Res Biblica

John 6:37-40 is part of what Raymond Brown calls the sapiential theme of the Bread of Life discourse. This part goes from verse 35-50. 1

John 6:35-50 can be outlined as follows:

• v. 35. Jesus' declaration: I am the Bread of Life
• v. 36. The observation that though the Jews see him, they still do not believe Him
• vv.37-40. [Our selection]
• vv. 41-42 The murmurring of the Jews (a theme that will recur throughout the Bread of Life discourse)
• vv. 43-47. "No one comes to me unless the Father draws him." (continues vv. 37-40)
• vv. 48-50. Second declaration: "I am the Bread of Life" 2.

The declaration "I am the Bread of Life" is the first of three declarations that Jesus makes throughout the discourse: vv. 35. 48 and 51 3 The first declaration is an answer to an comment of the Jews that echoes a remark of the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4). The answer of Jesus is a signal that a misunderstanding about the bread that Jesus gives is being clarified. The declaration is followed by an explanation that echoes statements about Jesus found in the dialogue with the woman at the well (John 4).

He who comes to me will never be hungry
he who believes in me will never thirst

The parallel between "coming to me" and "believing in me" must be noted since this determines the meaning of "come to me" in vv. 37-40. To "come to Jesus" is also "believing in Him" but the Jews have come to him without believing (v. 36). What follows explains how those who come to Jesus and believe in Him is due to the will of the Father.

Below is a sentence flow of John 6:37-40. Click on the thumbnail for a bigger picture.

Notice the following structural elements of the text:

1. "Father" (37.40) and "the one who sent me" (38.39)
2. "come" (37), "see" (40), "believe" (40)
3. the verb "give" (vv. 37.39)

In the introduction to the Bread of Life discourse (John 6:32-33) Jesus had told the Jews that the true manna is the one that the Father gives, furthering identifying this bread as "the one come down from heaven and gives life to the world". This statement is the subject of both the sapiential and sacramental themes of the discourse. The Father, "the One Who Sent Jesus" is revealed in vv. 37-40 as also the one who gives to Jesus those who will believe in him. Thus, the theme that those who will eat and drink of the flesh and blood of Jesus (=the Church) as also the Father's gift to Jesus is opened up.

Those given by the Father to Jesus will "come" to Jesus, and "see and believe", as was already shown in those first disciples who follow Jesus and are told to "come and see" (John 1:35-42). The Jews 4 who "see" Jesus but don't "believe" in Him and are not among these. By their unbelief, they show that they are not among those given to Jesus.

Finally, the verb "give" is a keyword in the gospel of John. It expresses the way the Father and Son relate with one another (cf. John 3:35;5:22;10:21;17:8-9). In John 3:16, the gift of the Father to the world is the Son. In John 10:21 Priestly Prayer of Jesus (17:8-9), the disciples are mentioned as taking part in this relationship. Specifically, they are the ones whom the Father has given to the Son.

Jesus, the Bread of Life is given to the world; those who come to him, seeing and believing, are given to him by the Father. What the Son does to what has been given is to preserve them for eternal life. The parallels "that they may have eternal life" and "I shall raise (him) on the last day" echo what Jesus has been saying from John 3:15. The Word who is the light of all men, is the light that gives life. This Word is also the true Bread of Heaven that gives life (John 6:33). But this life is available only to them whom the Father has given Him.

Observations on the Liturgy of the 31st Sunday of OT A 2008

This year, the Feast of All Souls' Day coincides with the 31st Sunday of OT A. The theme of the Gospel selection sheds light on the prayer that is said in behalf of the dead expressing the hope that those who have shared in the table of the Body and Blood of the Lord in this life would also share in the Banquet of the Lamb5. The reading from Wisdom 3:1-9 expresses the theme of God's vindication of the just and is also the basis for one of the Prayer of Commendations for the dead6. The just man, the devotee of the Lord, has a hope that is full of immortality. This is echoed in Paul's letter to the Romans -- the day's second reading -- where he explains that those who have shared in a death like Christ's will also share in His resurrection.

1. 1. See Raymond Brown's Commentary for the Anchor Bible or his "The Gospel and Epistles of John: A Concise Commentary, p. 45"
2. 2. I have written an article on John 6:45-51
3. 3. with a change from "of life" to "living" Bread, signalling the sacramental theme of the discourse.
4. 4. The term "Jews" in the Gospel of John is not ethnic but theological. The term represent anything that resists Jesus and the One who sent Him.
5. 5. Lord God, your Son Jesus Chrsit gave us the sacrament of His Body and Blood to guide us on our pilgrim way to your kingdom. May our brother/sister N. who shared in the eucharist come to the banquet of life Christ has preprared for us... (Catholic Burial Rite, Prayer After Communion)
6. 6. To you, O Lord, we commend the soul of N., your servant; in the sight of the world he/she is now dead; in your sight may he/she live forever. Forgive whatever sins he/she committed through human weakness and in your goodness grant him/her everlasting peace.