41Therefore the Jews were grumbling about Him, because He said, “I am the bread that came down out of heaven.” 42They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say, ‘I have come down out of heaven’?” 43Jesus answered and said to them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. 45“It is written in the prophets, ‘AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. 46“Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. 48“I am the bread of life. 49“Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50“This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51“I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”
52Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” 53So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54“He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55“For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. 56“He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57“As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. 58“This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever.”
59These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum. 60Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?” 61But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble? 62“What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? 63“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 64“But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. 65And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”
66As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. 67So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” 68Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. 69“We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” 70Jesus answered them, “Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?” 71Now He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray Him.
Interesting Words
grumble
gogguzó – whisper, murmur, grumble, generally a smoldering discontent, say anything in a low tone – John 7:31, 32; 1Cor 10:9-10; Phil 2:14;
bread
artos – bread, a loaf, food, (figuratively) divine provision, the sustenance God supplies – John 6:32-33, 34-35; Mark 14:22; Acts 2:42, 46; 2Cor 9:10;
flesh
sarx – flesh, body, human nature, materiality; kindred, not always evil… (what is physical) is necessary for the body to live – John 1:14; 1Cor 10:16; Col 1:21-22;
blood
haima – blood (especially shed blood) – Lev 17:11; 1Cor 15:50; Heb 2:14, 15;
Cross References
▪︎ John 7:31-32;
▪︎ 1Cor 10:9-10;
▪︎ John 6:32-35;
▪︎ 2Cor 9:10;
▪︎ 1Cor 10:16;
▪︎ Col 1:21-22;
▪︎ Lev 17:11;
▪︎ 1Cor 15:50;
▪︎ Heb 2:14-15
Discussion Questions
1. What is the initial sign of the Pharisees’ displeasure in this section? Why is this significant?
▪︎ They started to mumble, grumble about Him to either themselves or others
▪︎ They were complaining about Him comparing Himself to the manna provided by God in the wilderness.
▪︎ Important subjects seem to start and grow in discussion sessions, positive and negative subjects.
▪︎ Several examples are revealed in this section, and one in the next chapter.
► John 6:41-42 – isn’t this Joseph’s son? He hasn’t come down from heaven. Negative bias, seeking negative reaction. Result: they sought to kill Him.
► John 6:52-60 – they were arguing among themselves this is a difficult saying. Negative but Jesus gave further evidence trying to influence them positively with facts.
► In John 6:66-67, 68-69 – many took the negative route and left. Jesus confronted the twelve and asked (with a positive bent) for their unbiased decision about Him.
► John 7:31-32 – the crowd started to compare current experiences with the truth of the scripture (positive). This caused panic in the Pharisees who they sought to seize Jesus.
2. Why is grumbling so dangerous? Is it ever good?
▪︎ It brings others into the discussion with a bias created somewhat based on the other people’s perspective.
▪︎ It can be based on innuendo or subjectivity, but it’s should be based on facts.
▪︎ It can be either good or bad as long long as it on based on God’s truth.
▪︎ Discussion about the facts is fine. It has to be guarded to remove unintentional bias and prejudice.
▪︎ John 6:70 – evil influences also need to be guarded against. That is why discussion needs to be centered on facts, on truth.
▪︎ Other examples of this danger – 1Peter 5:8; Eph 6:11-12;
3. What was the error in the Pharisees theology that was detrimental to their logical thought?
▪︎ They had a flawed view of God, thinking they understood the meaning of “the Lord your God is one” and yet He refers to Himself an plural
► Gen 1:26 – And said (singular) God (Elohim, plural) let us make plural) man in Our image (plural), according to Our likeness (plural).
► Exod 3:6 – He said (singular) I am (singular) the God (Elohim, plural) of your father, the God (Elohim, plural) of Abraham, the God (Elohim, plural) of Isaac, the God (Elohim, plural) of Jacob… (Hebrew – elohim – masculine plural construct, compare Gen 1:1, 3 masculine plural and Exod 3:14 common singular, Hebrew)
► Exod 3:13 – Moses said to God (Elohim, plural)… who should I say sent me… say to them the God (Elohim, plural) of your fathers has sent (singular) me to you.
► Exod 3:14 – God (Elohim, plural) said to Moses I AM (singular) who I AM (singular) … I AM (singular) sent you.
► Exod 3:15 – And (singular) moreover God (Elohim, plural) said (singular) to Moses, you shall say to the sons of Israel the God (Yahweh, singular), the God (Elohim, plural) of your fathers, the God (Elohim, plural) of Apraham, the God (Elohim, plural) of Isaac…
► Deut 6:4 – hear O Israel, the Lord (Yahweh, singular) your God (Elohim, plural), the Lord (Yahweh, singular) is One.
► Isa 48:1 – who serve by the name of the Lord (Yahweh, singular), and invoke the God (Elohim, plural) of Israel…
► Isa 48:12 – I am He, I am the First and I am the Last (am, all singular)…
▪︎ They were also flawed in their view of man specifically thinking their personal sin was resolved. In their then current religious system, they thought their sin was resolved… but it was looking to the future, to the Lamb of God (who was standing in front of them) leaving their greed and corruption unresolved.
4. What aspects of bread make it so important for us spiritually?
▪︎ It provides sustenance both physically and spiritually.
▪︎ We cannot expect to do work without it.
▪︎ It is bread that brings life.
▪︎ It should be expected that anything other than Jesus is useless in our labor.
▪︎ The bread that we offer the world is Jesus who suffered for the sins of all mankind. They will not experience life without Him. John 14:6; John 6:53;
▪︎ Spiritually, we need to bathe our work in prayer, so that God will be our co-laborer and will send other Spirit-filled people to labor with us in the struggle. John 6:44; Phil 2:12-13; Phil 2:25;
5. What two possible outcomes does Jesus present in John 6:44-45? What are your conclusions from this? Who is missing?
▪︎ Only those whom the Father calls and/or draws to Himself.
▪︎ All those that are taught of God.
▪︎ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father .
▪︎ No one else. Matt 19:25-26; Rom 8:7-8; 1 Cor 2:14, 1:30
▪︎ No one who is supposed to be there will not be there.
6. In John 6:55-56 Jesus clearly states His requirements for salvation. How would you describe them?
▪︎ Salvation is to those who seize, receive, take, believe (all synonyms to the same event) accessing, taking on Jesus’ payment for our sins personally. John 1:11-12.
▪︎ All these actions are based on the will of God not our choice, will, ancestry, or actions. John 1:13; John 6:65 – granted from the Father.
▪︎ All result in the same thing. All those who fit this condition become new creations in Christ. We are filled with the Holy Spirit. 2Cor 5:17
7. John 6:60 is the turning point for many disciples that were following Jesus. This was consummated in John 6:66. Why was this so difficult for them? How does this play out in reality today?
▪︎ They may have decided at this point that the doctrine was too weird, strange, too new. But there was still things yet to happen.
▪︎ It does say “many” of His disciples quit following Him, similar to Matt 7:21-23 – Many will say Lord, Lord.
▪︎ It does not say that none of these reconsider this decision later after God makes a call on their lives… certainly not all but maybe a few will turn back again.