Read John 6:30-71

1) In verse 30 the people demand that Jesus show them some sign so that they can believe on him. They then appear to specify the sign that they’re looking for. What are they expecting Jesus to do before they’re willing to believe on him?

2) Look up Exodus 16:2-3. In what way are these people similar to their ancestors?

3) Explain the difference between their view of Jesus in verse 14 and their view of him in verse 30-31. What happened between these two statements that caused the shift in their thinking?

4) We already know that Jesus is quite aware of what people are thinking. What unstated misconception of their own history does Jesus seek to correct in verse 32? (See Exodus 16:4)

5) The words of the people in verse 34 are very similar to the response of the woman in John 4:15. Both seem willing to look to Jesus for continual satisfaction of their physical needs. Do they finally respond to Jesus the same way? Explain. (See verse 6:36 compared with 4:42)

6) Why did Jesus’ miracles earlier in this chapter not ultimately bring these people to faith in him? (Verse 37)

7) God’s sovereignty in salvation is a topic that is very disturbing to many, and yet Jesus clearly teaches it here in this passage (verses 6:37-39, 44-45, 64-65). Why do people find this subject disturbing? What should our response to this truth be?

8 ) What is man’s responsibility toward God? (See 6:29, also 3:14-21)

9) Those who hold to extreme forms of Calvinist doctrine say that God is totally sovereign in salvation and that man has no free will to exercise in the matter. Those who follow Armenian doctrine say that man’s will is totally free in salvation and that God does not play any role in the decision. Sticking with those passages of scripture we have already looked at in the first six chapters of John, how should this argument be resolved? (See John 1:12-13, 3:5-8, 3:14-21, 4:23-24, 5:21-24, 5:39-40)

10) How does Jesus statement in verses 38-40 affect you?

11) Look up Exodus 16:4, 15, Nehemiah 9:15, Psalm 78:23-24, and Psalm 105:40. Compare with John 6:32-35 and 6:47-51. What is different about the bread God gave to their fathers and the bread he is now giving?

12) Why are the people murmuring (or grumbling) against Jesus in verses 41-43? Based on what we have already studied in John’s gospel (particularly chapter 5), how would you describe their ignorance of Jesus’ divine origin?

13) What is Jesus referring to in 6:45, and how does it relate to his being the bread of life? (see John 6:51, Isaiah 54:13, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 8:1-13)

14) What does it mean to “strive”? Why were the people in this state in verse 52? (see Leviticus 17:10-14)

15) In the following scriptures, what was Jesus speaking about and did the people he was speaking to understand what he was saying? Did Jesus explain his meaning to them? Why or why not?

a) John 2:19-22

b) John 3:3-8

c) John 4:10-15

d) John 4:31-34

e) John 6:27-30

f) John 6:53-60

16) This is the primary text upon which the doctrine of transubstantiation (or the real presence of Christ in the communion elements) is based. How does that physical understanding of the verses here fit with the pattern (Q.15) that John seems to have established so far?

17) Those who hold to transubstantiation will state that if Jesus was referring to something spiritual rather than physical, then he would have explained himself rather than let the people walk away over a simple misunderstanding. What explanation of his meaning did Jesus give? Why did the disciples still leave? (see verses 6:63-65)

18) How does the subject of the Lord’s Supper relate to this passage of scripture?

19) What is the bread and the blood that Jesus has been talking about? (see also Q.13, especially verse 51) How do we eat and drink this bread and blood? (see 6:63-64, 68-69)

20) Did the disciples who stayed with Jesus understand what he was saying that day? What was the essential difference between those who stayed and those who left?