What is the main message of Jesus calling Himself the Bread of Life?

When Jesus says, “I am the bread of life,” He is taking the crowd’s focus off the free meal they just ate and off the manna their fathers had in the wilderness. He explains that physical bread only keeps you alive for a time, but He gives a different kind of life that never ends. Coming to Him and believing in Him is like eating this true bread. It means trusting Him as the One sent from the Father. Those who believe in Him will never be finally left empty and will be raised up at the last day.

Why did Jesus feed the five thousand with five loaves and two fish?

Jesus fed the five thousand to show His compassion and His power to provide, even when the resources seemed too small. The crowd had followed Him and stayed long, and they were hungry. By using a boy’s five barley loaves and two small fish, Jesus showed that what looks weak and little in our eyes is enough in His hands. The miracle also prepares for His teaching that He Himself is the true bread from heaven. The full baskets of leftovers show not only that He meets needs, but that He gives in overflowing measure.

Why did Jesus tell the crowd not to labour for the meat which perisheth?

Jesus saw that many followed Him mainly because they had eaten the loaves and were filled. He tells them not to pour their main effort into food that spoils and only fills the stomach for a short time. Instead, He calls them to seek “the meat which endureth unto everlasting life,” which He, the Son of man, gives. God the Father has set His mark on Him for this work. This doesn’t mean food is unimportant, but it puts first things first: believing in Jesus and receiving eternal life from Him.

What does Jesus mean by eating His flesh and drinking His blood?

The wording here is strong, and it troubled many who heard it. Jesus is not talking about physically chewing His body. He later says, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing.” Eating His flesh and drinking His blood means taking Him in by faith, trusting His sacrifice, and depending on Him as our life. Just as food and drink keep the body alive, Jesus gives true spiritual life by His flesh given for the life of the world and by His blood poured out. Those who “eat” Him this way have eternal life and live by Him.

Why did many disciples say, “This is an hard saying,” and walk away?

Many who had followed Jesus were offended when He spoke about eating His flesh and drinking His blood, and about no one coming to Him unless it was given by the Father. They wanted a teacher who gave bread and signs, not One who spoke of deep union with Himself and the need for faith granted by God. The saying was hard to accept, not because it was unclear, but because it cut against their natural thoughts. Instead of softening His words to keep the crowd, Jesus let them go and stayed with those who truly believed.

What does this passage teach about God’s role in people coming to Jesus?

Jesus says more than once that people come to Him because the Father gives them and draws them. “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me,” and “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.” This shows that faith is not something we drum up by our own power. God works first, teaching the heart and opening the ears so that a person truly hears and learns. At the same time, Jesus warmly invites all who come, and He promises never to cast out anyone who comes to Him in faith.

How does Jesus walking on the sea fit with the Bread of Life teaching?

The story of Jesus walking on the sea shows His power over nature and His care for His disciples. They are in trouble, rowing in the dark on a rough sea, and He comes to them in a way that frightens them at first. When He says, “It is I; be not afraid,” the fear turns to welcome, and they soon reach land. This miracle, like the feeding of the five thousand, points to who He is. The One who rules wind and waves and feeds crowds is the same One who can give eternal life as the Bread from heaven.

Why did Jesus refuse to be made a king after feeding the crowd?

After the crowd saw the miracle, they said He was the prophet who should come into the world and wanted to take Him by force to make Him a king. Their idea of a king was mainly earthly: someone who would fill their tables and throw off their earthly troubles. Jesus’ mission was not to be a political ruler like that. So He withdrew to the mountain alone. By doing this, He shows that His kingdom is different. He came to do His Father’s will, to give His flesh for the life of the world, and to rule hearts, not to meet shallow expectations.

What does this passage show about Peter’s faith when he says, “Lord, to whom shall we go?”

When many turn back, Jesus asks the twelve if they will also go away. Peter answers for them: “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” Peter still does not understand everything Jesus has just said, but he knows enough to cling to Him. He has seen His works and heard His words. He is sure that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. This shows that true faith does not mean having every question solved, but it does mean trusting Jesus as the only One who can give eternal life.

Why does Jesus say one of the twelve is a devil in this passage?

At the end of the chapter, after Peter’s strong confession, Jesus answers that He has chosen the twelve, yet one of them is “a devil.” He is speaking about Judas Iscariot, who would later betray Him. This shows that being close to Jesus outwardly and even working among His followers does not by itself prove a true heart. It also shows that Jesus was never taken by surprise. He knew from the beginning who believed, who did not, and who would betray Him. Still, He patiently walked with Judas as part of God’s plan to give His life for the world.

John.6.1

John 6:1

KJV

After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.

The Feeding of the Five Thousand

Five Thousand Fed

1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.

2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.

4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.

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?

6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him,

9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

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.

12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

14 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.

Jesus Walks on the Water

15 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.

Jesus Walks on Water

16 And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,

17 And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.

18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.

19 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.

20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.

21 Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.

Jesus the Bread of Life

22 The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;

23 (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)

24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.

25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

Words to the People

26 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.

27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

32 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.

33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

35 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.

36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

39 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.

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.

Words to the Jews

41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.

42 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?

43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

44 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.

45 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.

46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.

47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

48 I am that bread of life.

49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.

50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

51 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.

52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?

53 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.

54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

58 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.

Many Disciples Turn Back

Words to the Disciples

59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?

62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?

63 It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life.

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.

65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

Peter’s Confession of Faith

66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Peter’s Confession of Faith

67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?

71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.