Bullet Point Bible

Feeding the Five Thousand

¹ After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (also called the Sea of Tiberias).² A large crowd was following him because they were observing the miraculous signs he was performing on the sick.³ So Jesus went on up the mountainside and sat down there with his disciples.⁴ (Now the Jewish Feast of the Passover was near.)⁵ Then Jesus, when he looked up and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread so that these people may eat?"⁶ (Now Jesus said this to test him, for he knew what he was going to do.)⁷ Philip replied, "200 silver coins worth of bread would not be enough for them, for each one to get a little."⁸ One of Jesus' disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him,⁹ "Here is a boy who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what good are these for so many people?"¹⁰ Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." (Now there was a lot of grass in that place.) So the men sat down, about 5,000 in number.¹¹ Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed the bread to those who were seated. He then did the same with the fish, as much as they wanted.¹² When they were all satisfied, Jesus said to his disciples, "Gather up the broken pieces that are left over, so that nothing is wasted."¹³ So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves left over by the people who had eaten.¹⁴ Now when the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus performed, they began to say to one another, "This is certainly the Prophetwho is to come into the world ."¹⁵ Then Jesus, because he knew they were going to come and seize him by force to make him king, withdrew again up the mountainside alone.

This miracle is the only one recorded in all four Gospels, highlighting its significance (Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17, John 6:1-15).
The setting near Passover (John 6:4) evokes themes of God's deliverance and provision, reminiscent of the Exodus.
Jesus tested Philip's faith (John 6:6), prompting him to consider human limitations before witnessing divine power.
Andrew, while practical, still questioned the sufficiency of the available resources (John 6:9), contrasting with Jesus' divine capability.
Barley loaves were the food of the poor, emphasizing the humble means through which Jesus performed this great sign.
Jesus giving thanks (eucharisteō) before distributing the food (John 6:11) foreshadows the Last Supper and Christian communion.
The abundance ("as much as they wanted," John 6:11) and the leftovers (twelve baskets, John 6:13) demonstrate the overflowing nature of God's provision through Christ.
The crowd recognized Jesus as "the Prophet" predicted by Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15), likely associating him with a new Moses who provides bread in the wilderness.
Jesus rejected the crowd's attempt to make him a political king (John 6:15), showing his kingdom is not of this world and his mission is different from their expectations.
The gathering of leftovers ("so that nothing is wasted," John 6:12) teaches stewardship and respect for God's gifts, even in abundance.

Jesus Walks on Water

¹⁶ Now when evening came, his disciples went down to the lake,¹⁷ got into a boat, and started to cross the lake to Capernaum. (It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.)¹⁸ By now a strong wind was blowing and the sea was getting rough.¹⁹ Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they caught sight of Jesus walking on the lake, approaching the boat, and they were frightened.²⁰ But he said to them, "It is I. Do not be afraid."²¹ Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat came to the land where they had been heading.

This event follows immediately after the feeding miracle, providing another sign of Jesus' divine power, this time over nature.
The disciples faced a storm without Jesus physically present, symbolizing the challenges believers face in the world.
Their fear upon seeing Jesus (John 6:19) is a common reaction to the supernatural or divine manifestations in Scripture (e.g., Luke 1:12, Matthew 14:26).
Jesus' words "{{It is I}}" (Greek: *egō eimi*, John 6:20) echo God's self-revelation to Moses ("I AM," Exodus 3:14) and assert his divinity.
His command "{{Do not be afraid}}" (John 6:20) is a frequent reassurance accompanying divine appearances, offering comfort in the face of the overwhelming.
The immediate arrival at their destination (John 6:21) upon receiving Jesus into the boat signifies the peace and resolution found in Christ's presence amidst life's storms.
This miracle demonstrates Jesus' authority over the natural forces that were often feared in the ancient world, reinforcing his identity as Lord of creation (Psalm 77:19, Job 9:8).
Unlike Matthew's account (Matthew 14:28-32), John does not include Peter walking on the water, focusing instead on Jesus' self-revelation and the disciples' reaction.

The Crowd Seeks Jesus and Demands a Sign

²² The next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the lake realized that only one small boat had been there, and that Jesus had not boarded it with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone.²³ Other boats from Tiberias came to shore near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.²⁴ So when the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.²⁵ When they found him on the other side of the lake, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?"²⁶ Jesus replied, "I tell you the solemn truth, you are looking for me not because you saw miraculous signs, but because you ate all the loaves of bread you wanted.²⁷ Do not work for the food that disappears, but for the food that remains to eternal life-the food which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has put his seal of approval on him."²⁸ So then they said to him, "What must we do to accomplish the deeds God requires?"²⁹ Jesus replied, "This is the deed God requires -to believe in the one whom he sent."³⁰ So they said to him, "Then what miraculous sign will you perform, so that we may see it and believe you? What will you do?³¹ Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written, ' He gave them bread from heaven to eat .'"³² Then Jesus told them, "I tell you the solemn truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but my Father is giving you the true bread from heaven.³³ For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."³⁴ So they said to him, "Sir, give us this bread all the time!"

The crowd's persistence in seeking Jesus (John 6:22-24) shows their initial enthusiasm, but Jesus reveals their motive is superficial.
Jesus confronts their materialistic desires, urging them to seek spiritual sustenance ("food that lasts for eternal life") rather than just physical satisfaction (John 6:26-27).
The "seal of approval" (John 6:27) refers to God the Father's authentication of Jesus' identity and mission, possibly through miracles like the feeding or his baptism.
The crowd misunderstands Jesus' call, thinking in terms of "deeds" or works they must perform (John 6:28), reflecting a common works-based religious mindset.
Jesus clarifies that the primary "work" or "deed" God requires is faith: "to believe in the one whom he sent" (John 6:29). This highlights the centrality of faith in Christian theology.
Despite witnessing the feeding miracle, the crowd demands another sign, specifically comparing Jesus unfavorably to Moses and the manna (John 6:30-31). This reveals their spiritual blindness and desire for continuous spectacular proofs.
Jesus corrects their understanding of the manna: it was God, not Moses, who provided it, and it was only a temporary provision, foreshadowing the "true bread" (John 6:32).
Jesus identifies the "bread of God" as a person ("the one who comes down from heaven") who gives universal life ("to the world"), shifting from a physical object to a personal relationship (John 6:33).
The crowd's response, "Sir, give us this bread all the time!" (John 6:34), mirrors the Samaritan woman's initial literal understanding (John 4:15), showing they still haven't grasped the spiritual nature of Jesus' offer.

Jesus the Bread of Life

³⁵ Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. The one who comes to me will never go hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty.³⁶ But I told you that you have seen me and still do not believe.³⁷ Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never send away.³⁸ For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.³⁹ Now this is the will of the one who sent me-that I should not lose one person of every one he has given me, but raise them all up at the last day.⁴⁰ For this is the will of my Father-for everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him to have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."⁴¹ Then the Jews who were hostile to Jesus began complaining about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven,"⁴² and they said, "Isn't this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?"⁴³ Jesus replied, "Do not complain about me to one another.⁴⁴ No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.⁴⁵ It is written in the prophets, ' And they will all be taught by God .' Everyone who hears and learns 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 I tell you the solemn truth, the one who believes has eternal life.⁴⁸ I am the bread of life.⁴⁹ Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.⁵⁰ This is the bread that has come down from heaven, so that a person may eat from it and not die.⁵¹ I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats from this bread he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."

Jesus makes the first of his seven "I am" statements in John: "{{I am the bread of life}}" (John 6:35, 48, 51), explicitly identifying himself as the true spiritual sustenance.
Coming to Jesus and believing in him are presented as the means to satisfy spiritual hunger and thirst permanently (John 6:35).
Jesus addresses the crowd's unbelief despite having seen him and his signs (John 6:36).
Divine sovereignty and human response are intertwined: the Father gives/draws people to Jesus, and Jesus receives all who come (John 6:37, 44). This highlights the theological concepts of election and effectual calling.
Jesus emphasizes his mission's alignment with the Father's will: to grant eternal life and ensure the final resurrection of believers (John 6:38-40).
The Jews' objection focuses on Jesus' earthly origins, finding it impossible to reconcile his claim of heavenly descent with their knowledge of his family (John 6:41-42). This reflects a common stumbling block – difficulty accepting the divine within the human.
Jesus reiterates that coming to him requires divine initiative ("the Father...draws him," John 6:44) and divine teaching (John 6:45, quoting Isaiah 54:13 or Jeremiah 31:33-34).
He contrasts the manna, which sustained physical life temporarily (ancestors "died," John 6:49), with himself, the "living bread" offering eternal life (John 6:50-51).
Jesus introduces the shocking concept that this life-giving bread is his "flesh," which he will give for the life of the world (John 6:51), foreshadowing his sacrificial death.

Eating Flesh and Drinking Blood

⁵² Then the Jews who were hostile to Jesus began to argue with one another, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"⁵³ Jesus said to them, "I tell you the solemn truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in yourselves.⁵⁴ The one 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 The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood resides in me, and I in him.⁵⁷ Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so the one who consumes me will live because of me.⁵⁸ This is the bread that came down from heaven; it is not like the bread your ancestors ate, but then later died. The one who eats this bread will live forever."⁵⁹ Jesus said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

The Jews' literal interpretation leads to dispute and revulsion: "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" (John 6:52). Their reaction highlights the difficulty of the saying.
Jesus intensifies the metaphor, stating that eating his flesh and drinking his blood is essential for possessing eternal life (John 6:53). This language would have been particularly shocking to Jews, for whom consuming blood was strictly forbidden (Leviticus 17:10-14).
Eating his flesh and drinking his blood symbolizes a deep, personal appropriation of and identification with Christ's sacrificial death and its life-giving benefits. It signifies complete faith and dependence on him.
This intimate union is described as mutual indwelling: "resides in me, and I in him" (John 6:56), a key theme in John's Gospel regarding the believer's relationship with Christ.
Jesus draws a parallel between his life derived from the Father and the believer's life derived from him (John 6:57), emphasizing dependence and shared life.
He concludes by contrasting himself again with the manna, reinforcing that he is the source of eternal, not temporary, life (John 6:58).
The setting in the Capernaum synagogue (John 6:59) underscores the public and formal nature of this challenging teaching.
This passage is often connected theologically to the institution of the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:26-28), though it predates that event. It speaks to the spiritual reality that the sacrament signifies.

The Response: Disbelief and Belief

⁶⁰ Then many of his disciples, when they heard these things, said, "This is a difficult saying! Who can understand it?"⁶¹ When Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining about this, he said to them, "Does this cause you to be offended?⁶² Then what if you see the Son of Man ascending where he was before?⁶³ The Spirit is the one who gives life; human nature is of no help! 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 had already known from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)⁶⁵ So Jesus added, "Because of this I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has allowed him to come."⁶⁶ After this many of his disciples quit following him and did not accompany him any longer.⁶⁷ So Jesus said to the twelve, "You don't want to go away too, do you?"⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.⁶⁹ We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God!"⁷⁰ Jesus replied, "Didn't I choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is the devil?"⁷¹ (Now he said this about Judas son of Simon Iscariot, for Judas, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.)

Even many who were considered disciples found Jesus' teaching ("difficult saying," John 6:60) hard to accept, indicating the challenging nature of his claims.
Jesus points to his future ascension (John 6:62) as a further sign that should help them understand his heavenly origin and the spiritual nature of his words, though it might also be a greater stumbling block for the unbelieving.
He clarifies that his words must be understood spiritually: "The Spirit gives life; human nature [flesh] is of no help" (John 6:63). The "flesh" here likely refers to human understanding or effort apart from God's Spirit.
Jesus reveals his divine foreknowledge, knowing from the beginning who truly believed and who (Judas) would betray him (John 6:64, 71).
He reiterates the necessity of the Father's enabling grace for anyone to come to him in faith (John 6:65), linking unbelief to the lack of this divine drawing.
The difficult teaching serves as a dividing line, causing many superficial followers to abandon Jesus (John 6:66). This illustrates the cost of true discipleship.
Jesus challenges the core group, the Twelve, forcing them to declare their allegiance (John 6:67).
Peter, speaking for the Twelve, makes a profound confession of faith, recognizing Jesus as the unique source of eternal life and acknowledging him as "the Holy One of God" (John 6:68-69), a messianic title affirming his divine nature.
Jesus' sobering response reminds them that even within the chosen Twelve, there is betrayal ("one of you is the devil," John 6:70), highlighting the mystery of unbelief and the reality of spiritual warfare even among his closest followers.

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John 6