Answers for the Gospel of John Chapter 6

About These Answers 


DAY ONE
Questions and Answers


1. How do you think Philip did when Jesus tested him as provided in verse 6 of Chapter 6?

He failed to see the power of Jesus, he was limited because he was looking for the physical answer

2. What miracle had Philip already seen Jesus perform that should have helped him believe that Jesus could feed the 5,000?

The turning of water to wine at the wedding in Cana

3. What do we know of Philip from the following verses:

  • Matt 10:3: He was an Apostle
  • John 1:44: He was from the town of Bethsaida
  • John 1:45: He knew Nathanael, believed Jesus was the Messiah
  • John 14:8: He lacked great faith at times
  • Acts 1:1-13: Philip may have been present at the ascension and stayed with the disciples


DAY TWO
Questions and Answers


1. Why did Jesus feed the 5,000?

Verse 14 of Chapter 6 states “After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world."

2. From Chapter 6 verses 26&27, 30&33, and verses 34&35, what is the crowd persistently seeking thing from Jesus and what does Jesus keep offering instead?

The crowd keeps asking for physical food, such as that which was given when he fed the 5,000; but Jesus keeps offering spritual food (the Bread of Life - himself).

  • Verse 26-27: “Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."
  • Verses 30-33: “So they asked him, "What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" 32 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, 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. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
  • Verse 34: "Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread." 35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”

3. From the following verses characterize the attitudes of those who followed Jesus? Use the phrase “They were ______” and add 1 word to describe their attitude (e.g They were curious).

  • Verse 2: they were curious“…and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick.”
  • Verses 14-15: they were reverent“After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world." 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.“
  • Verses 26-27: they were hungry“Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."
  • Verses 28-31: they were repentant“Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"29 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." 30 So they asked him, "What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"
  • Verse 34: they were willing"Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread."
  • Verses 41-42: they were disbelieving“At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." 42 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'?"
  • Verse 52: they were confused“Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"


DAY THREE
Questions and Answers


1. What is the recurring idea in Chapter 6 verses 37 and 39?

That if the Father sends someone to Jesus, Jesus will accept him and never lose him

2. Which of the verses from 35 to 59 promote the idea of eternal life for the believer?

  • Verse 39 -- And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.
  • Verse 40 -- 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 him up at the last day."
  • Verse 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.
  • Verse47 -- I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.
  • Verse 50 -- But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die.
  • Verse 51 -- I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."
  • Verse 54 -- Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
  • Verse 57 -- 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.
  • Verse 58 -- This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever."

3. The incident of Jesus walking on water occurs here in the Gospel of John but also occurs in two other Gospels. What do we learn of the incident of Jesus walking on water from Matthew Chapter 14, verses 22 - 33 and Mark Chapter 6, verses 47-52?

Matthew Chapter 14:

  • Verse 25 - This occurred during the fourth watch of the night (sometime after 3am)
  • Verse 26 - They thought Jesus was a ghost walking on the lake,
  • Verse 28-30 - Peter walked on the water but when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink and the Lord saved him
  • Verse 33 - They worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

Mark Chapter 6

  • Verse 48 - Jesus was about to pass by them
  • Verse 52 - They had not understood about the loaves because their hearts were hardened


DAY FOUR
Questions and Answers


1. Why were the Apostles terrified when they saw Jesus walking on the water?

They were terrified because they did not understand it was Jesus, although it is not provided here in the Gospel of John - It states int he Gospel of Matthew that they thought he was a ghost - See Matt 14:26

2. Compare the manna of Moses time to the Bread of Life that Jesus offered in the Gospel of John. How are they similar? How are they different?

They are the same in that both are given by God, both are for the Jews (at least initially), both came down from heaven.

They are different in that one provided for physical life and the other provided for spiritual life; also, one is temporary and of earth while the other is eternal and of heaven; finally, one is a real physical substance, the other is real but a metaphor or symbolic.

3. List the grumblings or reasons for the crowds objections to Jesus' teachings in Chapter 6 verses 30, 41 and 52.

  • Verse 30 - What miraculous sign will you give us?
  • Verse 41 - Isn't this Joseph and Mary's son, how can he say he came down from heaven?
  • Verse 52 - How can this man give us his flesh to eat?


DAY FIVE
Questions and Answers


1. Why do you think the crowd wanted to make Jesus king as provided in Chapter 6 verse 14? What is the irony in this?

Not only because he gave them bread to eat, but also because he demonstrated miraculous signs (See Chapter 6 verse 2 and 14)

I believe the irony is that Jesus Christ already was and still is the King of Kings

2. What do we learn about God the Father from the following verses in Chapter 6?

  • Verse 37 - All that the Father gives to Jesus will go to Jesus
  • Verses 39-40 - It is the Father's will that Jesus lose none that are given to him in that he will raise them up at the last day
  • Verse 45 - You can be taught by God through Jesus Christ (the Word in the flesh)
  • Verse 46 - No man has seen God the Father except Jesus Christ
  • Verse 57 - Jesus Christ was sent by God the Father and lives because of him; we in turn, can be sent by Jesus and live because of him

3. Why do you think Jesus asked the question “Have I not chosen you” to the 12 disciples at the end of Chapter 6?

Peter says where will we go? Jesus responds and counters Peter’s incredulity with emphasis that although he chose the 12 - one of them would betray him. Perhaps he asks the question to emphasize that he knew that Judas would betray him.


DAY SIX
Questions and Answers


Why did many of Jesus’ disciples leave him after his teaching in the Synagogue at Capernaum as shown in Chapter 6, verse 66?

Because He stated that You must eat my flesh and drink my blood, they did not understand and probably thought he meant cannibalism - they took him literally.