John 6

Who is?

John 6:1-21

John 6:2

And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. (use)

John 6:1

After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. (use)

John 6:5

Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” (use)

No needs arise unforeseen by Christ, and He requires no prompting to help. Difficulties which seem insoluble to us, when we too late wake to perceive them, have long ago been taken into account and solved by Him.

Maclaren, A., 1904. Expositions of Holy Scripture.
maclaren-1904-exp~a1

John 6:6

He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. (use)

He lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come to him, poor, mean, ordinary people, no doubt, for such make up the multitudes, especially in such remote corners of the country; yet Christ showed himself pleased with their attendance, and concerned for their welfare, to teach us to condescend to those of low estate, and not to set those with the dogs of our flock whom Christ hath set with the lambs of his. The souls of the poor are as precious to Christ, and should be so to us, as those of the rich.

Henry, M., 1896. Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible. UK. John
mhcom-john~6-5

John 6:9

There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many? (use)

What can I give Him, Poor as I am? — If I were a Shepherd I would bring a lamb; If I were a Wise Man I would do my part, — Yet what I can I give Him, — Give my heart.

Rossetti, C., 1872. In the Bleak Midwinter.
rossetti-1872-bleak-midwinter~a5

John 6:10

Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. (use)

In the service of God there is no one who is a no one.

Stoves, G., 2021. The signification of his baptism.
stoves-2021-signification~a1

There are many of us that are willing to do great things for the Lord, but few of us are willing to do little things.

Moody, D.L., . .
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John 6:11

Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. (use)

We should become more preoccupied with the glories of eternity than we are with the afflictions of today.

MacArthur, J., 2017. We should become more preoccupied.
macarthur-2017-preoccupied~a1

John 6:13

So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. (use)

Some men, because they cannot work a miracle themselves, can hardly be persuaded that God can do it.

Clarke, A., 1831. Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible.
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John 6:14

When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, "This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!" (use)

John 6:15

Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself. (use)

In the feeding of the five thousand, our Lord revealed Himself to the multitudes as Jehovah Raah, the Lord our Shepherd (see Psalm 23:1). Here we read of another incident where He revealed Himself as God manifest in the flesh. By walking on the water, He revealed Himself as El Elyon, the possessor of heaven and earth (see Genesis 14:19)."

Mitchell, J.G., 1982. An Everlasting Love: A Devotional Study of the Gospel of John. pg.121
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John 6:19

When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. (use)

John 6:17

got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. (use)

Sometimes we are caught in a storm because we have disobeyed the Lord. Jonah is a good example. But sometimes the storm comes because we have obeyed the Lord. When that happens, we can be sure that our Saviour will pray for us, come to us, and deliver us … Jesus had led His people into the green pastures, and now He brought them into the still waters. What a wonderful Shepherd He is!

Wiersbe, W.W., 1989. The Bible Exposition Commentary.
wiersbe-1989-exposition~a1

John 6:19

When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. (use)

God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm.

Cowper, W. 1773. Light Shining out of Darkness.
cowper-1773-light~a1

But once you accept the existence of a divine creator who has a personal relationship with you, almost anything else is possible. It is not crazy but logical to conclude that what such a God says or does will sometimes be beyond our conmprehension. It follows that there is nothing irrational in accepting a story that we are unable to make sense of rationally.

Baggini, J., 2018. Atheists who bring logic to the Easter story are missing the point.
baggini-2018-atheists~a1

John 6:20

But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” (use)

Jesus hath all things in his Almighty hand. May I then Lord look to thee for all things, in grace, mercy, pardon, peace, and every New Covenant blessing here; and all the fulness of glory in Jesus, and from Jesus, to all eternity!

Hawker, R., 1805. Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary.
hawker-1805-poor~john-3v35

Look around, and we shall be disheartened. Look within, and we shall be discouraged. But look unto Him, and our fears will vanish.

Pink, A.W., 1945. Exposition of the Gospel of John.
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Both miracles demonstrated Jesus' equality with the Father, whom Old Testament writers described as doing these very things.

Constable, T., 2022. Expository Notes.
constable-2022-expository~john-6a

John 6:21

Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. (use)

But I beg the Reader both then and now, not to lose sight of such a demonstration of Christ's Godhead, by two such mighty acts, as walking upon the sea, and causing the arrival of the ship the moment he entered it, to be at the destined place the disciples had embarked for. And doth not Jesus now in spirit walk over all the stormy dispensations of his people, to come to their relief? And doth he not after bring them home, long before their expectations, when through fire and water he brings them through into a wealthy place?

Hawker, R., 1805. Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary.
hawker-1805-poor~john-6v21

The real problem is that of miracle. It doesn't stop with the birth of Jesus but follows Him through His life, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension. The life of Jesus carries the aura of miracle wherever it is described in the primary sources. A "de-miraclized" Jesus is not the biblical Jesus, but the invention of those who cannot abide the biblical proclamation. Such a Jesus is the Jesus of unbelief, the most mythical Jesus of all, conjured up to fit the preconceived molds of unbelief.

Sproul, R.C. 2018. The Controversial Birth of Jesus.
sproul-2018-birth~a1

This they could not understand. They believed that the manna came from heaven. Not the richest field of Egypt had produced it. It seemed to come direct from God’s hand. The Israelites could neither raise it nor improve upon it. But how Jesus, "whose father and mother we know," whom they could trace to a definite human origin, could say that He came from heaven they could not understand. And yet, even while they stumbled at His claim to a superhuman origin, they felt there might be something in it. Everyone with whom He came in contact felt there was in Him something unaccountable. The Pharisees feared while they hated Him. Pilate could not classify Him with any variety of offender he had met with. Why do men still continually attempt afresh to account for Him, and to give at last a perfectly satisfactory explanation, on ordinary principles, of all that He was and did? Why, but because it is seen that as yet He has not been so accounted for? Men do not thus strive to prove that Shakespeare was a mere man, or that Socrates or Epictetus was a mere man. Alas! that is only too obvious. But to Christ men turn and turn again with the feeling that here is something which human nature does not account for; something different, and something more than what results from human parentage and human environment, something which He Himself accounts for by the plain and unflinching statement that He is "from heaven."

Nicoll W., 1923. Expositors Bible Commentary.
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Topics and Themes

Key Verse

John 6:20

But he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid." (use)