John 6 48

John 6:48 kjv

I am that bread of life.

John 6:48 nkjv

I am the bread of life.

John 6:48 niv

I am the bread of life.

John 6:48 esv

I am the bread of life.

John 6:48 nlt

Yes, I am the bread of life!

John 6 verses

John 6 48 Meaning

John 6:48 presents Jesus' definitive declaration, "I am the bread of life," affirming His unique identity as the sole source of true, enduring spiritual nourishment and eternal existence. This statement signifies that union with Him provides profound satisfaction for the soul, transcending the temporary sustenance of physical food or even the miraculous manna provided to Israel in the wilderness. He is the ultimate provision from God, indispensable for spiritual life and the only means to salvation.

John 6 48 Context

John 6:48 is central to Jesus' "Bread of Life" discourse, which begins after His miraculous feeding of the five thousand and His walking on water. The crowds, initially seeking physical sustenance and more signs, followed Him to Capernaum. Jesus challenges their motivation, urging them to seek the food that "endures to eternal life" (Jn 6:27), not the perishable. When questioned about "the works of God," He declares that the work is to "believe in Him whom He has sent" (Jn 6:29). The Jewish people then demanded a sign comparable to Moses giving manna in the wilderness (Jn 6:30-31), explicitly mentioning their fathers ate manna. Jesus responded by clarifying that Moses did not give them the true bread from heaven, but "My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world" (Jn 6:32-33). He then declares for the first time, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst" (Jn 6:35). Verse 48 is a powerful reaffirmation of this identity, made amidst the grumbling and unbelief of the Jews, who were struggling to comprehend how Jesus could claim to be this life-giving bread, particularly given their focus on His human origins (Jn 6:42).

John 6 48 Word analysis

• I am (Ἐγώ εἰμι - Egō eimi): This Greek phrase is a profound and emphatic declaration. It resonates with the Septuagint translation of Exod 3:14 where God reveals His name to Moses as "I AM THAT I AM." Throughout John's Gospel, Jesus uses Egō eimi seven times as direct "I am" statements (bread, light, door, good shepherd, resurrection and life, way/truth/life, true vine), indicating His divine nature and exclusive identity. It signifies His pre-existence, self-existence, and eternal being, asserting His inherent deity. This declaration transcends a mere personal pronoun, proclaiming His oneness with God the Father.
• the bread (ὁ ἄρτος - ho artos): The definite article "the" emphasizes the unique and exclusive nature of this bread. In biblical culture, bread was the staple food, symbolizing essential sustenance and life itself. In the Old Testament, manna, provided by God, was called "bread from heaven" (Exod 16:4). By calling Himself "the bread," Jesus directly challenges and redefines this symbol. He is not merely sustenance like manna, which fed physically and temporarily, but He is the ultimate, divine provision for true spiritual life. He fulfills and supersedes the Old Testament types.
• of life (τῆς ζωῆς - tēs zōēs): The genitive "of life" defines the quality and source of the "bread." This "life" is not mere biological existence but zōē aiōnios (eternal life), which is the very divine life that flows from God Himself. It speaks to a full, meaningful, and eternal spiritual existence. To partake of this bread means to have communion with the eternal God and receive His very essence of life, which conquers spiritual death and promises everlasting fellowship with Him.

• "I am the bread of life": This complete phrase, first uttered in Jn 6:35, solidifies Jesus' claim as the essential and unique divine provision for humanity's deepest need. It combines His divine identity (Egō eimi) with His role as the life-giving sustainer (ho artos tēs zōēs). It implies that without Him, spiritual starvation and eternal death are the certain outcome. He is the ultimate spiritual reality to be embraced by faith, leading to salvation and unending fellowship with God.

John 6 48 Bonus section

This declaration "I am the bread of life" serves as one of John's seven profound "I Am" statements, each revealing a unique aspect of Jesus' divine identity and salvific purpose. In the ancient world, many deities were associated with particular aspects of life or provision. Jesus, through this statement, cuts through all such notions, asserting Himself as the one and only true source of eternal existence. The historical reality of manna being white, round, and coming with the dew was likely on the minds of the Jewish people, yet Jesus transcends this earthly symbolism, calling attention to the spiritual and eternal. This declaration prepares the way for Jesus' subsequent teaching about "eating His flesh" and "drinking His blood," emphasizing the absolute necessity of deeply incorporating Him into one's life through faith to receive eternal life.

John 6 48 Commentary

John 6:48 is a powerful reassertion by Jesus of His core identity as the indispensable source of spiritual existence. Following the immediate context of the feeding of the multitudes and the discussion surrounding the manna, Jesus elevates the discourse from physical needs to eternal realities. He positions Himself as superior to the manna, which only sustained temporary life and left the people hungry again, or even led to death for that generation (Jn 6:49). In contrast, He is the bread that gives spiritual, unending life to all who come to Him by faith. This statement underscores that faith in Him is the spiritual eating and drinking that leads to true life. It highlights His divine origin and absolute authority as the one true provision from God, urging a paradigm shift from reliance on transient miracles or physical blessings to embracing Him as the sole pathway to eternal communion with God. This verse encapsulates the foundational truth that spiritual life, peace, and ultimate satisfaction are found exclusively in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the living Bread from heaven.