John 6: Help to Readers

Reading John 6 as a coherent unit can be difficult at first glance. Specifically the first and second pericopes appear almost unrelated. I found Koester’s work Symbolism in the Fourth Gospel to very helpful in piecing the relationship together. In short, the relationship is contrast between the Johanine characters of the crowd and the disciples.

In 6:1-15 Jesus feeds the 5,000 near Tiberius, Galilee. The structure is a) miracle sign, the b) response of the sign observers, and c) Jesus’ response. After the crowd (oxlos) is fed, their response in v. 14 identifies Jesus as the Prophet of Deuteronomy 18:18. This prophetic, messianic connection seems well-founded as even the later document 2 Baruch conveys the sentiment. “The Anointed One will begin to be revealed…and those who are hungry will enjoy themselves and they will moreover see marvels everyday…and it will happen at that time that the treasury of manna will come down again from on high and they will eat of it in those years because these are they who will have arrived at the consummation of time.” (v. 3, 6, 8).

Jesus’ response to the crowd is to withdraw (which is better contextually and has better textual support than the possible “fleeing”). The withdrawing puts Jesus alone. Thus in fulfillment of Jesus words in John 2:23-25, He decided based on His knowledge of humans, who to entrust Himself to.

In 6:16-24 it is clear the same day is in view from vv. 1-15. The geography is moving across the Sea of Galilee from near Tiberius to Capernaum. The sign occurs in v. 19 with Jesus walking on the water during the storm and causing fear in the disciples. Jesus now speaks a crucial statement to the flow of the gospel. In v. 20, “I am; don’t be afraid.” Although sometimes translated differently, it is clear that this statement is an echo of Ex. 3:14 and Deut 32:39. It is the divine name (egw eimi) that will be presented throughout John’s gospel with further attribution such as in 6:35 “I am the bread of life” and 7 times in the rest of the book. This statement has appeared, though even more couched in 4:25.

This statement of divinity is followed by the disciples’ response thus reversing parts B & C of the previous pericope. The disciples allow Jesus to come into the boat or more dramatically dripping with Johnanine entendre they “received” (lambanw) Jesus.

Thus, John the evangelist arranges these two scenes to show a fundamental difference between the crowd of Galilee and the disciples. The crowd came for signs, thought they might actively make Jesus king, Jesus withdrew alone from them. The disciples heard the words of Jesus, received Jesus, and Jesus went with them to Capernaum (immediately apparently). John is signaling to his late first century readers the need to move from self-identifying with the seekers and the crowd (Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman, the Royal Official, and the lame man). For the rest of the gospel, John writes to clue his readers into self-identifying with the disciple community (though now forming the next generation after the apostles). These disciples are “the ones the Father has given” and “know his voice.” It is to these special individuals that Jesus will meet with in an Upper Room to pass on His mission. Thus, for readers today of the gospel of John, we must see that believe the words of Jesus identifying Him as God and Messiah. Then receive Him in order to be a true disciple.