John Chapter 6, What Does It Really Say?

This chapter is so important in explaining the "true presence" of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Following is a verse by verse explanation. If you will read the whole chapter, you will not find any verse to indicate Jesus was speaking figuratively, or in parables. He was speaking literally as the chapter plainly states. One of the basic rules of Bible interpretation is, if something is said only once in Scripture, it might be taken figuratively, but if it is repeated three times, it is to be taken literally. Jesus repeated His message in John Chapter 6, nine different ways, or nine times.

Vs 1-15, Jesus demonstrated the need to feed the body, by the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. In later verses He will show the need to feed the spiritual soul as well, with His very own Body and Blood. Just as the life of the body is in the blood, Lev 11:17, so the life of the spiritual soul is in the body and blood of Jesus Christ, John 6:54.

Vs 24-25, These verses show that Jesus was speaking to all of the people, who represent all of us and not just the
Apostles.

Vs 33, Jesus said, "the bread of GOD gives life to the world."

Vs 35*, Jesus said, "...I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst."
This is the first of two verses that Protestants use to "prove" that Jesus was speaking figuratively for the whole chapter. "He who believes in Me shall never thirst", means to believe in what He said. If anyone denies what He said, does not believe in Him. In order to support this belief, then they have to show that Jesus also spoke figuratively in Mt 26:26-28, Mk 14:22-24, and Lk 22:19-20, where He said "This IS My Body." Also Paul must have been speaking figuratively in 1Cor 10:16, and 1Cor 11:23-30. Yet in none of these verses is there a shred of evidence to support their belief in figurative speech. Apparently they close their eyes to 1Cor 11:29, "...for he who eats and drinks unworthily, WITHOUT DISTINGUISHING THE BODY, eats and drinks JUDGMENT TO HIMSELF."

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Vs 41, already the Jews doubt Him.

Vs 43, Jesus knew they were doubting when He said, "Murmur not among yourselves."

Vs 47, Jesus said, "He who believes in Me has life everlasting."
He is telling them that the ones who believe what He is saying, have everlasting life. Do you want everlasting life? Then you have to believe Him because He said it. He is truth, John 14:6, remember?

Vs 48, a second time Jesus said, "I am that bread of life."

Vs 49, "Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness and they are dead."

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Vs 50, "This is the bread which comes down from Heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die."

Vs 51, Jesus said, "I am the living bread that came down from Heaven, if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever. And the bread that I will give IS my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

Vs 52, the Jews doubt even more as they say, "How can this man give us His flesh to eat?" 
Isn't this what non-believers in the "True Presence" say today?

Vs 53, Jesus said, "If you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man, you have no life in you."

Vs 54, "Whoever eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, has eternal life; and I will raise him up on the last day."

Vs 55, Jesus said, "For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed."

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Vs 56, Jesus said, "He that eats My flesh and drinks My blood dwells in Me, and I in him."

Vs 59, This verse shows that Jesus taught this discourse to all the people.

Vs 60, They doubt a third time when many disciples said, "This is a hard saying, who can hear it"?
They must have thought this was something akin to cannibalism. Is this what you think too? At any point did Jesus back down?

Vs 61, Jesus did not back down, for He said, "Does this offend you?"
He knew their thoughts.

Vs 63*, Jesus said, "It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing. The words I speak to you, they are spirit, and they are life."
Did He say He was speaking figuratively or in parables? This is the second verse detractors use to try to 'prove' that Jesus spoke figuratively for the whole chapter. What Jesus had said is, that we cannot accept this mystery if we accept it in too human a way, by having an earthly view of things. If the flesh profits nothing, then Jesus died for nothing. The ones who can only think of cannibalism, are they not having an earthly view? Anyone who says what Jesus Christ said in these verses is figurative, is also breaking at least three basic rules of Bible interpretation.


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Vs 64, Jesus said, "But there are some of you who believe not."
Jesus knew from the beginning who they were, and who should betray Him. This is the first time Jesus alludes to Judas, as the betrayer.

Vs 66, and now look what happens in John 6:66. "From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him".
Did He call them back and say, "Hey I was just kidding, it is only a parable"? No He did not, for in the next verse, He did just the opposite. Are you one of those who walked away because His teaching is too hard? Interestingly, the Jews knew exactly what He was saying. If they thought it was only a symbol, then why would they walk away? This verse does not apply to the Jews only. It applies to all of us to this day, who reject the True Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Did you see the connection to the number 666 ?

Vs 67, Jesus said to the twelve, "Will you also go away?"
Right here, He would have let them ALL go for not believing what He had said.

Vs 68, interestingly it was Simon Peter who answered, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life". Have you ever wondered why Simon Peter is usually the spokesman for the Apostles?

Vs 69, Simon Peter continued, "We Believe And Are Sure That You Are
That Christ, The SON Of The Living GOD".

Vs 70-71, Jesus names Judas Iscariot as the one who would betray Him.

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©
Compiled by Bob Stanley, 1997
Updated May 23, 2000

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