John 5:1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
John 5:2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
John 5:3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
John 5:4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
Another time came when Jesus went to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish feasts. Near the sheep market was a pool of water called Bethesda that was surrounded by five porches. The water of the pool was believed to have healing powers that would heal the first one in after or during a disturbance of the water. So many people who were disabled (blind, lame, paralyzed…) would lie close by and wait for the water to be moved. John then confirms that an angel did come at certain times to move the waters and provide healing for the first person in after the angel moved the waters.
John 5:5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
John 5:6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
John 5:7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
One man who frequented the pool had been an invalid for 38 years. When Jesus saw him on this trip to Jerusalem, He asked the man if he wanted to get well. The man explained that someone always got into the water first since he had no one to help him get in.
Significant note: Jesus asked, “Will you?” The man answered not “Will you?” but why he could not. This just reminded me of how quick we are with excuses.
Interesting note from George Salstrand:
He was sick.
He was helpless
He cannot work for his salvation.
He cannot be saved by keeping the law.
He has no standing.
He was hopeless.
He was friendless.
John 5:8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
John 5:9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
Jesus knew the man’s desire. He told him to pick up his bed and walk—which the man did immediately. He was cured and made whole. When God gives a command, the results are immediate. Science goes out the window. The Creator of the laws of science can override them at will.
John 5:10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
John 5:11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
John 5:12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
John 5:13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
The day the man was healed just happened to be the Sabbath, so he was breaking the law by carrying his mat. When confronted by “the Jews,” the religious leaders, he told them what had happened. Then they wanted to know who the man was that had told him what to do.
When the Jews were quoting the law regarding the carrying of his mat, they were quoting the Mishna, a commentary on the law by the rabbis--in other words, man’s interpretation of God’s word. That is why I always search for myself before resorting to commentaries for further enlightenment or to “jump start” my thinking. Our ultimate understanding of scripture should come from the Word through the teaching of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 17:11 “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
This man had been lying around that pool a long time—maybe not 38 years, but I bet a big portion of that time. Surely some of these people recognized him. Even if they didn’t—after hearing his story, you would have thought that they would have been excited that he was healed. “The Jews” had to be the Pharisees since they were the ones obsessed with the law and their perfection at keeping it. Were they happy for the man? No. They just wanted to find the culprit who had caused him to break the law. The man couldn’t identify Jesus since He had disappeared in the crowd.
John 5:14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
John 5:15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
A little later Jesus looked for and found the man at the temple and spoke to him. He told the man to stop sinning or something worse might happen to him. (This seems to be a possible reference to the fact that his condition was a consequence of a particular sin.) We all know that this man could hardly have been capable of what we would call big sins. He had been an invalid for 38 years. But Jesus can look straight into the core of our being. He knows our thoughts and intentions.
I know at times I’ve been complacent or comfortable with the fact that there are no major sins dominating my life. That’s the problem. We put sin in different categories. Then when we make a comparison to our lives, we figure we are OK. But the real core of our being is just as dirty as the most flagrant sinner’s. How many sins do we commit by not doing what we know to be right? Given choices in our lives—how many times do we make the better choice? In fact, do we even recognize that we are making choices that affect our relationship to God—sometimes minute by minute, often hour by hour, and definitely day by day? When we sit down to watch that TV show—is it our best choice or even a good choice? When we decide we need that new outfit? That extra few hours of sleep? I’m not saying that any of those things are wrong in themselves—but sometimes they are wrong choices because of our motives or because they result in lost opportunities for service or worship or promote the habit of fulfilling the desires of the flesh rather than strengthen us in the spirit.
Back to the story—Jesus saw through this man. Was he even grateful for the miracle that had been performed in his life? It’s like he couldn’t wait to find the Jews who had questioned him and identify Jesus as the culprit who had healed him (and caused him to break the law). Why did he feel so compelled to answer to these Jews? Was he angry that Jesus had identified the fact that there was sin in his life?
As I continue to think on these verses, I realize that Jesus is making a statement that sin is one of the reasons for the afflictions we suffer in life. It doesn’t mean that it is the reason—just that it can be.
John 5:16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
John 5:17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
John 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
Well, the Jews didn’t care that He was doing wonderful things for the people—they just cared that He was doing it on the Sabbath. So they persecuted Jesus; they even wanted to kill Him. Jesus responded by telling them that His Father is always at His work, and He would do the same. This really infuriated the Jews because they understood completely that He was saying that God was His Father and that He was equating His position with that of God. They really wanted to kill him.
“My Father worketh” – The Believer’s Bible Commentary, by William MacDonald, had a very thought-provoking statement: “Having finished the work of creation in six days, God had rested on the seventh day. This was the Sabbath. However, when sin entered the world, God’s rest was disturbed. He would now work ceaselessly to bring men and women back into fellowship with Himself.”
In my study of Hebrews, I came across the following grammatical explanation by Kenneth Wuest in his Word Studies in the Greek New Testament: “The word idios speaks not merely of ownership, but of a personal, private unique ownership. For instance, John in his gospel states the fact that the Jews tried to kill our Lord because He had said that God was His personal, unique Father. Had John used autos, there would have been no justification for their accusation, for each one of these Jews claimed God as his Father. John used idios, reporting the Lord Jesus as saying that God was His private, unique Father. God was His Father in a different sense from that in which He might be the Father of others. Our Lord claimed unique Sonship, and, therefore, Deity. And these Jews recognized that fact.”
John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
Jesus basically tells them that He is imitating the Father, because the Son “can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do.” Seems like there is a huge truth principle in that statement for all fathers to recognize (and mothers for that matter). Your example is the most important influence in the lives of your sons (children).
I think the key truth here is that Jesus always acts according to the actions of His Father.
John 5:20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
Then Jesus declares His faith/confidence in His Father’s love for Him. God the Father loves His Son so much that He shows Him all He does—He hides nothing from Him. In fact, they would see Him do even greater things in the future as evidence of this.
A good father has no reason to hide any of His actions. His life should be an open book to his sons (children). I think this is being said at the level of understanding of the listener. Jesus is going to do much greater things than healing the sick. He will raise the dead, and He Himself will be resurrected from the grave—which leads directly to the next verse.
John 5:21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
Jesus then makes a statement regarding God’s power over life and death. Then He adds that the Son (Jesus) “quickeneth” (gives life) to whom He wills (His choice, His pleasure). We already know that He is not willing that any should perish, and He wants to and will give it to all who believe in Him (3:16).
This appears to be a confirmation that Jesus is addressing the Pharisees since they believed in resurrection. They knew it was a work of God. Jesus is saying that He has the same power. I think His reference to “quickening” is a reference to giving spiritual life, even though He could obviously restore physical life as well—as is demonstrated later in this gospel.
John 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
“judgeth” = condemn, punish, damn
Then Jesus states that the Father has “committed all judgment unto the Son.” The Father judges no one. The Father and Son are part of a triune God; therefore, what one does, the other does. Yet, we know that they are also separate in certain capacities since it was Jesus who was crucified—not the Father. Since I am really a simple person, the story of the apple still helps; but it doesn’t really quench my desire to fully understand. (The apple has a peel, the fleshy fruit, and the core—yet it is one apple. You can separate the different parts, but it doesn’t change the fact that it is one apple.)
In more recent times I have come to view the married couple as a better example. God looks at two different people and considers them one flesh. The biggest problem with this example is that man has corrupted it. The unity of God is inseparable.
John 5:23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
John 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
John 5:27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
Jesus then tells us that the reason the Father gave Him the right to judge was so that “all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father.” The Jewish people as a whole had/has never really doubted the existence of God or the fact that He deserves to be honored and worshipped. Since they were refusing (as a whole) to accept the Son, Jesus, as the promised Messiah who was to give His life in order to give them the opportunity for eternal life, it was only right that He be given the position of judge—and they would be forced to recognize Him in the end.
Jesus goes on to emphasize that to dishonor the Son is also to dishonor the Father who sent Him. Jesus was a “willing” sacrifice for our sin, but His main motivation or desire in that act of sacrifice was to obey His Father. Remember—when He prayed in the garden, it was “not my will, but Thine.” His Father had sent Him to earth for that purpose. This theme is continued all the way through verse 30 with different emphases.
“Verily, verily” – This is the truth; you can bank on it. Any person that hears the truth that Jesus presented and believes that God has sent Him as the Messiah has eternal life and will not be condemned for his sin. He has been given a new life in Christ. He has been born again—experienced spiritual rebirth.
Verse 25 is a promise of resurrection for the believer. Again it is introduced as a truth that you can depend on. Those who die believing in God’s promise of provision will gain victory over the grave to enjoy eternal life in the presence of God. As I continue to think on this verse, I believe “the dead” is referencing all who are spiritually dead. “They that hear” references those who embrace the truth of Jesus and the salvation He offers. They will inherit true life—eternal life.
Verse 26 tells us that the “Father hath life in Himself.” He has also granted that privilege to the Son. My simple logic tells me that if they are both one; that would have been natural—not a privilege to be granted. It’s a problem with truly understanding the Trinity again. The BIG truth here is God/Jesus as the source of life—it is in Him. The Son is also given the privilege to judge man because He is the perfect man whose sacrifice will provide man’s redemption.
John 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
John 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Jesus realizes that these truths are amazing to the finite human mind. He emphasizes that those who have done good will be resurrected to eternal life in the presence of God, and those who have done evil will be resurrected to “damnation.” That time of resurrection “is coming”—is yet future.
I think this refers back to 3:21 when we are told that “evil hates the light” and whoever lives by the truth comes into light so that it may be plainly seen that what he has done has been done through God. We cannot do “good” except through God. God works through us as we put our faith in Him. He can and does use any vessel He chooses to accomplish His purposes (whether the vessel be willing or unwilling). I think the more important truth is that He is always working on/in/through willing vessels.
John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
This passage has made it clear that the workings of the Son and the Father are separate—yet the same. I guess I look at the Father as the core or root of a triune God with three distinct personalities. So, without the Father, the Son can do nothing.
Jesus was a man who lived through the leading and empowerment of the Holy Spirit—just as we were created to do and as new creations “in Christ” are empowered to do. As a Spirit-filled man, we are limited only by our lack of faith. Without the Spirit, we are doomed to failure as to all things spiritual.
“as I hear, I judge” – My God is “all seeing,” “all knowing,” and “everywhere present.” Even though I understand what I just said, I don’t understand how that can be. So for Jesus to say He judges as He hears is confusing. Since He is speaking as the Son in flesh as man, maybe He is talking of judgments made while here on earth where He did have self-imposed limitations as a human and was dependent on the Father/Spirit for revelation.
“my judgment is just” – This is a statement of fact with no room for exceptions.
“because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which sent me.” – I think this is an emphasis on His commitment to obey His Father. He also recognizes His feelings as a man—that part of Him that would have led Him to fall short of perfection if His focus and commitment to His Father had not been firm. He exampled the faith that He wants us to have in Him.
John 5:31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
John 5:32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
John 5:33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
John 5:34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
John 5:35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
Jesus doesn’t let up in this section. The truths are hard. He begins to talk about testimonies about who He is. I missed the word “if” several times at the start of verse 31. Again, He is talking as a man to men, so testimony about Himself wouldn’t be valid. That really doesn’t matter, because He has another witness to the truth of His identity. Yes, John the Baptist had verified the truth about Jesus. (John 1:19 indicates that they thought John was a prophet.) John had served well and been a strong light for many, and many had chosen to believe John’s message.
“these things I say…” – Jesus was diligent to present Himself as the Son of God with power over life and death because of His desire for men to be saved. He knew that their only hope for eternal life was dependent on their faith in Him as proved by His actions in submission to the will of the Father. They had to believe His message as the truth of God.
I looked at the Greek for the word “light” in verse 35 this time through, and it referenced “a portable lamp, or candle.” A lamp or candle burns at the discretion of the one using it. John was a light that was chosen and empowered by the Creator; Jesus embodied the original source of light and power.
“for a season” – Until it threatened or interfered with their way of life.
John 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
John 5:37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
John 5:38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
John 5:40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
Jesus declared that there is an even more dependable witness to His identity. They should have realized that the works He performed were proof that He was sent from the Father. The scripture was clear about the works that would accompany the coming of God—works that identify Jesus with God.
Isaiah 35:4-6 “Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound….”
The Father testified about Him—but none of them had ever seen or heard God in person, neither did they believe His Messenger. They were giving the scripture more reverence than the Son. Even though these very scriptures tell about eternal life through the Son, the Messiah, they still didn’t believe it was He to whom they referred.
“search the scriptures…” – Jesus was very quick to encourage the study of the scripture. He knew that the scriptures were full of testimony about Him. We see much more clearly from our perspective than did the Jews of that time. As is so often the case, expectation clouded their judgment. They were looking for a king (a king according to their own expectations), not the Messiah described in the scripture as a man that would be rejected and suffer death to deliver man from sin (cf Isaiah 53).
John 5:41 I receive not honour from men.
John 5:42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
In these verses Jesus lets them know that He knows them—He knows what is in their hearts. He knew that the love of God was missing in their lives. They were much more concerned about the letter of the law as corrupted by man than the intent of the law as given by God. This was proved over and over again in their responses to Jesus healing on the Sabbath.
John 5:43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
John 5:44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
If another person representing himself as the Messiah comes to them on his own merits, not as the Son of God, they would be quick to accept him. I think this references false teachers in general—but particularly the Antichrist of the tribulation period. I think this implies that the Antichrist will be Jew.
1John 2:18 “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.”
2Thessalonians 2:8-11 “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie….”
The Jewish leaders thrived on praise from one another; pride was their dominant character trait. They were more concerned about praise from their peers than praise from God. With that kind of attitude, how could they ever hope to believe the truth—they would never recognize it.
In reading through this section again, it hit me that the Antichrist will be accepted because he will present himself as the King/Deliverer they expect. He won’t claim sonship; he will eventually claim to be God.
2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”
John 5:45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
John 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
John 5:47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
They claimed to base their lives on the law of Moses, the one who now accuses them. If they really believed Moses, they would believe Him because Moses wrote about Him. They claimed to believe Moses; yet when the law was fulfilled and the predicted Messiah was with them, they refused to believe. (I think this was because of their presupposition as to how He would come and what He would be like; Jesus just didn’t fit.) If they didn’t believe Moses, what were their chances of ever believing His message of salvation.
The writings of Moses are full of types or examples regarding the Messiah. The tabernacle and all its functions were established to reveal the plan of redemption. The promise of the Messiah was first given in Genesis 3:15. I think the hearts of these men were so puffed up in pride that they really didn’t want to see Messiah. They enjoyed their positions of authority.
Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.
John 6:2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
“After these things” indicates a chronological narrative. Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee (aka Tiberias). Many people followed Him because of His miracles of healing.
John 6:3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.
John 6:4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.
John 6:5 When 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?
John 6:6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
Jesus went up a mountainside and sat down with His disciples. It was getting close to the time for Passover (also called the Feast of Unleavened Bread). I find it interesting that the Spirit had John identify the Passover as a feast of the Jews. I believe that was a special note for future Gentile readers of the scripture—like me. I think it is also a clue to the truth that one can learn more about the Messiah through learning more about the Passover and how the blood of the Passover lamb provided deliverance from God’s judgment. Not so very far in the future, Jesus would offer Himself as the Passover Lamb to provide salvation for every person who would look to Him in faith.
As He looked out over the landscape, He saw a multitude of people coming toward them. Jesus turned to Philip and asked him where they could buy bread to feed the people. (It was Philip’s time for testing.) Jesus already knew what He was going to do.
Each of the disciples was given special attention by the Lord from time to time I think. We know that Peter, James and John formed the inner circle of those closest to Him, but that did not mean that He ignored the others. He had hand-picked each one of them. I compare that to most of us “normal” believers and those chosen for special leadership (e.g., pastors). We can be assured that God is going to be just as detailed and meticulous in our training as is necessary to enable us to serve as He desires.
John 6:7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
Philip was clueless. He replied that eight months’ wages wouldn’t buy enough bread to give everyone even a little bit.
John 6:8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him,
John 6:9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
Then Andrew spoke up. He had noticed a young man there with five small loaves of bread and two small fish. I don’t think Andrew would have mentioned this if he hadn’t expected Jesus to act on it. He had seen the miracles the people had seen, and he knew Jesus’ power—just as Philip should have. So he threw out the challenge—“but what are they among so many?”
Andrew’s response makes me think of the phrase, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24) Again, I can relate. Often when I pray, it is with the attitude that I know God can, but I am not sure He will. I don’t think I’ll ever get to the point of being able to expect the answer I am asking for, because I realize that God’s ways are so unlike my own that He may have a much better plan in store—so I always end my requests with “nevertheless, not my will but Thine.” I think it was cool that Andrew was brave enough to speak up.
As I was reading in 2Kings 4, I came across the verses that spoke of Elisha’s feeding of 100 men where God multiplied the food to meet the need. A student of scripture could have realized that 100 or 5000 were no different in the eyes of God. And certainly Jesus had at least proven Himself as a mighty prophet of God.
John 6:10 And 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.
John 6:11 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 6:12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
John 6:13 Therefore 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.
“men” v10 = man-faced, i.e., a human being
Then Jesus tells the disciples to have everyone sit on the ground; they numbered about 5,000. Jesus then gave thanks for the food and gave to each of the disciples who in turn gave to each person that was seated as much as they wanted. Though the term for “men” seems to be generic, Matthew’s account specifically states that there were 5,000 men “beside women and children.” (Matthew 14:21) Mark adds that the seating was done “in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.”
Almost as amazing to me as how the people were fed is the fact that there were that many people following Jesus (probably mostly on foot).
When everyone had finished eating, Jesus had the disciples gather up all the leftovers after serving the people—they filled twelve baskets. (Principles: Jesus provision is always more than sufficient.)
Twelve disciples gathered twelve baskets of leftovers. As they provided for others through the blessing and power of the Savior, they were themselves provided nourishment and sustenance. God always provides for His servants.
John 6:14 Then 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.
John 6:15 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.
After witnessing this miracle, the people began to talk among themselves with excitement. This was surely “that prophet” that was to come. (See Topical Study, “Who is John?”) Jesus knew that they were plotting to make Him king, so He managed to get away to a mountain alone. Jesus valued His private time. His time was not yet come—in fact, His time to assume His earthly throne is yet to come.
John 6:16 And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,
John 6:17 And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.
John 6:18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.
When evening came, the disciples went down to the lake to get in a boat and head across the lake to Capernaum. It turned dark and Jesus still wasn’t with them. Mark 6 seems to be describing this same event. In that account we are told that Jesus told the disciples to get in the ship and go to Bethsaida (toward Capernaum). A strong wind was blowing and the water was rough.
John 6:19 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.
John 6:20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.
John 6:21 Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.
After rowing a little over 3 miles, they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified! (I don’t think they recognized Him.) He called to them and told them who He was and that they shouldn’t be afraid. I think the next phrase is interesting because it says, “Then they willingly received Him into the ship.” I’m not sure He ever really got in the boat. Again, it really doesn’t matter—it doesn’t change the fact that once they accepted Him, the boat was immediatelyat the shore where they were headed.
Pastor Bob: “Stormy seas are the perfect place to receive Christ.”
Again, Mark adds information. He tells us that Jesus saw His disciples struggling to row through the storm (6:48), and He went to them by walking on the water.
Matthew gives us even more information. When Jesus identified Himself, Peter asked to come to Him and Jesus told him to come. To Peter’s credit, he stepped out of the boat and evidently took a few steps before taking his eyes off Jesus and focusing on the storm around him; then he started to sink. As soon as he asked Jesus to save him, Jesus caught him and chided him for doubting.
We are so much like Peter. Often with the smallest storm in our life, we begin to sink into the sea of doubt. What we need to do is keep our heart and mind fixed on the Lord, and we will know that we have nothing to fear as a believer. His promises are sure, and His love is never failing. The angels are ministering to us, Jesus is interceding for us, the Holy Spirit strengthens and comforts us, and the Father is ever working out His plan for us.
Hebrews 1:13-14 “But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”
Hebrews 7:25 “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
John 14:16-17 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Romans 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
2Timothy 1:9 “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began….”
John 6:22 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;
John 6:23 (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)
John 6:24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.
The crowd on the opposite shore knew that there had been only one boat and that the disciples had left in it without Jesus. Then more people showed up in boats at the place where Jesus had fed the 5,000+ miraculously. (The news spread quickly…and they didn’t even have television or the internet.) They found out that Jesus and His disciples were gone, so they headed for Capernaum to search for Jesus.
John 6:25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
John 6:26 Jesus 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.
John 6:27 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.
When the people found Jesus, they asked when He had gotten there. You would think that they were following Him for his miracles, but evidently not. Jesus knew their hearts--they were just looking for another free meal, and He told them as much. Then He warned them not to work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life—and He could give them that food. He was God’s Son, His chosen vessel to provide for them. Jesus wasn’t telling them that food was unnecessary. He was telling them, however, that salvation or choosing to learn about spiritual things that lead to eternal life was even more important than food for their body, which is a necessity for sustaining the body. Our body is only important as the housing for our spirit, the means through which we can serve God and experience His blessings on planet earth.
“him hath God the Father sealed” – A seal is a stamp of approval, a sign of authority. Jesus had the full authority and power of God the Father as affirmed by His miracles.
John 1:32-33 “And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.”
John 3:34 “For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.”
John 5:20 “For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.”
We know that every believer is sealed by the Holy Spirit when he/she accepts Christ, but that was not true until after the resurrection of Jesus. The wording does seem to allow for the sealing to reference a future action.
2Corinthians 1:21-22 “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”
Ephesians 1:12-13 “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise….”
Ephesians 4:30 “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
Some might argue that “him” refers to “the Son of man,” Jesus. Obviously, He was indwelt by the Holy Spirit, but He has always been One in union with Father and in possession of the Spirit.
John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
In response, the people wanted to know what kind of works they must do to do the works of God? This was in reference to the “labour” Jesus mentioned in the previous verse. He identifies the “work of God” as believing in Him—the One God sent. This was interesting phrasing to me because my walk with the Lord and growth in faith has been a struggle—it’s been work. No matter how much I want to rest in faith in Jesus, the flesh in me is a constant source of frustration of that desire.
John 6:30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
John 6:31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
Next, they ask Jesus to show them a miraculous sign to prove He is the one sent of God. (Aren’t many of these the same people who followed Him after the miracle feast of the day before!) After all, their forefathers had been given manna, bread from heaven, when they were in the wilderness.
John 6:32 Then 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.
John 6:33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
Jesus reminded them that it wasn’t Moses who provided the manna—it was God. God sent Jesus from heaven to be “the bread of God,” the giver of life.
John 6:34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
John 6:35 And 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.
John 6:36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
They weren’t listening well, because then they asked Him to give them this bread. So this time, His answer was even more blunt. He told them that He was the bread of life. Anyone who comes to Him and believes in Him will never hunger or thirst again.
Even though the main thrust of this passage is speaking of spiritual hunger and thirst, I believe it also includes the physical needs of the believer. I realize that most in America today are privileged to live in a wealthy and prosperous society and have been blessed never to know real hunger. But—even if God’s children face times of testing, which could include physical hunger and thirst, it can only be for a limited time (in the scope of eternity) before they are given provision in one way or another—be it physical help or death. In death, the child of God only gains! So the provision is there either way.
Back to the scripture—Jesus tells them again—You have seen me (and what I can do) and still you do not believe I am God’s Son. The Father has promised the Son a bride, a family, and those who come to Him (the Father knows who each and every one of these will be) will be welcomed and never driven away.
Verse 37 has been a special blessing to me as I pray for His return at the rapture. My prayers reflect my desire to be with Jesus as soon as possible. I don’t have to feel guilty about praying for that time to be soon, since I know that ALL that the Father is going to give Jesus will come to Him. No one will miss heaven because of my prayer. My prayer won’t change His timing; it’s just an expression of longing and desire for that time to be soon.
John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
John 6:39 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.
John 6:40 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.
Jesus tells them that it wasn’t to do what He wanted to do that He came—He came to earth to do the will of the Father. Then He identifies the Father’s will. It is to ensure that each one who believes in His Son shall have everlasting life. That’s life with no end in the presence of the Father and the Son for eternity. I understand what the words are saying, but it is really difficult to actually conceive the truth of it! Everyone that accepts God’s gift of salvation will be resurrected to immortality.
verse 38, “I came down from heaven” – The Believer’s Bible Commentary had another good statement: “….He did not begin His life in the manger at Bethlehem. Rather, He existed from all eternity with God the Father in heaven.”
I stopped to check the wording of verse 40 this time—“every one which seeth the Son….” This isn’t saying that you have to see the physical manifestation of Jesus. The Greek makes reference to being able to discern or perceive who He is—God in flesh, the Redeemer, our Savior. So you have to perceive the truth of Jesus as your Savior and believe on Him to gain eternal life.
John 6:41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.
John 6:42 And 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?
John 6:43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
The Jews really didn’t like it when He called Himself the bread (the sustenance of life) “which came down from heaven.” After all, they knew Him as the son of Joseph; they knew His mother and father; so how could He say this. I’m not sure why this was such a stretch of belief for them. They knew from the scriptures that the Messiah would come as a man.
Did they expect him to be God in flesh? In chapter 11, verse 27, it would seem so.
John 11:27 “She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.”
According to Isaiah, He would be God in flesh.
Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Micah’s prophecy also supports this expectation.
Micah 5:2 “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
John 6:44 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.
John 6:45 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.
“heard” = come (to the ears), understand……Webster: to perceive by the ear, to apprehend, to perceive, to listen
Verse 44 is one of the verses that taken alone can cause a great deal of confusion. “No one can come to me except the Father, which hath sent me draw Him.”
John 12:32 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”
Since I am just a simple person and not a great theologian, I just look at it through simple logic. The whole Bible is God’s letter to me (and the rest of mankind). The Bible as God’s Word is not full of contradicting truths. We’ve already been told that the Son came into the world as God’s gift and that whosoever believes will be saved. Other verses tell us that He is not willing that any should perish.
2Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
Ezekiel 18:23 “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?”
1Timothy 2:3-4 “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
We know that man was created with a mind and will of his own—not as a robot. God is constantly working to draw each one of us to belief—whether through His creation or through chosen messengers of His word or through the example of other believers or whatever. It was interesting to look up the Greek for the word draw—it implies to drag. God is doing everything possible on His part short of force to bring us to saving faith. Faith is a gift of God; we just have to choose to accept it. The work of God doesn’t end there if my life is any example. He is constantly providing for me and enabling me and strengthening my faith when the flesh and sin would try to pull me down and make me doubt. It all goes hand in hand to me. If we were robots, sin would never have entered the picture.
Again, Jesus makes the statement that “I will raise him up at the last day.” This is a direct reference to the resurrection of the believer.
The prophets teach that:
all will be taught by God and everyone who listens and learns will come to the Son.
Again, we are not programmed like computers; we must listen and learn.
We all know that listening takes effort as opposed to just hearing. Learning takes effort as opposed to just operating on instinct.
John 6:46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
My paraphrase – No man has seen the Father except Jesus, the Son, who is God in flesh.
John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
This verse says “He that believeth.” I think that is important because it refers to an individual. Each individual person has to choose for himself. Again, it is introduced by “Verily, verily”—truly, truly; you can count on this as fact.
To believe is to have faith in, to trust with total commitment.
John 6:48 I am that bread of life.
John 6:49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
John 6:50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
John 6:51 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.
Again, Jesus says that He is the bread, the sustainer, of life. They were so impressed with the fact that their forefathers ate manna in the wilderness. They knew that these ancestors were dead—physically. The manna only provided for physical sustenance. To trust or believe in Jesus would provide everlasting life—spiritual sustenance. He referred to His flesh, His body, as the bread, because it was through the sacrifice of His life, His sinless human life, His body, the sacrifice without spot or blemish, that mankind would have the opportunity for everlasting life (forever in the presence of God).
John 6:52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
The Jews began to argue because they were so shallow in their thinking. The Old Testament scripture told of Jesus’ death as a sacrificial lamb, but they just weren’t listening. They thought He was talking about eating His flesh in the physical sense. It goes back to being able to spiritually discern the message of the scripture in spite of expectations. They were looking for the Messiah King, not the Messiah Lamb. It is so important that we keep our hearts open to the voice and leading of the Spirit as we study God’s word and never get caught up in the teaching of a certain person or persuasion. We have to guard our expectations; they can affect our response to Jesus and the strength of our faith as we endure the trials of life.
John 6:53 Then 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.
John 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
John 6:56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
John 6:57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
John 6:58 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.
John 6:59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
Eat and drink = take in and make a part of you
Jesus didn’t really try to clarify it for them. He affirmed what they were saying. They would have to eat His flesh and drink His blood. He was using the physical to illustrate spiritual truth. The prophets of old did the very same thing. The spiritual leaders of the people should have been able to make that connection.
I think the “Lord’s Supper” is the best commentary on this section of scripture.
Mark 14:22–24 “And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.”
It is obvious that Jesus was using a metaphor to teach a spiritual truth. He is doing the same thing in this passage in John.
We are to depend on all that Jesus taught for our spiritual “life” just as we depend on food for physical life. As I think about this, I think maybe He was trying to get them to realize the comparison with the sacrifices they made at the temple to atone for their sins. He was trying to get them to understand that He was the Lamb that would be the final sacrifice necessary. They just had to believe in Him and accept His provision in faith—no other sacrifice would be needed.
I think verse 56 implies that by having faith in His sacrificial provision—by dwelling in Him and He in us—we are vicariously participating in His death, burial and resurrection, which is what our water baptism represents.
In verse 57 Jesus is emphasizing that life comes from the Father through the Son to the believer. Again, the manna eaten by their forefathers did not prevent their physical death. Belief in the Son as the bread and sustainer of life would result in living forever.
All of this was taught in the synagogue at Capernaum.
John 6:60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
John 6:61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
Jesus realized that this teaching was offensive to many of His disciples. (I think this is a reference to the group at large that was following Him. CF v 66,) So He brought the question out into the open—“Does this offend you?”
John 6:62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
John 6:64 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.
John 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
This is a hard section to me. Maybe Jesus was giving them more food for thought. Would they even believe if they saw Him ascend into the heavens? Then He tried again to help them understand. He told them that He had been speaking to them on a spiritual level. The words He had spoken to them were spiritual truths of how to gain life. He knew that many of them did not believe. As the Son of God, He knew from the start who would reject Him (through the revelation of the Holy Spirit, I believe)—just as the Father has known what choice each of us would make from before creation. He knew that one would even do more than just reject Him; he would betray Him. Then He added that that was why He had told them that no one could come to Him “except it were given unto him of my Father.” The Father, through the person of the Holy Spirit, is the one that enables us to understand spiritual truth—but our hearts must be willing and seeking. This takes us back to hearing, listening and learning in verses 44-45.
Proverbs 8:17 “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.”
Jeremiah 29:13 “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
John 6:67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
At this point many of His followers stopped following Him. Then Jesus turned to the twelve chosen disciples. He asked them if they wanted to leave too.
John 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
John 6:69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
Simon Peter was the spokesman. He said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.” “We believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” The word “Lord” indicated that Peter recognized Jesus’ position of authority. He also stated his belief that what Jesus said was true—that He was the way to eternal life. Then to verify the truth, Peter affirms that they believe and are sure (double emphasis) that Jesus is who He says He is—the promised Messiah, the Son of the living God.
John 6:70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
John 6:71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.
Jesus basically said—that is why I have chosen you, to share the truth through you even though one of you will accuse me falsely and slander me (based on the Greek). We know, of course, that Judas Iscariot was the one who betrayed Jesus in the end. I can’t imagine that the twelve did not question Him about His statement, but John chose not to tell us the rest of that story.