John 6:1-71

The events recorded in John chapter 6 took place after those recorded in John chapter 5 and after many other events recorded in Matthew, Mark, and Luke which included the death of John the baptizer (refer to Matthew 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-29; Luke 9:9).

John 6:1-3:

^6:1After these-things Jesus went-away (on the) other-side of the Sea of Galilee - Tiberias. ^.2But a big crowd followed him because they viewed-with-attention the signs which he did on the (people) being weak. ^.3But Jesus went-up into the mountain and there he sat-down with his learning-disciples.

After the previous events, Jesus went from where he was in the area of Galilee to the other side of (across, beyond) the Sea of Galilee, which was also known as the Sea of Tiberias because a town with that name was built on the west side of the sea in honor of Tiberius Caesar in 22 A.D. In this record Jesus crossed to the north-east side of the sea near the city of Bethsaida.

However, a throng of many people were continuing to come after him because during that past time they were viewing with attention (attentively viewing, contemplating in/with their minds)...

• the signs (designated signals or standards of authentication, showing or proving authenticity)
  • which he did (he was performing, making, producing the signs - his action of doing these signs was not a quick one-time occurrence, but he repeated them during that time)
  • on the people being weak (without/lacking strength, infirm, feeble).

Jesus came up into the mountain (mount, hill) and in that location he sat down in company and association with his learning-disciples (students, those who were learning from Jesus).

Verses 4-10:

^.4But it was near the feast of the Judeans. ^.5Therefore Jesus, having lifted-up the eyes and having gazed-upon that a big crowd comes towards him, says towards Philip, "From-where may we buy breads in order that these-people may eat?" - ^.6but he said this making-trial-of him, for he had known what he was about to do. ^.7Philip answered him, "Breads of two-hundred denarius are not sufficient for them in order that each-person may take a short (amount)." ^.8One from his learning-disciples says to him, Andrew the brother of Simon Peter, ^.9"There is a little-child here who has five barley breads and two little-fishes - but what are these into so-many?" ^.10Jesus said, "You must make the men to fall-up." And there was much grass in the place, therefore the adult-males fell-up - the number as five-thousand.

The time of this event was close to the feast of the Judeans (before, prior to the celebration of a certain festival). The Greek texts vary as to including the entire verse or the word "Passover" - however, as we read on we will see that this was not a feast for which all the Judean adult-males were required to go to Jerusalem to celebrate it, and therefore it was not the Passover. This feast may refer to the Blowing of Trumpets or to the Feast of Tabernacles, both within 2 weeks of each other during September and October (1 Tishri and 15-21 Tishri in the Judean calendar) in the year 27 A.D.

Following-on logically from verse 3 above, Jesus...

• after he lifted-up the eyes (raised or took them upwards)
• and after he gazed-upon that a big crowd comes towards him (he purposefully saw that there was a throng of many people approaching him, he looked at them with a purpose),

...says towards Philip...

• "From where (from what manner of action, how, from what source or place)
• may we buy breads (would we pay the price, purchase loaves of bread, as buying them in a market-place)
  • for the purpose and result that these people would eat?"

...but Jesus said this making trial of him (trying him, in the good sense of putting him to the test as part of his training in order to ascertain what Philip would suggest following Jesus' teaching regarding the kingdom of God and healing some people, plus Philip was from the town of Bethsaida near their location), for emphatically he had known (in Greek there is a definite word for “he” plus the verb meaning “he had known” giving emphasis – Jesus himself already perceived) and continued to know what he was on the point of doing (performing, making, producing).

Philip replied to him, "Loaves of bread worth 200 denarius are not sufficient for them (adequate, satisfying with enough) for the purpose and result that each one of them would take a short amount (receive a little bit, a small piece of food to eat)." Evidently Jesus and his learning-disciples had this amount of money available to them to use at that time but buying that much bread was not an option so as to provide enough food for everyone present.

The Book of Mark records in 6:38 that Jesus instructed his learning-disciples to check among the people as to how much bread they had, and here in the Book of John it records that one from among them, Andrew the brother of Simon Peter (refer to John 1:40), says to him...

• "There is a little-child here (a little boy or girl)
• who has five loaves of bread made from barley and two little-fishes (2 small food items that may have been cooked to be eaten with the bread) -
  • but contrary to those and emphatically - what are these foods with a view to (for) such an amount of people?"

Jesus said, "You must make the men to fall-up (bring it about for the people to set themselves on the ground in the usual position to eat a meal)."

There was a lot of grass (that-which grows in a field, as an enclosed area where animals may graze/feed upon it) in that location and therefore the adult-males (grown men) fell-up - specifically the count was as 5,000. This number does not include the women and children also present, as indicated by the generic word used by Jesus translated “men” which does not necessarily specify gender and refers to male or female when taken as a particular group of people (also refer to Matthew 14:21).

[Reference: Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 1:40 and 44; James 1:13.]

Verses 11-13:

^.11Therefore Jesus took the breads and having expressed-thanks he throughly-gave to the (people) lying-up; likewise also as-much-as they intended out-from the little-fishes. ^.12But as they were filled he says to his learning-disciples, "You must gather-together the broken-pieces having exceeded in order that something may not destroy-itself." ^.13Therefore they gathered-together and they filled twelve baskets of broken-pieces out-from the five breads, the barley (breads), which exceeded for the (people) having eaten².

Following-on logically from what is written in verses 5-10 above, Jesus...

• took the breads (received the loaves of bread)
• and after he had thanked God for them (by the freedom of his will he expressed well his gratitude to God Who was the gracious Giver of the breads)
  • he thoroughly gave them to the people lying-up (they were in the appropriate customary position for having a meal);

...in a similar manner also the people ate as much as they intended (willed with active volition and desire) from among the little-fishes that were made available to them to eat.

But as they were filled (made quite full with enough) Jesus says to his learning-disciples (students)...

• "You must gather-together (assemble)
  • the broken-pieces having exceeded (the pieces that were broken to be given to the people which were abundant, being over and above the number or measure already attained of the amount that was eaten - the left-over fragments which were not eaten)
• for the purpose and result that any of the broken-pieces would not destroy itself (utterly-ruin or completely-lose itself away from us and not be good to eat anymore)."

Therefore they assembled the abundance and they filled twelve baskets (they made 12 wicker baskets full, stuffed them as a ship loaded with freight)...

• of broken-pieces out from the five breads,
  • emphatically and specifically the barley breads (that Jesus had started with, as verses 9 and 11 above),
• which exceeded (abounded) for the people who had eaten (who had done the action of eating or having a meal) and this fact remained unchanged.

Verses 14 and 15:

^.14Therefore the men having seen the sign done said that, "This-person truly is the prophet, the (prophet) coming into the world." ^.15Therefore Jesus, having known that they are about to come and catch him away in order that they may make a king, departed again into the mountain himself only.

Following-on logically, after the men (people, human-beings) perceived the sign done (the designated standard or signal showing authenticity that Jesus performed), they were saying that...

• "This-person (this man, human-being)
• truly is (with truth, with real certainty, in a true manner)
• the prophet,
  • emphatically and specifically the prophet coming into the world (referring to the prophet foretold by Moses who would come into the ordered-arrangement that God created, the one who would speak-forth God's words being revealed to him concerning the past, present and/or future to, before, in front of a person or people; this is a reference to Deuteronomy 18:15 and 18)."

Therefore Jesus...

• after he personally knew that
  • they are on the point of going towards him and catching him away (snatching, seizing and carrying him off suddenly)
  • for the purpose and result that they would make him a king (a royal ruler over them),

...departed again (moved up/back, made room, put space between where he was with the crowd and his destination a second, another, further time, once again) into the mountain himself alone (by himself).

The people wanted to place Jesus into the position of being Israel's king - however, this was not the way to accomplish it because God is the One Who would make Jesus the king ruling over the descendants of Israel/Jacob.

[Reference: Deuteronomy 18:15 and 18; Matthew 14:22 and 23; John 1:21 and 49; Acts 1:6 and 7.]

Verses 16-21:

^.16But as evening came-to-pass his learning-disciples descended on the sea, ^.17and having embarked into a ship they went (on the) other-side of the sea with-a-view-to Capernaum. And darkness had already come-to-pass and Jesus had not-yet come towards them, ^.18and the sea was throughly-raised-up (during) being blown of a great wind, ^.19therefore having driven² as twenty five or thirty stadiums they view-with-attention Jesus walking on the sea and becoming near the ship and were caused-fear. ^.20But he says to them, "I am, you must not be fearful." ^.21Therefore they intended to take him into the ship and immediately the ship became on the land into which they went.

When it became evening (late in the day) his learning-disciples descended (moved downwards, came down) onto the sea. After they moved onboard a ship (boat) they were continuing to go to the other-side of the sea in the direction of Capernaum on the north coast at the west side of the Jordan river. Capernaum is the location where Jesus was living as his home-base at that time (refer to Matthew 4:13). 

It had already become dark (referring to the lack or absence of light from the sun) and Jesus still had not come (up until that time he continued not to go, he had not arrived) towards them...

• and internally connected and related to what was happening is that
• during that past time the sea was being throughly raised up (fully or thoroughly aroused, caused to be active)
  • while it was being blown of a great wind (a large blowing stream of air forced the motion of the sea that it hit or came in contact with, as breathing strongly against the sea),
• therefore having driven and continuing to be driven (being moved, propelled) as 25 or 30 stadiums (stadia away from where they had wanted to get off the ship back onto the land; a stadium is a measurement of 600 Greek feet, about 202 English yards, a furlong)
  • they attentively view (contemplate in/with their minds)
    • Jesus
    • walking on the sea (going on foot, moving his feet on top of the water of the sea)
    • and becoming close to the ship
  • and were caused fear (made fearful, in terror, caused to be afraid).

But he says to them...

• "Emphatically I am (again there is emphasis by including a definite word for “I” – I myself am here, nobody or nothing else - it is I!),
• you must not be fearful (don't be afraid)."

Following-on logically, during that past time they were intending to take him into the ship (willing with active volition and desire to receive him inside the ship with them) and straightaway the ship came to pass to be on top of the land (ground, earth) into which they were going (the location or place that they were leading themselves under to get out of the rough sea, in the sense of going without any argument, under cover, as animals go because they are under a yoke without going from side to side or intentionally stopping to do something else). They arrived directly on the seashore.

Jesus and his learning-disciples landed in the area of Gennesaret, which was on the coast of the Sea of Galilee south-west of Capernaum. The Books of Matthew and Mark record what happened in Gennesaret before they traveled to Capernaum.

[Reference: Matthew 14:22-36; Mark 6:45-56.]

Verses 22-24:

^.22On the morrow the crowd, the (crowd) having stood² (on the) other-side of the sea, saw that another little-ship was not there except one, and that Jesus did not come-together with his learning-disciples into the ship but only his learning-disciples went-away, ^.23but ships came out-from Tiberias near the place where they ate the bread (after) the Lord having expressed-thanks (to God), ^.24therefore when the crowd saw that Jesus is not there nor his learning-disciples, they embarked into the little-ships and came into Capernaum seeking-after Jesus.

The next day, which began at sunset, the crowd, specifically the throng of people who stood and continued at the other-side of the sea (across or beyond it, on the east side where the events of verses 11-13 took place)...

• saw (perceived)
• that there was continuing to be only one little-ship (a small boat from a bigger boat) on the seashore,
• and that Jesus did not go in conjunction with his learning-disciples (students) into the ship back to the west side of the sea,
• but on the contrary, his learning-disciples alone (without Jesus) went away from that location.

However, bigger ships came originating from Tiberias (on the west side of the sea) and these ships docked close to the place (location) where they ate the bread after the Lord (referring to Jesus) expressed his gratitude to God (as verse 11 above)...

• therefore when the crowd perceived that
  • Jesus is not there (he was no longer on the east side where they had seen him the previous day)
  • nor his learning-disciples,
• emphatically they embarked (moved onboard)
  • into the little-ships (which were from the bigger ships/boats that had come from Tiberias)
• and they came into Capernaum looking for Jesus.

Verses 25-27:

^.25And having found him (on the) other-side of the sea they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you become² here?" ^.26Jesus answered them and said, "With-certainty, with-certainty I say to you, you seek-after me not because you saw signs but because you ate out-from the breads and you were fed. ^.27You must not work the eating, the (eating) destroying-itself, but the eating, the (eating) remaining into eternal life which the son of man will give to you, for this-person the Father, God, sealed."

After the crowd located Jesus on the west side of the sea in Capernaum (refer to verse 59 below), they said to him...

• "Rabbi (Teacher; refer to John 1:38),
• when did you come to pass to be here and you continue in this location?"

However, Jesus answered them and said (not by responding directly to their question but to their reason or motivation for seeking him)...

• "With-certainty (surely, truly, amen!),
• with-certainty I say to you (by repeating this word "with-certainty" Jesus gives added emphasis to what he is saying - emphatically surely, truly, amen I am laying these words before you),
  • you are not looking for me because you saw signs (saw to the end of perceiving and knowing with your minds the designated signals or standards of authentication done by me)
  • but on the contrary, you are looking for me because you ate from among the loaves of bread and you were fed (were filled with food by eating bread, were satisfied with enough eaten at that time).
• You must not work the eating (expend your energy, produce effects by your actions of eating),
• emphatically and specifically the eating (the physical act of eating, the action of having a meal)
  • that is destroying itself (as verse 12 above - expending energy eating physical loaves of bread only provides a temporary physical solution to being hungry),
• but contrary to that - you must work the eating,
  • emphatically and specifically the eating
    • that is remaining (staying, continuing permanently)
  • into eternal life (directed-to, resulting-in agelong life – this duration of life will not end and so it is ‘eternal’; refer to John 4:32-36)
  • which the son of man will give to you (referring to Jesus himself who will give eternal life to those who work the eating that is remaining),
    • for the Father (the word "Father" emphasizes the sonship relationship with God because of having received holy spirit-life from Him and therefore being in God’s family),
    • Who is God (the word "God" emphasizes that He is the First, Superior or Ultimate One, the One Who has power, executes judgment, and emanates what He is, His power and light),
    • sealed this-person (securely fastened the son of man, He put the mark of authentication and approval on him, He ratified him, He made him fast, as sealing a letter so it is not opened and read by anyone except by the one to whom the letter is addressed)."

Notes:

• There are many places where the Greek words are written as "having answered saying" or "he answered and said" etc. This does not mean that the person answered first and then afterwards said something else. It is the way that the people spoke and wrote at that time; and it means that the person judicially replied to a question/statement made by someone else, or to a situation, by saying such-and-such.
• In verse 27, the Greek word translated "eternal" is aionios and may also be translated "agelong". In this context, the life being referred to will not end. It is eternal, agelong, lifelong, everlasting. It lasts throughout all durations of life, all ages from the time a person receives it. This life can only be received by God's giving of holy spirit by means of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The son of man

The phrase "the son of man" refers to Jesus himself and emphasizes that he is the one who is descended from the man whom God created and made and formed as recorded in Genesis chapters 1 and 2, the first man Adam to whom God gave dominion, etc, on/over the earth. However, this first man gave it to satan as recorded in Genesis chapter 3. In accordance with God's promise - Jesus is the seed of the woman (refer to Genesis 3:15).

Today of course Jesus has accomplished redemption and salvation and so he is the resurrected Christ, the second man, having received his spiritual body, the life of which is holy spirit (not soul/breath life). Therefore the title "the son of man" is not relevant to holy-people (Christians) because true Christians have the spirit of Christ within them - Christ being the new man, the last man. After the time that all Christians will be gathered together away from the earth, Christ Jesus will come to be present on earth for those who will believe at that time among the nation of Israel and the other nations, the Gentiles, as "the son of man" and he will exercise the authority that he has, his dominion on/over the earth having regained and replaced the first man and all that the first man gave to the devil/satan.

The Father Who is God sealed the son of man (Jesus) with holy spirit on a temporary basis after John baptized him as recorded in John 1:32; however, God sealed him on a permanent basis with holy spirit when God raised him up alive from being dead by giving him his new spiritual body. 

[Reference: John 1:32-34, 38 and 51, 3:13-15 and 31-36, 4:14 and 31-36, 5:36-40; Romans 1:3 and 4; II Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13, 4:30; II Timothy 2:19. Also refer to the articles The Name of God and The Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.]

Verses 28-33:

^.28Therefore they said towards him, "What may we do in order that we may work the works of God?" ^.29Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God in order that you may believe into whom That-One apostled." ^.30Therefore they said to him, "Therefore what sign do you do in order that we may see and believe you? What do you work? ^.31Our fathers ate the manna in the desert-place according as it is having been written², 'Bread out-from heaven He gave to them to eat.'" ^.32Therefore Jesus said to them, "With-certainty, with-certainty I say to you, Moses did not give² to you the bread out-from heaven but my Father gives to you the bread out-from heaven, the true (bread), ^.33for the bread of God is the (bread) descending out-from heaven and giving life to the world."

Following-on logically from verses 26 and 27 above, the people asked Jesus...

• "What would we do (perform, as continuing to do an action)
• for the purpose and result that
• we would work (be expending our energy, producing effects by our actions of being in work, being effective carrying-out)
  • the works of God (God's works, the deeds pertaining-to and proceeding-from God, the actions of expending energy, the effects that are to be produced originating from Him, the end-products issuing from Him to be done and accomplished by us in alignment, harmony and agreement with God)?"

Jesus answered and said to them...

• "This is the work of God (Jesus himself was the son of man working the work of God by doing God's intention, and he had just told them in verse 27 - you must work the eating remaining into eternal life which the son of man will give to you)
  • for the purpose and result that
  • you may believe into (have faith-in, trust into, directed-to or regarding)
    • whom (the object of your believing must be the one whom)
    • specifically That-One apostled (God Himself sent Jesus the son of man forth/away on a specific mission or assignment)."

Therefore they said to him...

• "Following-on logically, what sign are emphatically you doing (again there is emphasis by including a definite word for “you” – what designated signal or standard showing authenticity are you performing)
  • for the purpose and result that
  • we would see (perceive)
  • and believe you (have faith in you, trust you)?
• What are you working (what is the action that you are expending your energy on, what effect are you producing by your action of being in work)?
  • For example:
  • Our fathers (forefathers, ancestors - one of whom was Moses)
  • ate the manna in the desert-place (desolate place, wilderness)
    • in accordance with what was written and continues written as part of the old covenant writings (refer to Nehemiah 9:15),
    • 'Bread originating from heaven He (God) gave to them to eat.'"

Therefore Jesus said to them...

• "With-certainty, with-certainty I say to you (as verse 26 above),
• Moses did not give and continues not given to you (so as to remain unchanged)
  • the bread originating from heaven (the bread that your forefathers ate ended a long time ago and it is not available to you)
• but contrary to that -
• my Father (the Father of me - referring to God)
• is presently and actively giving to you
  • the bread out-from heaven,
    • emphatically and specifically the true bread (emphasizing that this bread has the quality and essence of being trueness, its consistency is truth, the actual, certain, real, genuine bread),
• in truth, the bread of/from God
  • is the bread that is
  • descending (moving downwards, coming down)
    • originating from heaven (from God's location - God first promised and told mankind about the coming savior, the Christ/Messiah, in Genesis 3:15; "heaven" literally refers to anywhere above the earth, the sky above, but figuratively here it is referring to God's spirit realm)
  • and giving (the action of giving is an unforced presenting or yielding something which one already has to someone else who does not have it yet - in addition to descending from heaven the true bread from God is giving)
    • life (referring to eternal spirit life)
    • to/for the world (the ordered-arrangement that God created including those who inhabit it)."

In this record Jesus was not demeaning what Moses did for/with the people of Israel during that past time - but he was stating a fact because it was not available for Moses to give their forefathers what God via the son of man, Jesus, was giving to people when Jesus spoke these words. Jesus did not exist when Moses was alive because he had not been born at that time - but now Jesus was making himself available to the people so that they would have the opportunity to receive eternal life.

[Reference: Exodus chapter 16; Numbers chapter 11; Deuteronomy 8:3 and 16; Joshua 5:12; Nehemiah 9:14 and 15; Psalm 78:24; Matthew 4:4; John 3:13-16, 4:34, 5:17 and 36-40; Hebrews 9:4; Revelation 2:17.]

Verses 34-40:

^.34Therefore they said towards him, "Lord, you must always give to us this bread." ^.35Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of the life; the (person) coming towards me may never hunger, and the (person) believing into me will never thirst at-any-time; ^.36but I said to you that both you saw² and you do not believe. ^.37Everything which the Father gives to me will have-come towards me, and the (person) coming towards me I may never throw-out outside, ^.38because I descended² from the heaven not in order that I may do the intention, my (intention), but the intention of the (One) having sent me; ^.39but this is the intention of the (One) having sent me in order that everything which He gave² to me I may not destroy out-from it but I may resurrect it in the last day; ^.40for this is the intention of my Father in order that every-person viewing the son with-attention and believing into him may have eternal life and I may resurrect him in the last day."

Following-on logically from the previous verses, they said towards Jesus...

• "Lord (they addressed Jesus as "Master" because from their viewpoint Jesus had more authoritative power and ability than they had in this situation because they had not yet received the bread giving life),
• it is imperative that you give to us this bread always (constantly, at all times perform the single action of giving it to us every time that we get hungry for it)."

Jesus said to them, "Emphatically I am (again there is emphasis as verse 20 above - I myself am)...

• the bread of the life (this is not referring to physical bread made from barley as in verses 5-13 above - but Jesus is comparing himself figuratively to the bread which is, pertains to, consists of, issues, emanates the life - the definite hope of future life with God - eternal life - Jesus enables people to receive God's life - holy spirit-life; as verse 33 above);
  • the person who is presently and actively coming towards me
    • may never hunger (the word translated “never” comes from two Greek words both meaning “no” or “not” – the double negative emphasizes the point – he would not ever get hungry, he would not at any time be hungry because I am the bread),
  • and the person who is presently and actively believing into me (having faith-in, trusting into, directed-to, or regarding me whereby I am the object of that person's believing, trusting what I say and do)
    • will never thirst at-any-time (again the double negative of the word "never" emphasizes the point – he will not ever be thirsty at any time because I will give him the life);

...but contrary to coming towards me and believing into me - I said to you that...

• you saw and continue to see (you have already perceived with your eyes so as to understand the object-of-sight in your mind's thoughts as a result of physical sight - what object of sight? - me, the bread of the life)
• and also you do not believe (you presently do not have faith, you do not trust the information that I am saying to you, you don't believe me).

Everything (all, every single thing) which the Father (God) is giving to me...

• will have-come (will be in the state of having come, will at a future time definitely have arrived) towards me,

...and the person who is coming (going) towards me...

• I may never throw-out outside (again the double negative of the word "never" emphasizes the point – I would not ever cast that person out external to the kingdom of God but I will allow entry),

...because I descended and continue descended from the heaven (the word "heaven" refers to God - I came down from God and this truth has not changed; as verse 33 above)...

• not for the purpose and result that
• I would do (perform)
  • the intention (the will, the active volition and desire),
    • emphatically and specifically my intention (mine),
• but on the contrary, for the purpose and result that
• I would do
  • the intention of the One Who sent me (God's will, His active volition and desire);
• but this is the intention of the One Who sent me (God is the One Who sent me and His will is that I do/perform His will)
  • for the purpose and result that
  • everything (all things, every single thing) which He has already given and continues given to/for me (this remains unchanged)
    • I would not destroy out-from it (cause any of it to be utterly-ruined or completely-lost)
    • but on the contrary, I would resurrect it in the last day (cause it to stand up, include it at the time of resurrection during the more remote, uttermost, final or extreme day);
• for this is the intention of my Father (here addressing God as "my Father" to emphasize the family relationship of Father and son) 
  • for the purpose and result that
  • every-person (all people)
  • who is presently viewing the son with attention (referring to Jesus himself as "the son" to emphasize the family relationship - attentively viewing him, contemplating the son in/with his mind, as verses 2 and 19 above)
  • and who is presently believing into him (having faith-in, trusting into, directed-to, or regarding the son whereby he is the object of that person's believing, trusting what he says and does, as verses 29 and 35 above)
    • would have eternal life (as verse 27 above)
    • and emphatically I would resurrect him in the last day (cause him to stand up, include that person at the time of resurrection during the more remote, uttermost, final or extreme day)."

[Reference: Matthew 4:4, 26:26-28; John 3:13, 4:14 and 34, 5:30 and 36-40, 7:37-39; I Corinthians 10:16 and 17, 11:23-27, 15:24-28. Also refer to the article Belief/Faith.]

Verses 41 and 42:

^.41Therefore the Judeans murmured concerning him because he said, "I am the bread, the (bread) having descended out-from heaven"; ^.42and they said, "This-person is Jesus the son of Joseph whose father and mother we knew², isn't he? - (yes), how does he now say that 'Out-from heaven I descended²'?" 

During that past time the Judeans were murmuring (they spent time grumbling discontent and complaints) about Jesus because he said, "Emphatically I am the bread, the bread having descended out-from heaven"; and they said...

• "This-person is Jesus the son of Joseph (Joseph married Mary who was the mother of Jesus, but Joseph was not his biological father, only his legal father - it was after Jesus' birth that Joseph caused Mary to become pregnant and they had their own children)
  • whose father (referring to Joseph) and mother (referring to Mary) emphatically we knew and continue to know (again there is emphasis by including a definite word for “we” – we ourselves still know his father and mother, we continue to perceive, see to the end of perceiving and knowing them with our minds),
    • isn't he? - yes (the Greek construction of this question indicates that these Judeans expected to receive an affirmative answer: "yes, he is" but they continue),
• how does he say at the present time that 'Originating from heaven (God) I descended and continue descended' (as verses 33 and 38 above)?"

[Reference: Matthew 1:16-25, 13:55-57; Luke 1:30-35; John 1:45.]

Verses 43-51:

^.43Jesus answered and said to them, "You must not murmur with one-another. ^.44Not-one-person is able to come towards me except the Father, the (Father) having sent me, may draw him, and I will resurrect him in the last day. ^.45It is having been written² in the prophets, 'And all-people will be taught-people of God'; every-person having heard from the Father and having learned comes towards me - ^.46not that someone saw² the Father except the (one) being from God, this-person saw² the Father. ^.47With-certainty, with-certainty I say to you, the (person) believing has eternal life - ^.48I am the bread of the life. ^.49Your fathers ate the manna in the desert-place and they died. ^.50This is the bread, the (bread) out-from heaven descending in order that someone may eat out-from it and may not die; ^.51I am the bread, the living (bread), the (bread) out-from heaven having descended - if-ever someone may eat out-from this bread he will live into the age - but even the bread which I will give is my flesh on behalf of the life of the world."

Jesus judicially replied by saying to them, "It is imperative that you are not murmuring in company and association with one-another (as verse 41 above).

• Nobody is able (no-one presently has the able-power, none is capable)
  • to come (go) towards me at the present time
  • except the Father,
    • emphatically and specifically and Father Who has sent me (referring to God, as verses 38 and 39 above - not Joseph who was Mary's husband),
  • would draw him (drag or move him in the sense of bringing him to the place that he is required to be located, as drawing in a net full of fish),
  • and emphatically I will resurrect him in the last day (I will cause him to stand up alive during the future time of resurrection, as verse 40 above).
• It is already written and is still written in the prophets (refer to Isaiah 54:13),
  • 'And all-people will be taught-people of God (everybody/all will be people who receive instructions proceeding from God)';
• every-person who heard from the Father and having learned (referring to God being the Father Who is the source from Whom the teaching or instruction proceeds and the person becomes informed of it intellectually, knowledgeably and skillfully)
  • comes (goes) towards me -
    • not that someone saw and continues to see the Father (emphasizing the title of "Father" as verse 27 above - it is not a case whereby somebody, any of mankind, an individual has perceived with his eyes so as to understand the object-of-sight, the Father, in his mind's thoughts as a result of physical sight)
    • except the one who is from God (emphasizing the title of "God" as verse 27 above - if it is not the person being from God whereby God is the source from Whom this one came into being, unless he is existing from God),
    • this-person saw and continues to see the Father (Jesus and any other person who receives holy spirit from God sees the Father via that holy spirit within him but not via the physical eyes).

With-certainty, with-certainty I say to you (as verses 26 and 32 above) that...

• the person who is believing (having faith, trusting God and the things of God which includes all that I am saying to you - God's Word)
  • has/holds eternal life (as verses 27 and 40 above) -
  • emphatically I am the bread of the life (as verse 35 above).

Your fathers (forefathers, ancestors) ate the manna in the desert-place (desolate place, wilderness) - and - what happened as a result? - they died (they lost their lives, they became lifeless both physically and spiritually - they did not receive eternal life but only that-which sustained their physical lives at that time temporarily).

• This is the bread (I am referring to myself being the bread),
• emphatically and specifically the bread originating from heaven that is descending (moving downwards, coming down)
  • for the purpose and result that
  • someone would eat out-from it and would not die;
• emphatically I am the bread (again there is emphasis as verses 35 and 48 above – I myself am the bread),
  • emphatically and specifically
  • the living bread (the word “living” is a verb in participle form - the bread that is presently and actively being alive),
  • the bread originating from heaven that has descended -
• if it should happen at any time that someone would eat out-from this bread (from me - Jesus)
  • that person will live into the age (at a future time he will be alive for the lifetime, the duration of life, for/throughout the age, referring to the specific age which will begin once he eats it) -

...but emphatically to the degree and in explanation that the bread which emphatically I will give (I myself will give at a future time)...

• is my flesh (my physical natural body with its soul/breath life)
• on behalf of the life of the world (in the interests of providing life to/for the ordered-arrangement that God created including those who inhabit it, as verse 33 above)."

Jesus died in the place of (instead of) all of mankind dying. He gave himself as the sacrifice required in order to redeem mankind. After God raised him up alive from being dead giving him his new spiritual body with its holy spirit-life - this new life was made available for mankind to receive.

[Reference: Exodus 12:1-14; Isaiah 54:13; John 1:18, 3:13, 16 and 17, 4:14, 5:24 and 37-40; Romans 5:6-8; I Corinthians 2:13, 10:1-5, 11:24; I Thessalonians 4:9; Hebrews 2:14, 3:16-19, 4:2, and chapters 9 and 10; I Peter 3:18; I John 2:27, 4:20; Revelation chapter 20. Also refer to the articles Hope and Resurrection and Pentecost and holy spirit.]

Verses 52-59:

^.52Therefore the Judeans fought towards one-another saying, "How is this-person able to give to us (his) flesh to eat?"

^.53Therefore Jesus said to them, "With-certainty, with-certainty I say to you, except you may eat the flesh of the son of man and you may drink his blood you do not have life in yourselves. ^.54The (person) eating my flesh and drinking my blood has eternal life and I will resurrect him in the last day; ^.55for my flesh is true eating and my blood is true drinking; ^.56the (person) eating my flesh and drinking my blood remains in me and I in him. ^.57According as the living Father apostled me I also live because-of the Father, and the (person) eating me that-person also will live because-of me. ^.58This is the bread, the (bread) out-from heaven having descended - not according as the fathers ate and died - the (person) eating this bread will live into the age."

^.59He said these-things teaching in a synagogue in Capernaum.

Following-on logically from what Jesus told them in verse 51 above, the Judeans were fighting towards one-another (they spent time battling, combating among themselves) saying, "How is this-person able (in what manner does he have the ability, how is he capable) to give to us his flesh to eat?"

Therefore Jesus said to them...

• "With-certainty, with-certainty I say to you (as verses 26, 32 and 47 above),
  • except/unless you would eat the flesh
    • of the son of man (as verse 27 above)
  • and you would drink his blood
    • you do not have life within yourselves (you have no holy spirit-life).
• The person who is eating my flesh (a deliberate and conscious eating)
• and drinking my blood
  • has eternal life (as verses 27, 40, and 47 above)
  • and emphatically I will resurrect him in the last day (as verses 40 and 44 above);
• for my flesh is
  • true eating (the real act of eating, the veritable action of having a meal; as verse 27 above)
• and my blood is
  • true drinking (the real, veritable act or action of drinking);
• the person who is eating my flesh (a deliberate and conscious eating, as verse 54 above)
• and drinking my blood
  • remains in me (stays, continues, abides within my sphere of action)
  • and I remain in him (within that person's sphere of action).
• According as the living Father apostled me (again the word "Father" emphasizes the sonship relationship with God - just as, according to how, in comparison to the way that my Father Who is Spirit is alive and He sent me forth on a specific mission or assignment)
  • emphatically I also live on account of the Father (I myself am alive with the spirit-life that my Father gave to me in order to carry-out my apostleship),
    • and the person who is eating me (a deliberate and conscious eating; refer to verse 35 above)
    • emphatically that-person also will live (in the future at the time of resurrection he will be alive receiving spirit-life) on account of me.
• This is the bread (referring to Jesus himself),
• emphatically and specifically the bread originating from heaven which has descended (moved downwards, it has come down from God; as verses 32 and 33 above) -
  • not according as (just as, according to how, in comparison to the way that)
  • the fathers ate and died (the forefathers, ancestors ate manna and died; as verse 49 above) -
• the person eating this bread (a deliberate and conscious eating, as verses 54, 56 and 57 above)
  • will live into the age (at a future time that person will be alive for the lifetime, the duration of life, for/throughout the age, referring to the specific age which will begin once he eats it; as verse 51 above)."

Jesus said these things during the time that he was teaching in a synagogue (an assembly, where the Israelites/Judeans gathered together every sabbath and special days to hear readings from the law of Moses, etc) in Capernaum.

Note: Jesus was the true sacrificial offering. His blood was shed and his body died in the place of the rest of mankind because that is what was necessary to redeem mankind back to God away from the power of the devil. Jesus' physical body was killed – but now he has his spiritual body and he cannot and will not die again. Jesus died losing his physical life (soul) by the shedding of his blood – but God raised him up alive giving him his new life (holy spirit). 

As in verses 35 and 40 above, by comparing his fleshy body to bread for eating and the blood of his body to a drink for drinking - Jesus told the people that those who would...

• eat his flesh (come towards Jesus - recognizing and expressing agreement with who he is because God is his Father giving him the body that he has with its associated position among all of God's creation - eat the body that Jesus has)
• and drink his blood (believe regarding Jesus - accepting what he says and does because God is his Father giving him the life that he has with its associated position among all of God's creation - drink the life that Jesus has)

...will receive new spiritual bodies with its holy spirit-life at the time of resurrection.

They will no longer hunger and thirst for salvation and righteousness. They will receive the full supply of spiritual things from God by means of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

[Reference: Leviticus 17:11; Matthew 4:4, 26:26-28; John 4:24 and 34, 5:26; Romans 10:9 and 10, 14:17; I Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-27; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 2:14, and chapter 9 and 10.]

Verses 60-65:

^.60Therefore many-people from his learning-disciples having heard said, "This word is hard - who is able to hear him?" 

^.61But Jesus having known² in himself that his learning-disciples murmur concerning it said to them, "This offends you - ^.62therefore if-ever you may view-with-attention the son of man ascending where he was formerly! ^.63The spirit is the-thing making-alive, the flesh does not profit nothing; the spoken-matters which I uttered-forth² to you are spirit and are life. ^.64But there are some-people from you, the (people) not believing" - for Jesus had known from (the) beginning some-people are the (people) not believing and someone is the (person) giving him over - ^.65and he said, "because-of-this I said² to you that not-one-person is able to come towards me except they may be having been given² to him out-from the Father."

Following-on logically from what Jesus told them, a lot of people from among his learning-disciples (students) who heard him said, "This word is hard (this spoken-account is emphatically harsh, stiff, tough) - who is able to hear him (what person has the ability, who is capable of listening to him)?"

However, after Jesus knew and continued to know within himself (he perceived either by seeing or hearing them, or by receiving information from God via the holy spirit within him) that his learning-disciples murmur (they are grumbling discontent and complaints; as verse 41 above) about it, he said the following statement to them...

• "This offends you (the spoken-account that I say to you causes you to stumble - whereby it is a trap-stick as when bait is attached and if you strike or hit against it, it springs the trap and you get caught - you stumble off of the truth of God's Word to/for you, you are offended because you do not take heed to what I am saying) -
  • therefore if it should ever happen that you would view with attention (attentively view, contemplate in/with your minds; as verse 40 above)
  • the son of man (referring to Jesus himself)
  • ascending where he was formerly (mounting, going upwards to the place that he used to be before, during a past time, the location where he was continuing to be previously, firstly, prior to this time - referring to God's location in heaven; God first promised and told mankind about the coming savior, the Christ/Messiah, in Genesis 3:15 - this is what Jesus is referring to as "formerly" because God is his Father; Jesus himself did not exist until he was born as recorded in Matthew chapter 1; also refer to John 3:13)!
    • [Jesus was letting them know that there was a distinct possibility because of their attitude towards him that they would not view the future event of him ascending into heaven after his resurrection - if they continued being offended by his teaching.]
• The spirit (from God Who is Spirit) is
  • the-thing making-alive (that-which is causing people to have life, making them living, producing or giving God's holy and spiritual life which is eternal),
• the flesh (the physical, natural body with its soul/breath life)
  • does not profit nothing (the double negative gives emphasis - the flesh definitely does not benefit anything, it advantages nothing concerning eternal life, not one thing);
• the spoken-matters (the portions of the whole of God’s Word, each containing a specific discourse necessary for that particular situation or circumstance)
  • which emphatically I uttered-forth (spoke) and continue to utter forth to you
    • are spirit (are issuing, emanating or proceeding from the spirit within me - the consistency, essence and realm of power, authority, and action of the spoken-matters that I speak to you are spirit, the source of what I speak are spiritual communications from God Who is Spirit via the spirit that He gave to me)
    • and are life (even, emphatically to the degree and in explanation that they are making, producing or giving life - resulting in eternal life).
• But contrary to that - there are some-people from among you, the people who are not believing (who do not have faith, do not trust the things that I am saying regarding God and the things of God)" -

...in truth, Jesus already knew (perceived) and continued to know from the beginning (from the time of the start, since the commencement, the origin of his teaching) that...

• some-people are the people who are not presently believing
• and someone is the person who will in the future be giving him over (handing him over, delivering him alongside or beside another, handing him along to those who want to kill Jesus; refer also to verse 71 below) -
• and he was continuing during that past time to say to them,
• "on account of this I said and continue to say to you that
  • not-one-person is able to come towards me (nobody has the ability, none is capable to go towards me)
  • except/unless the spoken-matters may be (if it should ever happen that the spoken-matters would not be)
    • already given and continue given to him (presented to that person)
    • originating from the Father (from God - my Father must be the point of origin)."

[Reference: Genesis 3:15; Matthew chapter 1, 4:4, 10:4; John 1:32-34, 3:13 and 27, 5:39 and 40, 7:37-39, 8:58, 16:4; Romans 1:3 and 4, 8:2 and 9-11, 10:8-10; I Corinthians 12:3, 15:45; II Corinthians 3:6; Galatians 6:8; Ephesians 6:17; I Peter 3:18.]

Verses 66-71:

^.66Out-from this many of his learning-disciples went-away into the-things behind and no-longer walked with him. ^.67Therefore Jesus said to the twelve, "You do not intend to go also, do you?" ^.68Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, towards whom will we go-away? You have the spoken-matters of eternal life; ^.69and we believed² and knew² that you are the holy-one of God." ^.70Jesus answered them, "I selected-for-myself you the twelve, didn't I? - (yes) - and one from you is devilish!" ^.71But he said (this regarding) Judas of Simon Iscariot, for this-person was about to give him over, one from the twelve.

From this event, a lot of his learning-disciples (students) went away from Jesus and what he was teaching them with a view to the teachings that were behind (backwards, the information that was pertaining to previous times before Jesus was making known the details of the purpose of his assignment from God to/for them) and they were not walking (behaving, conducting themselves) in company and association with him anymore.

Following-on logically, Jesus said to the twelve whom he had selected...

• "Emphatically you do not intend (you yourselves do not will with active volition and desire)
  • to go also (to lead yourselves under, in the sense of going without any argument, under cover, as animals go because they are under a yoke without going from side to side or intentionally stopping to do something else - to go from me in addition to those other students),
  • do you?"
    • [The Greek construction of this question indicates that the expected answer is: "No - we do not intend to go also."]

Simon Peter (as verse 8 above) answered Jesus on behalf of the twelve...

• "Lord (he addresses Jesus as "Master" recognizing his power and authority regarding these things),
• towards whom will we go away?
• You have/hold the spoken-matters of eternal life (the portions of the whole of God’s Word, each containing a specific discourse necessary for that particular situation or circumstance - here referring to matters concerning life that is agelong, lifelong, everlasting; as verses 27, 40, 47, 54 and 63 above);
• and emphatically we (we ourselves)
  • believed and continue to believe (to have faith, to trust)
  • and knew and continue to know (to have a truly active and relative knowing, to be personally knowledgeable)
  • that emphatically you are (you yourself are)
    • the holy-one of/from God (the one who is sanctified, who is in the state of corresponding to the essence of God - you are set-apart from the state of being common, defiled or unclean against God [some Greek texts read: the Christ, the son of God the living])."

Jesus answered them (the twelve)...

• "Emphatically I selected for myself (I myself chose or picked-out for myself)
  • you, the twelve men who accompany me,
    • didn't I?
    • - yes (the Greek construction of this question must receive an affirmative answer: "yes, you selected us for yourself" but Jesus continues) -
  • and one from you is devilish (one from among you 12 men is behaving in a manner that is on a par with the devil throwing, casting things through people, like stabbing a person from outside through the person and out the other side with an accusation, slander, etc; Judas did not have a devil-spirit inside of his physical body at this time; refer to John 13:2)!"

John the writer of this book explains that during that past time Jesus was saying this regarding Judas, who was the son of Simon from the city of Kerioth, for this Judas was on the point of giving Jesus over (as verse 64 above) - and emphatically Judas was one from among the twelve men selected by Jesus for himself.

[Reference: Matthew 10:2-4; Luke 22:3; John 13:2; Acts 1:2, 3:14; Philippians 3:13; I Timothy 3:11; II Timothy 3:3; Titus 2:3; Revelation 3:7. Also refer to the article The devil, satan, and evil. Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (²) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]

John Chapter 7