John 6 - Bread Of Life
Not About The Lords Supper
First of all, John 6 is not directly referring to the Lord’s Supper. This event takes place before Jesus institutes it at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke 22:19-20). There is also no mention of wine. This teaching does lay the foundation for understanding the Lord’s Supper, but it primarily focuses on the spiritual reality of salvation through faith rather than instituting a sacrament.
At this point in John’s Gospel, Jesus is explaining spiritual truths about His mission, not establishing a ritual. The repeated emphasis is on belief because he is talking to a crowd of unbelievers.
Bread Of Life Metaphor
The crowd Jesus is addressing is focused on physical bread. He uses this as a starting point to shift their focus from earthly sustenance to the spiritual nourishment He provides.
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?
This is the moment when Jesus sees the large crowd and asks Philip about feeding them, which leads to the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000.
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.
Jesus later rebukes the crowd for seeking Him only to satisfy their physical hunger after the miracle of the loaves. He urges them instead to pursue the "food that endures to eternal life," which He, the Son of Man, provides. He explains that this eternal sustenance comes from God and is accessed through belief in Him, emphasizing that faith is the true "work" God desires.
John 6:26-29 – 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. Labour not for the meat (food) which perisheth, but for that meat (food) which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Metaphor Begins To Unfold
After the feeding miracle, the people follow Jesus and begin asking for more signs, similar to how Moses provided manna (bread) from heaven. Jesus shifts the conversation toward a spiritual lesson.
John 6:30-33,38,58 – They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 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. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world… For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me… 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.
He clarifies the metaphor, connecting it to Himself. At this point, Jesus directly equates Himself to the bread that gives eternal life. This teaching about the "bread of life" continues throughout the chapter, where Jesus explains that eating this bread, a metaphor for believing in Him, leads to eternal life.
John 6:34-35 – Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 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.
The metaphor of Jesus as the "bread of life" conveys a spiritual truth, not a literal connection to the physical bread provided during the miracle he did with the loaves and fishes.
When Jesus said, "I am the bread of life," was He claiming to be literal bread? Of course not, this statement is clearly symbolic.
7 Metaphorical “I Am” Statements In John’s Gospel
“I am the bread of life” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51)
“I am the door” (John 10:7,9)
“I am the true vine” (John 15:1,5)
“I am the light of the world” (John 8:12; 9:5)
“I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11, 14)
“I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25)
“I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6)
Similarly, Jesus is also called the Righteous Branch (Jeremiah 23:5), the Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4), the Chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20), the Lamb (John 1:29, 36; Revelation 13:8), and the Lion (Revelation 5:5). Each of these titles uses symbolism to convey spiritual truths about His identity and mission.
Unbelievers
Jesus laments that, despite witnessing Him, many still do not believe. The context of these passages is Jesus speaking to unbelievers.
John 6:36 – But as I told you, you have seen Me and still you do not believe.
John 6:41-42 – The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. 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 6:30 – They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
The Gospel Message
This encapsulates the gospel message: salvation comes through faith in Jesus, granting eternal life and the hope of the resurrection.
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.
Everlasting Life
These next verses are connected and reinforce the metaphor of Jesus as the "bread of life." Both passages emphasize belief in Jesus as the source of eternal life, using the metaphor of eating and drinking to illustrate the spiritual act of receiving Him by faith.
John 6:54 – Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
This passage explicitly states that eternal life comes through belief in Him, linking the metaphor of bread (life-giving sustenance) to faith in Jesus.
John 6:47-48 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life.
In both passages, Jesus speaks of eternal life as the result of receiving Him. Belief and "eating and drinking" are parallel concepts, with the latter using physical imagery to deepen the understanding of spiritual faith.
By tying these passages together, Jesus illustrates that just as bread and drink sustain physical life, faith in Him sustains eternal life. Eating and drinking symbolize internalizing and fully believing in Jesus.
Temporary Vs Eternal
John 6:49 – Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
Jesus refers to the manna that God provided to the Israelites during their journey in the wilderness (Exodus 16). While it was a miraculous provision for their physical needs, it was temporary, sustaining their bodies but unable to save them from physical death or provide eternal life. This sets the stage for Jesus to introduce a greater, eternal provision.
John 6:50-51 – This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 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.
Jesus identifies Himself as the true "bread from heaven," a gift from God that provides spiritual sustenance and eternal life. This bread is distinct from manna because it has lasting, life-giving power.
Jesus directly connects the metaphor to Himself, emphasizing His divine origin ("came down from heaven") and His life-giving purpose. To "eat of this bread" means to receive Him through faith, trusting in His sacrifice and resurrection for eternal life.
Jesus reveals that this "bread" is His own body, offered in sacrifice for the salvation of humanity. His reference to "flesh" points forward to His death on the cross, where His body would be given ("I will give") as a substitutionary atonement for sin. The phrase "for the life of the world" underscores the universal scope of His mission, offering salvation to all who believe.
Key Themes
Temporary vs. Eternal: Manna provided physical sustenance but was temporary; Jesus, the "living bread," provides eternal life.
Faith in Jesus: Eating the "bread" symbolizes receiving Him through faith, a recurring theme in John 6.
Sacrificial Atonement: Jesus introduces the idea of His sacrificial death as the ultimate provision for humanity's spiritual needs.
Physical Vs Spiritual
John 6:52 – The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
The Jews interpret Jesus’ statement about giving His flesh in a literal, physical sense, imagining it as cannibalism. This misunderstanding highlights their focus on physical realities rather than spiritual truths.
Their confusion stems from taking Jesus’ metaphorical language literally, which is a recurring theme in John’s Gospel (such as Nicodemus misunderstanding "born again" in John 3:4, Samaritan woman misunderstanding "living water" John 4:11-15, disciples misunderstanding Jesus' statement about Lazarus John 11:11-14).
Their reaction reflects a lack of spiritual discernment. They fail to grasp the symbolic nature of Jesus’ teaching about His flesh being given for the life of the world, pointing to His impending sacrificial death on the cross.
Jesus deliberately uses provocative language to compel His audience to confront deeper truths about His identity and mission. The imagery of eating His flesh points to the necessity of fully accepting and participating in His sacrifice by believing in Him, which will bring eternal life.
Jesus emphasizes the distinction between physical sustenance and spiritual nourishment, highlighting that God's Word is essential for true life, far beyond mere bread.
Luke 4:4 – And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
Matthew 4:4 – But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
The physical sustenance (represented by bread) is not the sole requirement for life; rather, spiritual nourishment from God's Word is essential. Jesus emphasizes that people need more than just material provision, they need the life-giving truth of God's Word. This highlights the priority of spiritual needs over physical ones.
Water Metaphor
Jesus is speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well. The "water" in the well is literal, physical water that quenches physical thirst temporarily.
John 4:10,13-14 – Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water... Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
The spiritual needs of a believer will be fully satisfied in Christ. Unlike physical water, which only temporarily quenches thirst, the spiritual life Jesus gives is eternal and completely fulfilling.
The Bible often uses water as a metaphor for spiritual renewal and life.
Isaiah 12:3 – Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
Revelation 21:6 – And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Revelation 22:17 – And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
John 7:37-39 – In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Raised Up On The Last Day
The teaching about eating and drinking connects seamlessly with the earlier verses that emphasize the necessity of being drawn to and believing in Jesus. The metaphor builds on the spiritual truths about belief and eternal life, forming a cohesive message that highlights faith as the key to receiving Him.
These passages connects this resurrection promise to "eating" and "drinking."
John 6:53-55 – 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. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
These passages connect the same resurrection promise to coming to Jesus and believing in Him.
John 6:44-45 – 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. 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.
John 6:39-40 – 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. 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.
The promise of being raised on the last day ties all these passages together.
Jesus Dwelling In Us
Eating and drinking are connected to believing in Jesus, particularly through the shared theme of mutual indwelling: Jesus dwelling in believers and believers dwelling in Him.
John 6:56-57 – He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
This relationship is described as a result of faith in Jesus.
John 17:20-23 – Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
The mutual indwelling illustrated by eating and drinking parallels the indwelling that comes through believing, as both represent the same spiritual reality.
Hard Saying
The disciples are troubled by His metaphorical language, which seems to speak of eating His flesh and drinking His blood, a concept they find perplexing and even offensive. Jesus, however, is speaking spiritually about the need to believe in His sacrifice, not literally about consuming His body.
John 6:60-62 – Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
Flesh Vs Spirit
John 6:63 – It is the spirit that quickeneth (make alive, give life); the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
The Spirit Gives Life: Jesus emphasizes that eternal life comes from the Spirit, not from physical or earthly means.
The Flesh Profits Nothing: The term "flesh" here refers to human effort, natural understanding, or a literal interpretation of Jesus' teaching without spiritual discernment. Jesus is not suggesting that His physical flesh is unimportant, after all, His body was given for the life of the world (John 6:51). Instead, He is highlighting that a purely physical perspective on His words or actions cannot provide life.
Without faith and the Spirit, interpreting Jesus’ words only in a literal, material sense leads to misunderstanding, as seen earlier when the crowd struggled to grasp the metaphor of "eating His flesh" (John 6:52).
The Words Are Spirit and Life: Jesus clarifies that His teaching is spiritual in nature, not to be taken literally as advocating physical eating and drinking. His "words" convey spiritual truths that lead to eternal life for those who believe in Him. This ties directly to the theme repeated throughout the chapter: belief in Jesus as the source of eternal life (John 6:35, 40, 47).
Jesus clearly states that His words are spiritual, not literal. The context supports this interpretation. When Jesus spoke of "eating His flesh" and "drinking His blood," many listeners misunderstood Him to mean a literal act, resulting in confusion and offense (John 6:52, 60). In response (John 6:63), Jesus explains that the true meaning of His words is spiritual, emphasizing faith in Him as the bread of life.
Life comes from the Spirit, and His words, when spiritually understood and believed, lead to eternal life. This passage reinforces the truth that belief in Jesus, symbolically described as eating and drinking, brings salvation, not any physical act.
Testing Of True Discipleship
Jesus acknowledges that some people, even among His disciples, did not believe in Him. He knew that many of those following Him were neither fully committed nor truly believed in Him.
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.
After hearing His challenging teaching about eating His flesh and drinking His blood, which they misunderstood as a literal command, many of His “followers” left. This reaction highlights the difficulty of His message for those lacking spiritual discernment. Rather than continuing to follow Him, they chose to walk away. This moment demonstrates that Jesus' teachings demand spiritual insight and commitment, not mere physical adherence.
John 6:66 – From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
It also reveals a distinction between those who follow Jesus for personal or material gain (such as the crowd who sought Him after the miracle of the loaves and fish) and those genuinely committed to Him as the Messiah. The difficult teaching acts as a test of faith: those who truly believe in Him and understand His spiritual message will remain, while those with shallow commitment will fall away.
Peter’s response stands out as a powerful declaration of faith.
John 6:68-69 – Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
He acknowledges that Jesus has the words of eternal life, affirming that Jesus' message brings salvation. Peter also confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the promised Messiah and the Son of the living God, underscoring Jesus' divine identity. This confession demonstrates that the apostles, unlike the crowd, understood that Jesus' teachings were not to be taken literally but were spiritually profound, leading to eternal life.
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Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
- The Christian King
