Importance of John 6:60-61 in New Testament Theology
John 6:60-61 records the disciples' reaction to Jesus's teaching on his flesh and blood, highlighting the difficulty and offense many found in his words. The passage states, "Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?" (John 6:60-61 KJV). These verses are pivotal in the broader discourse of John 6, which centers on Jesus as the "bread of life" [11].
The immediate literary context for these verses is Jesus's discourse following the miraculous feeding of the five thousand, which occurred near the Passover Festival [9, 11]. After the feeding, Jesus walked on water, and the crowds followed him to Capernaum [11]. In Capernaum, Jesus engaged in a lengthy discussion about spiritual food versus perishing food, culminating in his controversial statements about eating his flesh and drinking his blood [11]. He declared, "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I in him" (John 6:56). He further explained that those who feed on him would live because of him, just as he lived because of the Father [6]. This teaching was shocking and difficult for his disciples to comprehend, as it seemed to advocate for cannibalism, which was forbidden by Jewish law [7]. The disciples' murmuring in John 6:60-61 directly follows these challenging statements [4].
The historical setting is first-century Galilee, specifically Capernaum, where Jesus had been performing miracles and teaching [10]. The audience included not only the general crowds who had witnessed the feeding of the five thousand but also a significant number of his disciples [11]. The term "disciples" here refers to a broader group of followers, not exclusively the twelve apostles [4]. Their reaction indicates a widespread struggle to accept Jesus's claims.
The key terms in these verses are "hard saying" (σκληρὸς λόγος, sklēros logos) and "offend" (σκανδαλίζω, skandalizō). The phrase "hard saying" conveys that Jesus's words were difficult to accept, understand, or endure [7]. It implies a teaching that was both morally objectionable and intellectually perplexing. The term "offend" suggests that Jesus's words caused them to stumble or take offense, leading to doubt or rejection [1, 4]. This reaction is not unique in the Gospels; Jesus often presented teachings that challenged conventional understanding and provoked strong responses [1].
A major exegetical decision in understanding these verses, and indeed the entire discourse, revolves around the interpretation of Jesus's words about eating his flesh and drinking his blood. Were these statements to be taken literally or figuratively? The disciples' reaction in John 6:60-61 suggests they understood them literally, finding them offensive [7]. Jesus's subsequent explanation in John 6:63, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life," clarifies that his teaching is spiritual, not carnal [2, 7]. This verse is crucial for interpreting the "hard saying" of John 6:60. The "flesh profits nothing" indicates that a literal, physical consumption of his body would be meaningless without the spiritual understanding and reception of his words [2].
The range of interpretations for John 6:60-61 typically focuses on the nature of faith and the role of the Holy Spirit in understanding divine truth. Matthew Henry, a Puritan commentator, notes that the people's discontent stemmed from their carnal understanding and their failure to grasp the spiritual nature of Jesus's teaching [11]. The Tyndale House commentary emphasizes that Jesus's language was indeed shocking and difficult to understand, even for his disciples, and that Jesus's answer in John 6:63 points to the spiritual meaning [7]. The difficulty of Jesus's teaching served as a test of faith, revealing those who were truly committed to him versus those who followed him for more superficial reasons, such as the miraculous provision of food [3, 5].
This passage functions in New Testament theology by underscoring the radical nature of Jesus's claims and the necessity of spiritual discernment to accept them. It highlights the division that Jesus's words created, leading many of his disciples to turn away (John 6:66) [3]. It also sets the stage for Peter's confession of faith in John 6:68-69, where he affirms Jesus as the Holy One of God despite the difficulty of his teachings. The passage thus emphasizes that true discipleship involves accepting challenging truths through faith, empowered by the Spirit, rather than relying solely on human reason or carnal understanding [2, 8].
Sources
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “John 6:61 cross-references: Matthew 11:6, John 2:24, John 6:64, John 21:17, Hebrews 4:13, Revelation 2:23”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “John 6:63 cross-references: Genesis 2:7, Deuteronomy 32:47, Psalms 19:7, Psalms 119:50, Psalms 119:93, Psalms 119:130, John 6:68, John 12:49, Romans 2:25, Romans 3:1, Romans 8:2, Romans 10:8, Romans 10:17, 1 Corinthians 2:9, 1 Corinthians 11:27, 1 Corinthians 15:45, 2 Corinthians 3:6, Galatians 5:6, Galatians 5:25, Galatians 6:15, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Timothy 4:8, Hebrews 4:12, Hebrews 13:9, James 1:18, 1 Peter 1:23, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 Peter 3:21”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “John 6:66 cross-references: Zephaniah 1:6, Matthew 12:40, Matthew 13:20, Matthew 19:22, Matthew 21:8, Matthew 27:20, Luke 9:62, John 6:60, John 6:64, John 8:31, 2 Timothy 1:15, 2 Timothy 4:10, Hebrews 10:38, 2 Peter 2:20, 1 John 2:19”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “John 6:60 cross-references: Matthew 11:6, John 6:41, John 6:66, John 8:31, John 8:43, Hebrews 5:11, 2 Peter 3:16”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “John 6:27 cross-references: Deuteronomy 30:13, Psalms 2:7, Psalms 40:7, Proverbs 2:2, Ecclesiastes 5:11, Ecclesiastes 6:7, Isaiah 11:1, Isaiah 42:1, Isaiah 55:2, Isaiah 61:1, Jeremiah 15:16, Habakkuk 2:13, Matthew 3:17, Matthew 6:19, Matthew 6:31, Matthew 8:20, Matthew 17:5, Mark 1:11, Mark 9:7, Luke 3:22, Luke 4:18, Luke 9:35, Luke 10:40, John 1:33, John 3:33, John 4:13, John 5:36, John 6:28, John 6:40, John 6:51, John 6:54, John 6:58, John 6:68, John 8:18, John 10:28, John 10:37, John 11:25, John 11:42, John 14:6, John 15:24, John 17:2, Acts 2:22, Acts 10:38, Romans 4:11, Romans 6:23, 1 Cori”
- John “As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he who feeds on me, he will also live because of me. -- John 6:57”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 6:60: 6:60-61 Jesus’ language (6:53-58) was shocking, offensive (see Gen 9:4-5), and hard to understand for his disciples, just as it was to the crowd. Were they to take him literally? How would they eat his flesh? Jesus’ answer is in John 6:63.”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 59:21: 59:21 The members of the new community have the Spirit, and they know and practice God’s word (see also Ezek 36:24-28). The Lord promises to regenerate the children by his Spirit and bring them into the covenant of obedience and love for the Lord (Joel 2:28; Acts 2:39).”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 6:1: 6:1-71 Each story in this chapter uses the setting of the Passover Festival (6:4) to communicate a deeper meaning. 6:1-15 Jesus’ feeding the 5,000 recalls the great Old Testament miracle of bread when Israel was in the wilderness (Exod 16). The rabbis of Jesus’ day expected the coming Messiah to “rain down food from heaven” once again (Exod 16:4), and he did.”
- Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 6:6: 6:6–8:21 Jesus’ mission and the disciples’ misunderstanding are prominent themes in this section. 6:6 This summary of Jesus’ healing and preaching ministry introduces an account concerning the disciples. Jesus’ teaching from village to village probably took place around the Sea of Galilee and perhaps in Capernaum (see 2:1).”
- John (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on John 6 (introduction): In this chapter we have, I. The miracle of the loaves (Joh 6:1-14). II. Christ's walking upon the water (Joh 6:15-21). III. The people's flocking after him to Capernaum (Joh 6:22-25). IV. His conference with them, occasioned by the miracle of the loaves, in which he reproves them for seeking carnal food, and directs them to spiritual food (Joh 6:26, Joh 6:27), showing them how they must labour for spiritual food (Joh 6:28, Joh 6:29), and what that spiritual food is (v. 30-59). V. Their discontent at what he said, and the reproof he gave them for it (Joh ”