John 6:35

🥖 John 6:35 – “I Am the Bread of Life”

New King James Version:
“And Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.’”

📖 Context and Overview of John Chapter 6

John chapter 6 [i] is a rich theological narrative that begins with the miraculous feeding of the five thousand (verses 1–14), followed by Jesus walking on water (verses 15–21), and culminates in a profound discourse on spiritual nourishment and eternal life (verses 22–71). The crowd, having witnessed the miracle of multiplied bread, seeks Jesus again—not for who He is, but for what He can give them materially.

Jesus confronts their motives and redirects their focus from physical bread to Himself as the true spiritual sustenance. This chapter contains the first of seven “I Am” statements in John’s Gospel, where Jesus declares His divine identity and mission.

🧠 Exegetical Insights on John 6:35

1. “I Am the Bread of Life” – Divine Identity

Jesus’ use of “I Am” (Greek: egō eimi) echoes the divine name revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14. This is a clear affirmation of Christ’s deity. He is not merely a prophet or teacher; He is Yahweh incarnate.

By calling Himself “the bread of life,” Jesus positions Himself as essential for spiritual survival. Just as bread was a staple food in the ancient world, Jesus is the indispensable source of eternal life.

2. “He who comes to Me shall never hunger” – Invitation and Assurance

This phrase is both an invitation and a promise. “Coming to Jesus” implies repentance and faith—a turning away from self-reliance and sin, and a turning toward Christ. This coming is enabled by the sovereign drawing of the Father (John 6:44), not by human effort alone.

The assurance is profound: those who come to Christ will never experience spiritual hunger. This does not mean life will be easy, but that the deepest needs of the soul—purpose, forgiveness, peace—are fully satisfied in Him.

3. “He who believes in Me shall never thirst” – Faith as Union

Believing in Jesus is not mere intellectual assent; it is a relational trust that unites the believer to Christ. Faith is the instrument by which we receive Christ and all His benefits—justification, adoption, sanctification, and glorification.

The metaphor of thirst speaks to the soul’s longing for meaning, love, and truth. Jesus promises that those who trust Him will find lasting satisfaction, unlike the fleeting pleasures of the world.

🪜 Application for Modern Christian Living

A. Reject Consumer Christianity

Many today seek Jesus for what He can give—health, wealth, comfort. John 6 warns against this mindset. True discipleship means seeking Jesus for who He is, not just for what He provides.

B. Rest in Christ’s Sufficiency

In a culture of constant striving, Jesus offers rest. He is enough. You do not need to earn God’s favour through performance. If you have come to Christ and believe in Him, you are fully accepted and eternally secure.

C. Feed Daily on Christ

Just as we eat daily to sustain our bodies, we must feed spiritually on Christ through Scripture, prayer, and fellowship. This is not legalism—it is life-giving communion with the Saviour.

D. Share the Bread

If Jesus is the bread of life, then evangelism is like offering bread to the hungry. Christians are called to share the gospel with compassion and clarity, trusting God to draw people to Himself.

[i] John 6

New King James Version

Feeding the Five Thousand(A)

6 After (B)these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of (C)Tiberias. 2 Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were (D)diseased.[a] 3 And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.

4 (E)Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. 5 (F)Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to (G)Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.

7 Philip answered Him, (H)“Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.”

8 One of His disciples, (I)Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, (J)but what are they among so many?”

10 Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them [b]to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” 13 Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly (K)the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

Jesus Walks on the Sea(L)

15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him (M)king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

16 (N)Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. 18 Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. 19 So when they had rowed about [c]three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were (O)afraid. 20 But He said to them, (P)“It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

The Bread from Heaven

22 On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except [d]that one [e]which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone— 23 however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks— 24 when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, (Q)seeking Jesus. 25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?”

26 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 (R)Do not labor for the food which perishes, but (S)for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, (T)because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”

29 Jesus answered and said to them, (U)“This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

30 Therefore they said to Him, (V)“What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? 31 (W)Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, (X)‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ”

32 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but (Y)My Father 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.”

34 (Z)Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”

35 And Jesus said to them, (AA)“I am the bread of life. (AB)He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never (AC)thirst. 36 (AD)But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet (AE)do not believe. 37 (AF)All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and (AG)the one who comes to Me I will [f]by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, (AH)not to do My own will, (AI)but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, (AJ)that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, (AK)that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Rejected by His Own

41 The Jews then [g]complained about Him, because He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” 42 And they said, (AL)“Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”

43 Jesus therefore answered and said to them, [h]“Do not murmur among yourselves. 44 (AM)No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me (AN)draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, (AO)‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ (AP)Therefore everyone who [i]has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. 46 (AQ)Not that anyone has seen the Father, (AR)except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47 Most assuredly, I say to you, (AS)he who believes [j]in Me has everlasting life. 48 (AT)I am the bread of life. 49 (AU)Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 (AV)This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread (AW)which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and (AX)the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

52 The Jews therefore (AY)quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”

53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless (AZ)you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 (BA)Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is [k]food indeed, and My blood is [l]drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood (BB)abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58 (BC)This is the bread which came down from heaven—not (BD)as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”

59 These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.

Many Disciples Turn Away

60 (BE)Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a [m]hard saying; who can understand it?”

61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples [n]complained about this, He said to them, “Does this [o]offend you? 62 (BF)What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 63 (BG)It is the Spirit who gives life; the (BH)flesh profits nothing. The (BI)words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 64 But (BJ)there are some of you who do not believe.” For (BK)Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He said, “Therefore (BL)I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

66 (BM)From that time many of His disciples went [p]back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”

68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have (BN)the words of eternal life. 69 (BO)Also we have come to believe and know that You are the [q]Christ, the Son of the living God.”

70 Jesus answered them, (BP)“Did I not choose you, the twelve, (BQ)and one of you is a devil?” 71 He spoke of (BR)Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would (BS)betray Him, being one of the twelve.

Footnotes

John 6:2 sick

John 6:11 NU omits to the disciples, and the disciples

John 6:19 Lit. 25 or 30 stadia

John 6:22 NU omits that

John 6:22 NU omits which His disciples had entered

John 6:37 certainly not

John 6:41 grumbled

John 6:43 Stop grumbling

John 6:45 M hears and has learned

John 6:47 NU omits in Me

John 6:55 NU true food