Gospel of St. John: Chapter Six Discourse

Chapter six in the Gospel of John shows great symbolism because it replaces the Last Supper passages that are found in the other three gospels. This replacement is known as the Eucharistic Discourse and in this discourse; Jesus explains that he is the Bread of Life and whoever literally eats him shall not hunger. The miracle of the loaves and fishes also shows that Christ builds on nature.

He starts with something natural then it becomes supernaturally abundant. This shows the connection between the natural and the supernatural, between heaven and earth. The story of chapter six shows the “eagle” (his references to Heaven) and the “beagle-like” (his references to earth) qualities of John.

In the miracle of chapter six, Jesus multiplies five loaves and two fish into food for thousands. This occurrence begins with a natural effort. Jesus simply begins with five loaves and two fish and multiplies them into food for over a thousand people. These loaves and fish symbolize a natural beginning and earthliness.

When God preformed the miracle of the loaves and the fishes, he did not create something out of nothing (although we all know he is capable of doing this) but he used natural elements and a supernatural event came out of it. The natural effect of the miracle brought on supernatural abundance. This shows that He is making the connection between the supernatural and the natural and between heaven and earth.

After Jesus multiplies the loaves and the fish into food for the people, those people chase after him. These people achieve quick satisfaction from the loaves and they chase Jesus for more. However, Jesus gives them more than what they bargained for when he gives them the whole discourse on the fact that he is the Bread of Life (this is the Eucharistic Discourse.

On a spiritual level, these are people who achieve a quick emotional satisfaction. The people pursue Christ searching for something more but they hear something that they don’t want to hear. Jesus says that He is the Bread of Life and that unless you eat his flesh and drink his blood then you have no life within you. This literally translated means that Jesus is asking the people to chew on his flesh (this shows “the beagle” at work).

This disturbs the people and they are uncomfortable with this language that Jesus uses. In verse 28, Jesus associates works with belief and basically says that in order to believe you have to be active. This is something that the people are unwilling to be and this show their spiritual youth.

Love for another desires communion for the other. Human love is inhibited simply by the desire in sharing thoughts or burdens with the other person. God’s love is more complete than that. God can give himself entirely to a person in a complete way, not just through thoughts or feelings. He becomes part of us physically when we eat his body and drink his blood, which is the true source of life. When we fully assimilate God, we assimilate life and this is something that the people in chapter six were to spiritually inexperienced to see.

In conclusion, chapter six shows the connection between heaven and earth and it deals with the Eucharistic Discourse that takes the place of the Last Supper account. Jesus shows the connection between heaven and earth by taking natural elements (bread and fish) and creating a supernatural occurrence.

After the multiplication of the loaves, the people chase after Jesus searching for more, but when He says to chew on His flesh and drink His blood, they turn away. They do not see that God’s love is more complete than sharing thoughts or burdens, but God gives himself entirely to a person and he becomes part of that person physically. The miracle that occurs in chapter six shows the connection between heaven and earth, the Eucharistic Discourse, and the complete love of God.