Seminaries and Institutes
John 6: Jesus Is the Bread of Life

“John 6: Jesus Is the Bread of Life,” New Testament Seminary Student Study Guide (2003)

“John 6,” New Testament Student Study Guide

John 6

Jesus Is the Bread of Life

Why does the spirit, as well as the body, need nourishment? In the previous Gospels you read how Jesus fed five thousand people with just a few loaves of bread. In John 6 we learn more of that story, particularly about the attitudes of the people toward the physical food they received from Jesus compared to the spiritual food He desired to give them. Jesus testified of the importance of feeding our spirits as well as our bodies. Notice how the people responded.

Other Accounts of What You Read in John 6

John 6:1–14—Matthew 14:13–21; Mark 6:30–44; Luke 9:10–17

John 6:5–21—Matthew 14:22–33; Mark 6:52

Studying the Scriptures

Do two of the following activities (A–D) as you study John 6.

  1. Choose a King

    1. A large crowd of followers wanted the Savior to be their king (see John 6:15). According to John 6:5–14, 24–26, why did the people want Jesus to be their king?

    2. Why should we want Him to be our king?

    3. What difference do our motives for following Jesus make in the way we live?

  2. Make a Comparison

    Draw a chart like the one below. Fill it in with things Jesus referred to in John 6:22–27.

    “Meat” That Perishes

    “Meat” That Endures

  3. The Bread of Life

    If you have ever eaten a hot slice of homemade bread, think about how it tastes and what it provides for you. Read John 6:48–59 and think about how Jesus provides spiritual food for us. Answer the following questions:

    1. According to verses 51–58, what two things did Jesus say we need to do in order to have eternal life?

    2. How can those teachings help make the ordinance of the sacrament more meaningful to you?

  4. “The Inconvenient Messiah”

    Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, then president of Brigham Young University, said, “Life was very inconvenient for [Jesus], and, unless I miss my guess, it will often be so for you and for me when we take upon us his name” (“The Inconvenient Messiah,” Brigham Young University 1981–82 Fireside and Devotional Speeches, 77). Read John 6:60–71 and explain the following:

    1. How was Jesus’ doctrine “inconvenient” for many of His disciples?

    2. What gave Peter, despite the “inconvenience,” the strength to continue following Jesus?

    3. What can you do to ensure your obedience when the Lord asks you to do difficult things?