Chapter 6

Vital Concepts & Truths to Know in John 6• Believing in Jesus is a work (John 6:28-29)!– “Faith only” advocates try to separate faith & works, claiming

only faith is essential.– Many try to categorize baptism as a work and say it’s not

necessary for salvation.– Jesus taught that even believing in Him is a work!

• “What shall we do that we may work the works of God?” (6:28).• “This is the work of God, that you believe in” Me (6:29).• A “work of God” is something that God has ordered man to do!• Jesus established that believing in Him is a work!• Thus, if one tries to make works unnecessary for salvation, he must

include faith.

Vital Concepts & Truths to Know in John 6• Believing in Jesus is a work (John 6:28-29)!– Jesus joins faith and works as essentials for salvation (John

6:28-29)! • Paul excludes only works of which one might boast (Eph. 2:8-9)! • James & Peter include works as obedience to God (Jas. 2:19-26; Acts

10:34-35)!

• Jesus knows all things (John 6:6, 15, 61, 64)!• A little in the hands of Jesus is a lot (John 6:9-13)!• Jesus submitted His will to the will of the Father and we

should, too (John 6:38-40)!• The miracles of Jesus were absolutely astounding!

An Overview/Theme of John 6: “The Bread from Heaven Gives Life”

• Jesus Fed 5,000 Men (Plus Women & Children) with Bread & Fish (John 6:1-14)!– Jesus was the first to mention bread in this chapter (John 6:5).

• No doubt brought it up to lead into (1) the sign and (2) the lesson about bread.

– A little boy had 5 pieces of bread (size of soda cracker) & 2 fish (size of sardines).• Not much in the eyes of man, but more than enough in the eyes of God.

– The people were hungry. Jesus gave them bread to eat. Now, they’re ready to hear.


• God Gave Manna (Bread) in the Old Testament (John 6:30-31)!– Jews may have thought Moses better than Jesus for (1) feeding

over half-a-million Jews vs. 5,000 and for (2) providing food from heaven vs. food from earth (6:30-31).

– Jesus corrected them:• God gave the Jews the bread/manna in the wilderness, not Moses (John

6:32).• The bread/manna in O.T. was but a type of the True Bread (John 6:32).

– In addition, those who ate that bread in the wilderness all died (John 6:49, 58).


• God Sent the True Bread That All Might Live!– …given by the Father & comes down from heaven (6:32-33…).– The True Bread endures (John 6:27), rather than perishing.– Jesus is the True Bread, and there is no other (John 6:32, 48)!

• “He is from God” (John 6:46).• He “came down from heaven” & “came into this world” (6:14,33,38,50).• He compared bread (which one eats to live) to His flesh and blood,

which was essential in order for us to live spiritually & eternally (51-56).• He concluded that the bread to be consumed is His Word (John 6:63).• Jesus is and has “the bread of life,” “the words of eternal life” (6:63, 68).

– A.K.A.: “the bread of God” (6:33), “the bread of life” (6:48), “the living bread” (6:51).


• The Nature of Bread Demands That Man Partake!– Man must seek Christ and for the right reasons (John 6:24-26).– …Come to Him (35,37,44,45,65) & believe in Him (35,40,47,69).

• “Come to Him” – to acknowledge Him for who He claimed to be, the Messiah.

• “Believe in Him” – to trust Him fully and comply wholeheartedly with His will.

• “Come to Him” and “believe in Him” are used interchangeably in this chapter.


• The Nature of Bread Demands That Man Partake!– Man must be drawn by the Father (6:44), which is done when:

• One is “taught by God” through His Word (John 6:45).• One “has heard and learned from the Father” through His Word (6:45).

– Man must submit to & obey the will of the Father (John 6:65), like Jesus did (6:38).

– As “the bread of life” gives “the words of eternal life” (63, 68):• We must, like Ezekiel & John, consume them (Ezek. 2:4-3:3; Rev. 10:9-

11).• We must “feed on” (or “eat”) Jesus and His Word (John 6:57; cf. 6:50-

58).


• The True Bread Offers Great Blessings & Promises!– Physical bread sustains life; eaters die (John 6:49, 58).– When we feed upon it & digest it, the True Bread:• “Endures to everlasting life” (John 6:27, 40, 47, 54, 68).• “Gives life to the world” (John 6:33, 35, 48, 51, 53).• Guarantees the eater thereof will:

– “Abide in Me, and I in him” (John 6:56; cf. 15:1-7).– “Never hunger” and “never thirst” (John 6:35).– “Not die” (John 6:50).– Be “raised up at the last day” (John 6:39, 40, 44, 54).– “Live forever” (John 6:51, 58).


• The True Bread Offers Great Blessings & Promises!– “As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the

Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me” (John 6:57).


• Bread from Heaven Is Objectionable to Some (6:60-69)!– Some refused to believe that Jesus had come to save them (60).– “What will you think when you see Me ascend” (62)?– Jesus’ words “are life,” but some did not believe them (63-64).– “Many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no

more” (John 6:66).– The message and the demands of Jesus separate the chaff from

the wheat!– True believers know there is nowhere else to go for the words

of eternal life (67-69).

How Chapter 6 Helps to Fulfill the Overall Purpose of the Gospel of John

• Signs Were Recorded That Readers Might Believe– He kept on performing signs on those who were sick (John 5:2).– Feeding 5,000 men with five loaves and two fish (5:1-14).

• Only miracle (besides resurrection) mentioned in all four accounts.– Walking on the water, three to four miles out (John 5:15-21).– Transporting the boat immediately to land (John 5:21).

• “This is truly the Prophet” (John 6:14).• Manna was a Type of the True Bread from God.• “I AM” Statements: “I am the bread of life….”• Testimony of Peter: “You have the words of eternal life.”

Chapter 6

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Transcript of Chapter 6