26 witnesses of Christ here.
Jesus — Greek form of Joshua/Jeshua, "Jehovah saves"
After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. John 6:1–3
Crowds follow Jesus because of the miracles He did for the sick, and He withdraws to a mountain with His disciples.
How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him
And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. John 6:4
John times this chapter at Passover on purpose. The feast that remembered the lamb and the bread of the Exodus frames Jesus' teaching that His own flesh and blood give life.
How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it
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 6:5–13
Jesus feeds about five thousand men from a boy's five loaves and two fish, with twelve baskets left over. The miracle sets up His teaching that He Himself is the bread that truly fills.
How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him
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 6:14
After bread appears in the wilderness, as manna did under Moses, the people recognize Jesus as "that prophet" Moses promised. They are right about who He is but wrong about what kind of king He came to be.
How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it
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. John 6:15
Jesus is the true King, but He refuses a crown from a crowd that wants free bread and a political deliverer.
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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 6:19–21
In the dark and the storm, Jesus comes to His disciples walking on the water. As soon as they receive Him, they reach the shore.
How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him
I AM — the self-existent One, the covenant name Jehovah
But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. John 6:20
In Greek, "It is I" is literally "I am" (ego eimi). Spoken by One who walks on the sea, which only God does in the Old Testament, it softly echoes the divine name.
How we know: the chapter heading names Him
Rabbi — Master, Teacher
(Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:) John 6:23–25
John calls Jesus "the Lord", and the crowd crosses the sea to seek Him and calls Him Rabbi. They are seeking Him, though for the wrong reason (v. 26).
How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it
Son of Man — Son of the Man of Holiness (Moses 6:57)
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 6:26–27
Jesus points them past bread that spoils to food that lasts forever, which only He can give. The Father has set His seal of approval on the Son.
How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it
Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? John 6:28–29
They ask what works to do; Jesus says the first work God asks is to believe on the One He sent.
How we know: the chapter heading names Him
They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? John 6:30–33
The crowd asks for a sign like the manna. Jesus explains that manna was only a type: the true bread from heaven is the One the Father sends down to give life to the world.
How we know: the chapter heading names Him
Bread of Life — the One whose life sustains eternal life in those who receive Him
Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. John 6:34–35
The first of Jesus' great "I am" statements in John. He does not just give bread; He is the bread, and coming to Him satisfies the soul's hunger forever.
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But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. John 6:36–38
Jesus lived with the Father before He was born and came down to do the Father's will. He promises He will never turn away anyone who comes to Him.
How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it
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 6:39–40
The Father's will is that Christ lose none of those given to Him and raise them up at the last day. Everyone who believes on the Son receives everlasting life.
How we know: the chapter heading names Him
The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. John 6:41–42
The people think they know where Jesus came from, since they know Joseph and Mary. They do not know that His true Father is God and that He came down from heaven.
How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it
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 6:44–45
The Father draws people to His Son, and everyone the Father truly teaches comes to Christ.
How we know: the chapter heading names Him
Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. John 6:46
"He which is of God" is Jesus Himself, the One who came from the Father and has seen Him.
How we know: the chapter heading names Him
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. John 6:47–50
Manna kept the Israelites alive for a day, and they still died. Jesus is the true bread that gives life that never ends.
How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him
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. John 6:51
Jesus foretells that He will give His own flesh, His life, for the whole world. The bread from heaven will be broken in His sacrifice.
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The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? John 6:52–56
To have life we must take Christ fully into ourselves: His sacrifice, His life, His Spirit. The sacrament He later institutes is the ordinance where we covenantally do this in remembrance of His body and blood.
How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it
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 6:57–58
The Son lives by the Father, and whoever takes in the Son lives by Him. Life flows from the Father, through the Son, to us.
How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it
When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? John 6:61–62
If His words offend them, how will they respond when they see the Son of Man go back up to heaven, where He lived before He was born? This foretells His Ascension and testifies of His premortal life.
How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it
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 6:63
Jesus clarifies that He is teaching spiritual truth. His words themselves carry life.
How we know: the chapter heading names Him
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 6:64–65
Jesus knew from the start who would not believe and who would betray Him. He was never taken by surprise.
How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him
Christ — Greek for Messiah, "the Anointed One"
From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. John 6:66–69
When many disciples walk away, Peter speaks for the Twelve: there is nowhere else to go, because Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it
Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? John 6:70–71
Jesus foretells that one of His own chosen Twelve will betray Him, which leads to His arrest and death.
How we know: the chapter heading names Him