    [isbe] BREAD - bred (lechem; artos): I. DIETARY PREEMINENCE II. MATERIALS 1. Barley 2. Wheat 3. Three Kinds of Flour III. BREAD-MAKING 1. Grinding 2. Kneading 3. Baking (1) Hot Stones (2) Baking Pans 4. Ovens (1) The Bowl-Oven (2) ...
    [smith] The preparation of bread as an article of food dates from a very early period. (Genesis 18:6) The corn or grain employed was of various sorts. The best bread was made of wheat, but "barley" and spelt were also used. (John 6:9...
    [nave] BREAD Called the Staff of Life, Ezek. 4:16; 5:16; 14:13. Kinds of Bread of affliction, 1 Kin. 22:27; Psa. 127:2; Hos. 9:4; Isa. 30:20; made with yeast, Lev. 7:13; 23:17; Hos. 7:4; Amos 4:5; Matt. 13:33; not made with yeast...

  • Righteous

    [nave] RIGHTEOUS. Index of Sub-Topics Miscellany of Minor Sub-Topics; Contrasted with the Wicked; Described; Promises to, Expressed or Implied. Miscellany of Minor Sub-Topics Compared with: The sun, Judg. 5:31; Matt. 13:43; sta...
more

Arts

Hymns

(Note: In "active" or "on" condition, the hymns music will be played automatically when mouse hover on a hymns title)
  • Atas Makananku Ini [KJ.471]
  • Dengarlah Kata Yesus [KJ.153]
  • Hai Berdandanlah, Jiwaku [KJ.313]
  • Jurang di Hati Lekas Timbuni [KJ.142]
  • Kota Sion, Kota Allah [KJ.262] ( Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken )
  • Meski Tak Layak Diriku [KJ.27]
  • O Hari Istirahat [KJ.20] ( O Day of Rest and Gladness )
  • Pujilah Tuhan, Muliakan Dia [KJ.315]
  • Sang Maha Tabib T'lah Dekat [KJ.149]
  • Selama Bumi Didiami [KJ.298]
  • Sinar Fajar Yang Baka [KJ.323]
  • T'rang Bintang Fajar Berseri [KJ.139]
  • Tuhan, Pecahkanlah Roti Hayat [KJ.464] ( Break Thou the Bread of Life )
  • Tuntun Aku, Tuhan Allah [KJ.412] ( Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah )
  • Yesus Saja Kawanku Musafir [KJ.421]
  • [Joh 6:20] I Could Not Do Without Thee
  • [Joh 6:32] Bread Of The World, In Mercy Broken
  • [Joh 6:32] Here At Thy Table, Lord
  • [Joh 6:33] By His Love
  • [Joh 6:35] Break Thou The Bread Of Life
  • [Joh 6:35] O Bread Of Life From Heaven
  • [Joh 6:35] O Bread To Pilgrims Given
  • [Joh 6:35] O Food To Pilgrims Given
  • [Joh 6:39] He Will Hold Me Fast
  • [Joh 6:37] Beauteous Are The Flowers Of Earth
  • [Joh 6:37] Come Home, My Child
  • [Joh 6:37] Come Unto Me (hewitt)
  • [Joh 6:37] Ever Would I Fain Be Reading
  • [Joh 6:37] I Come To Thee, O Blessèd Lord
  • [Joh 6:37] Jesus Will Let You In
  • [Joh 6:37] Listen To The Blessed Invitation
  • [Joh 6:37] O Precious Word
  • [Joh 6:37] Terrible Thought, Shall I Alone
  • [Joh 6:40] Jesus, Lord, We Look To Thee
  • [Joh 6:40] Never Grow Old
  • [Joh 6:47] Everlasting Life
  • [Joh 6:51] Bread Of Heaven, On Thee We Feed
  • [Joh 6:51] Father, Who Dost Thy Children Feed
  • [Joh 6:51] How The Lord From Heaven Came
  • [Joh 6:51] Jesus, To Thy Table Led
  • [Joh 6:51] Lord Jesus Christ, Thou Living Bread
  • [Joh 6:51] O Food To Men Wayfaring
  • [Joh 6:51] O Living Bread From Heaven
  • [Joh 6:51] Thee We Adore, O Hidden Savior, Thee
  • [Joh 6:51] Thy Presence, Gracious God, Afford
  • [Joh 6:55] In The Quiet Consecration
  • [Joh 6:55] O Lord, And Is Thy Table Spread?
  • [Joh 6:56] O Food That Weary Pilgrims Love
  • [Joh 6:57] Jesu, Gentlest Savior

Questions

Sermon Illustrations

Who Is Jesus Christ?; Raised from the Dead; The Will of God, Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else; Things to Pray for; OT Theophanies; Mark 16:16; Faith Alone; Definitions; Our Goal; Mark 16:16; Mary Had The Little Lamb; The Invitations of Christ; God Never …; How To Live For God; The Invitations of Christ; Mary Had The Little Lamb; Matthew 11:28; Purposes of the Incarnation

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • The great contribution of this book is the revelation that Yahweh is the sovereign God who provides deliverance for man from the slavery in which he finds himself.The major teaching of Exodus is primarily threefold.1. The sov...
  • 4:19-23 Moses did not return immediately to Egypt when he arrived back in Midian following his encounter with God at Horeb (v. 19). God spoke to him again in Midian and sent him back to Egypt assuring His servant that everyon...
  • This chapter records another crisis in the experience of the Israelites as they journeyed from Goshen to Mt. Sinai that God permitted and used to teach them important lessons.16:1-3 The wilderness of Sin evidently lay in the ...
  • This piece of furniture stood on the north side of the holy place, the right side as the priest entered from the courtyard. The priests placed twelve loaves (large pieces) of unleavened bread in two rows or piles on this tabl...
  • We move from public regulations in chapter 16 to intimate regulations in chapter 18 with chapter 17 providing the transition. In contrast to the first sixteen chapters, chapter 17 says very little about the role of the priest...
  • As preparation for entering Canaan, Joshua sent spies to reconnoiter the area Israel would enter."Although Joshua had received a promise from the Lord of His almighty help in the conquest of Canaan, he still thought it necess...
  • The parallel between wisdom's invitation and the one Jesus Christ extended to everyone to come to His feast shows the similarity between wisdom and responding positively to God's Word (Matt. 22:1-14; Luke 14:15-24). The "seve...
  • The prayer begins with a long ascription of praise to Yahweh (vv. 17-23) and concludes by expressing incredulity that the Lord had commanded His servant to buy the land in Anathoth (vv. 24-25; cf. Neh. 9:6-37; Dan. 9:4-19).42...
  • This pericope contains 10 commands, and it is the center of the chiasm in chapters 1-3."The Lord's charge to Ezekiel emphasized the absolute necessity of hearing, understanding, and assimilating God's message prior to going f...
  • 34:11-12 The Lord further promised to search for His wandering sheep Himself, to care for them, and to deliver them from the places where they had scattered in the gloomy days of their national distress (cf. Jer. 30:4-7; Luke...
  • Jesus' genealogy and virgin birth prove His legal human qualification as Israel's King. His baptism was the occasion of His divine approval. His temptation demonstrated His moral fitness to reign. The natural question a thoug...
  • Verses 15-20 deal with false prophets, but verses 21-23 deal with false followers. The repeated cry of these false followers reveals their fervency."In Jesus' day it is doubtful whether Lord' when used to address him meant mo...
  • Matthew's record of this miracle, which all four Gospels contain, stresses Jesus' power to create, His compassion, and the disciples' responsibility to minister to multitudes as Jesus' representatives. It also previews the ki...
  • Jesus proceeded to do a second miracle to deepen His disciples' faith in Him even more.14:22 As soon as the people had finished eating, Jesus "immediately compelled"(Gr. eutheos enagkasen) His disciples to enter a boat and to...
  • Jesus had previously fed 5,000 men, but that was near the northeast coast of Galilee, where the people were Jews (14:13-21). Now He fed 4,000 men on the east coast of Galilee, where the people were mainly Gentiles.15:32-33 Ma...
  • 16:13 The district of Caesarea Philippi lay 25 miles north of Galilee. Its inhabitants were mainly Gentiles. Herod Philip II, the tetrarch of the region, had enlarged a smaller town on the site at the foot of Mt. Hermon.619He...
  • Mark's account of this miracle plays an important role in his Gospel. The unusually long introduction provides the setting for this miracle. It stresses Jesus' humanity, and the miracle itself demonstrates His deity. Mark lat...
  • This miracle followed the feeding of the 5,000 by just a few hours. Both miracles were important parts of Jesus' discipleship training program for the Twelve.6:45 The feeding of the 5,000 evidently happened on the northeast s...
  • Luke omitted several incidents here that the other evangelists included (Matt. 14:22-16:12; Mark 6:45-8:26; John 6:16-66). By doing so, he tied the questions of Herod and the multitude about Jesus' identity with Peter's answe...
  • John's presentation of Jesus in his Gospel has been a problem to many modern students of the New Testament. Some regard it as the greatest problem in current New Testament studies.15Compared to the Synoptics that present Jesu...
  • In one sense the Gospel of John is more profound than the Synoptics. It is the most difficult Gospel for most expositors to preach and to teach for reasons that will become evident as we study it. In another sense, however, t...
  • I. Prologue 1:1-18A. The preincarnate Word 1:1-5B. The witness of John the Baptist 1:6-8C. The appearance of the Light 1:9-13D. The incarnation of the Word 1:14-18II. Jesus' public ministry 1:19-12:50A. The prelude to Jesus' ...
  • John began his Gospel by locating Jesus before the beginning of His ministry, before His virgin birth, and even before Creation. He identified Jesus as co-existent with God the Father and the Father's agent in providing creat...
  • The first section of the prologue (vv. 1-5) presents the preincarnate Word. The second section (vv. 6-8) identifies the forerunner of the Word's earthly ministry. This third section introduces the ministry of the Incarnate Wo...
  • The writer now turned his attention from John the Baptist's witness to Jesus to record the reactions of some men to Jesus' witness. Two of John the Baptist's disciples left him to follow Jesus when they heard John's testimony...
  • John included another summary of Jesus' activities (cf. v. 12). It enables the reader to gain a more balanced picture of popular reaction to Jesus than the preceding incident might suggest.2:23 Jesus did many signs (significa...
  • John now presented evidence that Jesus knew people as no others did and that many believed in His name (2:23). This constitutes further witness that He is the Son of God. John summarized several conversations that Jesus had w...
  • This pericope explains why Jesus must become greater. It also unites several themes that appear through chapter 3. John the Apostle or John the Baptist may be the speaker. This is not entirely clear.3:31-32 The incarnate Son ...
  • There are several connections between this section and the preceding ones that provide continuity. One is the continuation of water as a symbol (cf. 2:6; 3:5; 4:10-15). Another is the continuation of conversation in which Jes...
  • Jesus had modeled evangelistic effectiveness for His disciples, though ironically they were absent for most of the lesson. Now he explained the rewards, urgency, and partnership of evangelism.4:27 When Jesus' disciples return...
  • "In chapters 1-4 the subject is described from the standpoint of a spectator, ab extra, and we are thus enabled to see something of the impression created on others by our Lord as He deals with individuals in Jerusalem, Samar...
  • This third sign in John's Gospel signaled Jesus' identity and created controversy that followed. Particularly it testified to Jesus' authority over time.2095:1 Some time later Jesus returned to Jerusalem to celebrate one of t...
  • More than once Jesus used His Sabbath activities to make the Jews consider who He was (cf. Matt. 12:1-14; Mark 2:23-3:6; Luke 13:10-17; 14:1-6). Here He wanted them to realize that He had the right to work on the Sabbath as H...
  • The preceding controversy resulted in Jesus clarifying His relationship to His Father further. Jesus proceeded to reply to His enemies' charge that He was not equal with God the Father. This is the most thoroughgoing statemen...
  • Jesus now returned to develop a theme that He had introduced previously, namely the Father's testimony to the Son (vv. 19-20). Jesus proceeded to cite five witnesses to His identity, all of which came from the Father, since t...
  • The importance of this sign is clear in that all four Gospels contain an account of it. Apparently John was familiar with the other evangelists' versions of this miracle as well as being an eyewitness of the event. His story ...
  • John probably included this incident for a number of reasons. It accounts for the return of Jesus and His disciples to the western shore of Galilee where Jesus gave the discourse on the Bread of Life. Perhaps he did so to con...
  • The multitude on the "other side"must have been near the northeast shore where Jesus had fed the 5,000 south of Bethsaida. They were across the lake from the northwestern shore where Jesus and the disciples now were, in Caper...
  • This section of the text contains Jesus' enigmatic and attractive description of the Bread of Life. Jesus was whetting His hearers' appetites for it (cf. 4:10). The pericope ends with their asking Him to give them the Bread (...
  • 6:35 Jesus now identified Himself as the bread about which He had been speaking (cf. v. 47; Isa. 55:1). He did not say He hadthe bread of life but that He wasthat bread. He claimed to be able to satisfy completely as bread an...
  • Jesus' claim to be the Bread of Life that had come down from heaven was something His hearers found hard to accept. Consequently Jesus clarified what He meant further.6:41-42 Some of Jesus' hearers had known Him all His life....
  • Jesus introduced a new metaphor for believing on Him, namely eating His flesh. The following pericope is highly metaphorical.6:52 As Jesus' hearers had objected to what He had said about His identity (vv. 41-42), so they now ...
  • 6:60 Not only "the Jews"(v. 52) but many of Jesus' followers found His teaching about the Bread of Life offensive (Gr. skleros, difficult or hard). The term "disciple"is not synonymous with "believer,"as should be patently cl...
  • 6:66 Jesus lost many of His followers because of the Bread of Life discourse (cf. v. 60). His explanation to them following the discourse did not change their minds. He had made no concessions. They had understood Him correct...
  • "John 7 has three time divisions: before the feast (vv. 1-10), in the midst of the feast (vv. 11-36), and on the last day of the feast (vv. 37-52). The responses during each of those periods can be characterized by three word...
  • 7:10 Jesus proceeded to Jerusalem shortly after his half-brothers did because the Father led Him to go then. He did not herald His arrival with great publicity, as His brothers had recommended, but went without fanfare. If He...
  • 7:14 Toward the middle of the week Jesus began teaching publicly in the temple. This verse sets the scene for what follows immediately.7:15 It was quite common for Jewish males to read and write. The people do not appear to h...
  • 7:25-26 Though many of the Jewish pilgrims in the temple courtyard did not realize how antagonistic the religious leaders were to Jesus (v. 20), some of the locals did. They marvelled that Jesus was speaking out publicly and ...
  • Having announced His departure Jesus proceeded to offer the Holy Spirit for those who believed on Him (cf. chs. 14-16).7:37 The feast of Tabernacles lasted seven days (cf. Deut. 16:13). However the day following the feast was...
  • 8:12 The context of the events in this paragraph continues to be the temple during the feast of Tabernacles (v. 20, cf. 7:14). Jesus was speaking to the Jews who had assembled there some of whom were residents of Jerusalem an...
  • Jesus began to contrast Himself and His critics.3108:21 Evidently what follows continues Jesus' teaching in the temple when He spoke the words that John recorded in the preceding verses. The Greek word palin("again"or "once m...
  • Jesus next addressed those in His audience who had expressed some faith Him (v. 30).8:31 The mark of a true disciple is continuation in the instructions of his or her teacher. A disciple is by definition a learner, not necess...
  • "John is interested in the way the coming of Jesus divides people."3479:35 The healed man had responded positively and courageously to the light that he had so far, but he did not have much light. Therefore Jesus took the ini...
  • The difference between this teaching and Jesus' parables in the Synoptics now becomes clearer. Jesus proceeded to compare Himself to the pen gate as well as to the Shepherd. He also described Himself leading His sheep into th...
  • 10:22-23 "At that time"(NASB) is a general reference to the proximity of the feast of Dedication and the events narrated in the previous pericope. It does not mean that the events in the preceding section occurred exactly bef...
  • 10:40 John presented Jesus' departure from Jerusalem as the result of official rejection of Him. The event had symbolic significance that the evangelist probably intended. Jesus withdrew the opportunity for salvation from the...
  • The scene now shifts from the region near Bethany of Perea (1:28; 10:40) to the Bethany in Judea. Both towns became sites where people believed on Jesus.11:17 There is some evidence that the later Jewish rabbis believed that ...
  • Again Jesus' words and works divided the Jews (cf. 6:14-15; 7:10-13, 45-52; 10:19-21)....
  • The raising of Lazarus convinced Israel's leaders that they had to take more drastic action against Jesus. John recorded this decision as the high point of Israel's official rejection of God's Son so far. This decision led di...
  • This pericope summarizes the situation at this stage of Jesus' ministry. The leaders had determined to kill Him, and Jesus withdrew to the town of Ephraim.11:54 Jesus may have learned of the Sanhedrin's decision from a sympat...
  • In contrast to the hatred that the religious leaders manifested stands the love that Mary demonstrated toward the One she had come to believe in. Her act of sacrificial devotion is a model for all true disciples. This is the ...
  • 12:20 The New Testament writers frequently referred to any Gentiles who came from the Greek-speaking world as Greeks (cf. 7:35; et al.). We do not know where the Gentiles in this incident came from. They could have lived in o...
  • 14:5 Thomas voiced the disciples' continuing confusion about Jesus' destination. Apparently the "Father's house"did not clearly identify heaven to them. Without a clear understanding of the final destination they could not be...
  • Jesus realized that the Eleven did not fully understand what He had just revealed. He therefore encouraged them with a promise that they would understand His words later.14:25-26 Jesus had made these revelations to His discip...
  • Jesus often used a grapevine to describe the nation of Israel (cf. Matt. 20:1-16; 21:23-41; Mark 12:1-9; Luke 13:6-9; 20:9-16). The vine as a symbol of Israel appears on coins of the Maccabees.474Here Jesus used the vine meta...
  • Jesus proceeded to expound further on some of the themes that He had introduced in His teaching on the vine and the branches (vv. 1-8). The subject moves generally from the believing disciple's relationship with God to his or...
  • Jesus' glorification depended on the well-being of those whom the Father had given to Him (v. 2). Consequently Jesus prayed for them too. He made several requests for them but first expressed the reasons He was praying for th...
  • 17:6 Jesus viewed these disciples as those whom God had given to Him out of the world (cf. 6:37; 15:19), not as those who had chosen to follow Him. This viewpoint accounts for Jesus' confidence as He anticipated their future....
  • 17:24 Here Jesus' request clearly included the Eleven with all the elect. He wanted them all to observe (Gr. theorosin) the glory that the Father would restore to the Son following His ascension (v. 5; cf. 1 John 3:2). This a...
  • 18:1 "These words"evidently refer to all of what Jesus had said in chapters 13-17 all of which He probably spoke in the upper room. The Kidron Valley formed the eastern boundary of Jerusalem. The Kidron was also a wadior dry ...
  • This pericope contains another post-resurrection appearance of Jesus that bolstered the disciples' faith. It also contains John's account of the Great Commission.20:19 John moved his readers directly from the events of Easter...
  • John followed the climactic proof that Jesus is God's Son with an explanation of his purpose for writing this narrative of Jesus' ministry. This explanation constitutes a preliminary conclusion to the book.20:30 "Therefore"ti...
  • 21:1 John recorded still another post-resurrection appearance of Jesus to His disciples. It undoubtedly occurred during the 32-day period between Thomas' confession (20:28) and Jesus' ascension (Acts 1:9). Exactly when is uni...
  • 2:37 The Holy Spirit used Peter's sermon to bring conviction, as Jesus had predicted (John 16:8-11). He convicted Peter's hearers of the truth of what he said and of their guilt in rejecting Jesus. Their question arose from t...
  • 3:17-18 If Peter's charges against his hearers were harsh (vv. 13-15), his concession that they acted out of ignorance was tender. Peter undoubtedly hoped that his gentle approach would win a reversal of his hearers' attitude...
  • The popularity and effectiveness of the apostles riled the Sadducees just as Jesus' popularity and effectiveness had earlier.5:17-18 The high priest "rose up"(Gr. anastas, cf. v. 34) taking official action as leader of the Sa...
  • Luke probably recorded Paul's address (vv. 22-31) as a sample of his preaching to intellectual pagans (cf. 13:16-41; 14:15-18; 20:18-35).712In this speech Paul began with God as Creator and brought his hearers to God as Judge...
  • 1:2 Paul next began to exalt the gospel that God had called him to proclaim. It was a message that God had promised, not just prophesied, in the Old Testament Scriptures. The words "his"and "holy"stress the unique origin of t...
  • Before showing the guilt of moral and religious people before God (vv. 17-29), Paul set forth the principles by which God will judge everyone (vv. 1-16). By so doing, he warned the self-righteous.2:1-4 "Therefore"seems more l...
  • Having now proven all people, Jews and Gentiles, under God's wrath Paul drove the final nail in mankind's spiritual coffin by citing Scriptural proof.3:9 The phrase "What then?"introduces a conclusion to the argument that all...
  • Verses 1 and 2 of chapter 12 deal with the Christian's most important relationship, his or her relationship to God. These verses are both parallel to the sections to follow that deal with the Christian's conduct, and they int...
  • The point of this example is that God's people can practice idolatry, and persisting in idolatry has dire consequences. Paul stressed the similarity of experience that the church, the Corinthian church particularly, and Israe...
  • Having claimed singleness of purpose in his dealings with the Corinthians, Paul proceeded to help them appreciate the fact that his behavior had been consistent with his Spirit-led purposes."Long-range plans may need to be mo...
  • The apostle warned his readers not to think that they could satisfy the demands of the Mosaic Law by obeying only a few of its commands. Only complete compliance satisfies its demands.5:1 Paul's readers were in danger of retu...
  • "God's spiritual blessings for believers are based not only on the sovereign election of the Father (vv. 3-6) and the redemptive work of the Son (vv. 7-12), but also on the seal of the Holy Spirit."301:13 In contrast to the J...
  • 3:8 Paul had regarded his advantages over other people as what put him in a specially good position with God. However, he had come to realize that absolutely nothing apart from Jesus Christ's work on the cross was of any valu...
  • Having explored the concept of Jesus as a faithfulhigh priest (3:1-4:14), the writer proceeded next to develop the idea that Jesus is a mercifulhigh priest in the service of God (cf. 2:17). A high priest must be faithful to G...
  • James next introduced an objection to his thesis that faith is dead without works. He put it in the mouth of a hypothetical objector. This literary device of objection and response was a common one that Paul also used (Rom. 9...
  • John's response to this revelation was similar to Daniel's response to the vision God gave him (cf. Dan. 10:7-9). Jesus then proceeded to give John more information about what He wanted him to do.1:17 This revelation of Jesus...
  • The "hidden manna"seems to be a reference to the manna that sustained the lives of the Israelites in the wilderness that lay "hidden"in the holy of holies. The Christians in Pergamum did not need the food of pagan festivals s...
  • Jesus Christ held out blessings for the faithful few in the congregation to stimulate the rest to repent. White garments symbolic of one's works (19:8) are pure and free of defilement (cf. 7:9, 13; 19:14; Matt. 22:11-12). Sar...
  • The scene continues to be on earth.7:1 The phrase "after this"(Gr. meta touto) indicates that what follows is a new vision (cf. 4:1). The general chronological progression of the visions suggests that the events John saw now ...
  • There are a number of contrasts between the 144,000 and this great multitude. The number of the first group is not only smaller but definite whereas the number of the second group is larger and indefinite. People from the 12 ...
  • This pericope furnishes the plot for the drama that unfolds in the rest of the chapter.12:1 John saw a "sign,"something that signified or represented something else (cf. v. 3; 13:13-14; 15:1; 16:14; 19:29). Usually John used ...
  • 20:11 This "And I saw"introduces something else John saw in this vision (cf. 19:11, 17, 19; 20:1, 4, 12; 21:1, 2). The continuation of chronological progression seems clear from the continued use of "And"to introduce new info...
  • 22:12 Jesus Christ repeated His promise to return soon (v. 7, cf. 1:3; 22:20)."Nowhere is a date set, nor was there any definite promise that the consummation would occur within the lifetime of the first century Christians. N...

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

  • 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.'--John 6:11.THIS narrative of the mira...
  • When they were filled, He said unto His disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.'--John 6:12.THE Revised Version correctly makes a very slight, but a very significant change in the words of this v...
  • 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. 20. But He said unto them, It is I; be not afraid.'--John 6:19-20.THERE...
  • Then said they unto Him. What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29. Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.'--John 6:28-29.THE feeding of the five ...
  • I am that bread of life. 49. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.'--John 6:48-50.THIS is of a truth that Pro...
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