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John 6

71 verses

TL;DR

Jesus demonstrates divine power by feeding a multitude and walking on water, then declares Himself the true bread of life, provoking both awe and confusion among His followers.

Summary

John chapter 6 opens with Jesus feeding five thousand with five loaves and two fish, illustrating His compassion and power. After the miracle, He walks on the Sea of Galilee, calming the disciples’ fear. He then teaches the 'bread of life', contrasting the old manna with Himself as the living bread from heaven, warning that belief in Him brings eternal life. The disciples struggle to accept His claims; many murmur and some depart. Jesus foretells His betrayal, revealing Judas Iscariot as the one to betray Him. The chapter ends with Peter’s affirmation of Jesus as Christ and the looming conflict between belief and unbelief.

Outline
  1. Miracle feeding and Jesus walking on water
  2. Teaching about the true bread of life
  3. Disciples’ reaction, doubts, and revelation of betrayal
Themes
Divine provision and faithIdentity of Jesus as the true sustenance of lifeHuman response to divine revelation
Keywords
breadmiraclesfaithdisbeliefdiscipleslifeJesusGodprophetsmannamultiplied foodwaterbetrayal
People
JesusPhilipAndrewSimon PeterJudas Iscariotthe disciplesthe Jews
Places
Sea of Galilee (Sea of Tiberias)TiberiasCapernaumthe mountain
Things
Five barley loavesTwo small fishesBread of lifeMannaJesus’ flesh and blood
Key Verses
  • John 6:9: Jesus orders the disciples to feed the crowd, initiating the miracle of multiplication.
  • John 6:14: The twelve baskets of leftover loaves demonstrate the abundant provision.
  • John 6:35: Jesus declares Himself the bread of life, central to the chapter’s theological claim.
  • John 6:47: Affirms that those who believe in Him have everlasting life, summarizing the teaching.
  • John 6:60-61: Shows the disciples’ confusion and the difficulty of the teaching.
  • John 6:67-69: Peter’s confession highlights belief in Jesus as Christ amid rising doubts.
Questions
  • How does Jesus’ teaching on the bread of life differ from the Jewish expectation of manna?
  • What symbolic significance does Jesus walking on water hold in the context of His ministry?
  • Why did many disciples find the bread of life teaching hard to accept?
  • What does Peter’s confession reveal about the relationship between faith and identity in this narrative?
Sentiment

mixed
The chapter presents divine acts of mercy juxtaposed with human doubt and conflict.