Note:
Jesus is explaining in detail His relationship with the Father. In reading this section, we need to bear in mind one important thing and that is although Jesus speaks of the Father and Himself as two “persons”, the separation of the Son from the Father and vice versa is an impossibility. As John 1:18 clarifies, the Son gives expression to the Father, but they are essentially one (Jn. 10:30).
(1) In an effort to tell the Jews who He is, Jesus points out that “My Father is always at work”.
a. What does He tell them about His relationship with God?
b. What is God doing these days?
c. What is the Son doing then?
d. Why then is His work not a violation of the Sabbath? (See Matt. 12:8.)
(2) In what way are Jesus and the Father one according to v. 19?
(3) In comparison with what they have seen (i.e. the healing of the invalid), what are the two “greater things” that the Son will do? (vv. 21-22)
(4) At the appearance of Jesus, how are eternal life and eternal condemnation determined? And why? (vv. 23-24)
(5) Since v. 29 pertains to how a person comes to have eternal life, what does v. 29 mean?
(6) Why does the Father give Jesus the authority to judge “because He is the Son of Man”? (v. 27)
(7) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Jesus continued to rebuke the Jews for their hatred towards Him based on His perceived breach of Sabbath law and making Himself equal with God:
(1) Jesus said the Jews really had no excuse for not believing in Him, because there was at least a four-fold testimony about Him. Can you discern what they were?
a. Vv. 33-35: How did the Jews respond to this testimony and why?
b. V. 36: Why is this testimony weightier than the last one?
c. Vv. 37-38: How did the Father testify concerning the Son?
d. Vv. 39-40 (also vv. 45-47): How “weighty” is this testimony?
(2) Have these four witnesses strengthened your faith in Christ?
(3) The Jews “diligently studied the Scriptures” and yet they would not believe in Jesus. What were the reasons?
(4) How does this remind you of your own attitude in studying the Scriptures today?
(5) Part of the sin of the Jews laid in their “accepting praise from one another” (v. 44). Examine yourself whether this is also your sin.
(6) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) How did the Galileans differ from the Jews of Jerusalem in their reception of Jesus?
(2) Look up Mark 6:32-44 for the reason why Jesus wanted to feed the crowd?
(3) John said Jesus was testing Philip with His question. What did Jesus hope to hear from Philip?
(4) What was Philip’s reply? What might be the underlying thoughts behind his answer?
(5) How did Andrew’s response differ from Philip’s, especially in terms of his attitude toward the “problem” they were facing?
(6) What was the result of his action? Is there a lesson to learn for us?
(7) We know from the other gospel accounts that the disciples were involved in the handling of the food distribution:
a. What would this miracle mean to the disciples?
b. What might be the significance of having leftovers?
c. What might be the significance of having filled 12 baskets with the leftovers?
(8) How differently (from the Jews in Jerusalem) did this crowd respond to the miraculous sign of Jesus?
(9) In what ways were they not different from the Jews in Jerusalem?
(10) Why did Jesus choose to go away from a crowd that believed in Him?
(11) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
It is helpful that we also read the parallel passage in Mark 6:45-52 which gives more details and insights in this event.
(1) We know the impact the last miracle had on the people. What might the disciples learn about Who Jesus is and what He can do?
(2) Can you think of any possible reasons why Jesus did not join them right away? (see vv. 22-24)
(3) Did Jesus know in advance that the disciples would face the strong wind?
(4) Why did Jesus choose to join them now by walking on water, and not by simply appearing on the other side of the lake?
(5) What might the disciples learn from this miracle that they might not have from the last one?
(6) Had their hearts not been hardened, how should they have responded to the storm and the sudden appearance of Jesus on the water?
(7) What has this miracle demonstrated to you? How can you apply it to your life?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Why did the crowd pursue Jesus so relentlessly? (6:15, 26)
(2) We understand that the crowd that followed Jesus was in general quite poor. Was Jesus being too harsh on them?
(3) What other perishable things do people pursue or work for other than food?
(4) Why are people not interested in “food that endures to eternal life”?
(5) What is the
significance of v. 27 when it comes to:
a. Our sharing of the gospel with others?
b. Our own focus of life?
(6) It is Jesus who led the crowd to think in terms of “work” (v. 27).
a. Why then does He equate “faith” with “work”?
b. What is the important message He conveys?
(7) These people had already seen and personally tasted of the miracle of bread and fish.
a. How could they still ask for a “miraculous sign”?
b. From what they said in v. 31 (referring to manna from heaven), what kind of a miracle were they hoping to see that qualified as a “miraculous sign”?
c. Why was manna not the “true bread of heaven”?
(8) What is “the true bread of heaven”? (v. 32) How does “it” differ from manna? (v. 33)
(9) It is obvious that the people still did not get it (v. 34). According to Jesus,
a. Who will be the ones who will believe in Him? (v. 37)
b. How does v.39 speak to the “eternal security” of all believers?
c. What will happen to all who die believing in Jesus Christ? (v. 40)
(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Why did the people not believe that Jesus is the Bread from heaven? (vv. 41-42)
(2) In what way was their doubt justified?
(3) In what way was their doubt not justified? (See Jn. 5:33-47, the 4-fold testimony.)
(4) On what basis did Jesus ask them to stop grumbling?
(5) What was their problem according to Jesus? (v. 45)
(6) In reiterating that He is the Bread of Life that has come down from heaven (vv. 46-51), what else did Jesus ask them to do to “believe” in Him?
(7) Would you have understood what Jesus meant at the time?
(8) What does He really mean in v. 51?
(9) V. 52 suggests that some did believe in Him: It is easy to understand why some of them did not believe. The harder question is “Why would some of them believe?” What do you think?
(10) Jesus went on to explain to them that His flesh and His blood could really be consumed and those who eat and drink of Him will have eternal life and will be raised at the last day. As hard to understand as it was, if they were sincere in searching for the truth, what question should they ask? What question(s) would you have asked?
(11) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Some of the disciples were grumbling too.
a. Since they were “disciples”, shouldn’t their attitude be different from the people?
b. As hard as Jesus’ teaching was, how should they approach it?
(2) As much as the teaching was hard, why would they be “offended”? In what ways might they be offended?
(3) What did Jesus say was their problem? (v. 62)
(4) If the Spirit gives life and the flesh counts for nothing (v. 63), how then should this principle be applied to the real eating of His flesh and the real drinking of His blood?
(5) What ultimately determines whether someone will believe in Christ or not? (v. 65)
(6) Vv. 66-67 are some of the saddest verses in the Bible.
a. What could Jesus have done to prevent it?
b. Why didn’t He?
(7) What is your answer to v. 67?
(8) What is the reason for your answer?
(9) Is it the same as Peter’s? Why or why not?
(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?