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

NIVUK

Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias),

The Feeding of the Five Thousand

Five Thousand Fed

1 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias),

and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing those who were ill.

Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples.

The Jewish Passover Festival was near.

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming towards him, he said to Philip, ‘Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?’

He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

Philip answered him, ‘It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!’

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up,

‘Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?’

Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’ There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there).

Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.’

So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, ‘Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.’

Jesus Walks on the Water

Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

Jesus Walks on Water

When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake,

where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them.

A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough.

When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened.

But he said to them, ‘It is I; don’t be afraid.’

Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

Jesus the Bread of Life

The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realised that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone.

Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.

Once the crowd realised that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.

When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, ‘Rabbi, when did you get here?’

Words to the People

Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.

Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.’

Then they asked him, ‘What must we do to do the works God requires?’

Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.’

So they asked him, ‘What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do?

Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”’

Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.

For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’

‘Sir,’ they said, ‘always give us this bread.’

Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.

All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.

For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.

And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.

For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.’

Words to the Jews

At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, ‘I am the bread that came down from heaven.’

They said, ‘Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, “I came down from heaven”?’

‘Stop grumbling among yourselves,’ Jesus answered.

‘No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.

It is written in the Prophets: “They will all be taught by God.” Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me.

No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father.

Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.

I am the bread of life.

Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died.

But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die.

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live for ever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.’

Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’

Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.

For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.

Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.

This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live for ever.’

Many Disciples Turn Back

Words to the Disciples

He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

On hearing it, many of his disciples said, ‘This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?’

Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, ‘Does this offend you?

Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before!

The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you – they are full of the Spirit and life.

Yet there are some of you who do not believe.’ For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.

He went on to say, ‘This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.’

Peter’s Confession of Faith

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

Peter’s Confession of Faith

‘You do not want to leave too, do you?’ Jesus asked the Twelve.

Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.’

Then Jesus replied, ‘Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!’

(He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.