John 6

King James Version

Full text for John Chapter 6

1¶ After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is [the sea of] Tiberias.

2And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

3And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.

4And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.

5When 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?›

6And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

7Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

8One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,

9There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

10And 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.

11And 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.

12When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, ‹Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.›

13Therefore 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.

14Then 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.

15¶ 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.

16And when even was [now] come, his disciples went down unto the sea,

17And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.

18And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.

19So 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.

20But he saith unto them, ‹It is I; be not afraid.›

21Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.

22¶ 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;

23(Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)

24When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.

25And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

26Jesus 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.›

27‹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.›

28¶ Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

29Jesus answered and said unto them, ‹This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.›

30They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

31Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

32Then 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.›

33‹For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.›

34Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

35And 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.›

36‹But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.›

37‹All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.›

38‹For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.›

39‹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.›

40‹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.›

41The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.

42And 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?

43Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, ‹Murmur not among yourselves.›

44‹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.›

45‹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.›

46‹Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.›

47‹Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.›

48‹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.›

51‹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.›

52The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?

53Then 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.›

54‹Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.›

55‹For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.›

56‹He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.›

57‹As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.›

58‹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.›

59These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

60¶ Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard [this], said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

61When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, ‹Doth this offend you?›

62‹[What] and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?›

63‹It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.›

64‹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.

65And he said, ‹Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.›

66From that [time] many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

67Then said Jesus unto the twelve, ‹Will ye also go away?›

68Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

69And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

70Jesus answered them, ‹Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?›

71He spake of Judas Iscariot [the son] of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jesus miraculously feeds five thousand men with five barley loaves and two small fishes, then walks on water to His disciples during a storm. The next day, He teaches the multitude about seeking spiritual food over physical, declaring Himself the "bread of life" and emphasizing that believing in Him grants everlasting life. Many disciples find this teaching difficult and depart, but Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ. Jesus then reveals that one of the twelve, Judas Iscariot, is a betrayer.

Medium Summary

John chapter 6 begins with Jesus feeding a great multitude of five thousand men with only five barley loaves and two small fishes, demonstrating His power and compassion. Following this, He withdraws from the crowd who sought to make Him king, and later walks on the stormy Sea of Galilee to His disciples. The next day, the people seek Him again, prompting Jesus to teach them about the "meat which endureth unto everlasting life," contrasting it with perishable physical food. He proclaims, "I am the bread of life," explaining that those who come to Him and believe shall never hunger or thirst spiritually, and will receive eternal life. This profound teaching, including the necessity of eating His flesh and drinking His blood, causes many of His disciples to murmur and ultimately depart. However, Simon Peter affirms their belief in Jesus as "the Christ, the Son of the living God," despite Jesus revealing that one of them, Judas Iscariot, is a betrayer.

Long Summary

John chapter 6 opens with Jesus crossing the Sea of Galilee, where a large crowd follows Him due to His miracles. Nearing Passover, Jesus tests Philip by asking how to feed the multitude, then miraculously feeds about five thousand men with five barley loaves and two small fishes, gathering twelve baskets of fragments afterward. Recognizing Him as "that prophet," the people attempt to make Him king, but Jesus withdraws alone to a mountain. Later, His disciples encounter a storm while crossing the sea, and Jesus walks on the water to them, calming their fears and immediately bringing their ship to its destination. The following day, the multitude, having sought Jesus, finds Him in Capernaum. Jesus discerns their motive, stating they seek Him because they were fed, not because they saw the miracles. He exhorts them to labor not for perishing food, but for "meat which endureth unto everlasting life," which the Son of man will give. When asked about the "works of God," Jesus declares it is to believe on Him whom God has sent. He then identifies Himself as the "true bread from heaven," superior to the manna their fathers ate, proclaiming, "I am the bread of life." He promises that those who come to Him and believe will never hunger or thirst and will receive everlasting life, emphasizing the Father's will to lose none of those given to Him and to raise them up at the last day. The Jews murmur, questioning His claim to have come down from heaven, given their knowledge of His earthly parents. Jesus responds by explaining that no one can come to Him unless drawn by the Father, and reiterates His identity as the living bread, whose flesh He will give for the life of the world. He further states that one must "eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood" to have life, promising eternal life and resurrection to those who do. This "hard saying" causes many of His disciples to stumble and depart, as they could not comprehend it. Jesus clarifies that "it is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing," and that His words are "spirit, and they are life." When Jesus asks the twelve if they too will leave, Simon Peter responds with a profound confession of faith, acknowledging Jesus as the one with "the words of eternal life" and "the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus concludes by revealing that one of His chosen twelve, Judas Iscariot, is a devil and will betray Him.

Core Concepts

  • Miraculous ProvisionJesus demonstrates divine power by feeding five thousand men with five barley loaves and two small fishes, highlighting His ability to provide abundantly for physical needs and gathering twelve baskets of fragments afterward.
  • Bread of LifeJesus declares Himself the "bread of life," a spiritual sustenance superior to physical manna, offering everlasting life to those who believe and come to Him.
  • Spiritual vs. Physical SeekingJesus distinguishes between those who seek Him primarily for physical gratification (being fed) and those who should seek Him for spiritual truth and the "meat which endureth unto everlasting life."
  • Belief and Eternal LifeA central theme is that believing in Jesus, the one sent by God, is the "work of God" and the pathway to receiving everlasting life and resurrection at the last day.
  • Eating Flesh and Drinking BloodJesus's controversial teaching about eating His flesh and drinking His blood signifies a deep, spiritual communion and identification with His sacrifice, essential for having life in Him.
  • Divine Drawing and Free WillJesus states that no man can come to Him unless drawn by the Father, yet He also invites all to come, indicating a complex interplay between divine initiative and human response.
  • Discipleship and BetrayalThe chapter illustrates the challenging nature of discipleship, with many departing due to a "hard saying," while the twelve remain, though one among them, Judas Iscariot, is identified as a betrayer.