John 6 Bible Study

What are the two other names for the “Sea of Galilee” (John 6:1)?
“Sea of Tiberias” (John 6:10) and “Lake of Gennesaret” (Luke 5:1, photo)

Where did Jesus go?
He went “away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee” (John 6:1) with His disciples to “a deserted place belonging to a town called Bethsaida” (Luke 9:10).

Where was Bethsaida?
Bethsaida literally means the “House (Bet) of fishing (saida).” There were many fishing towns around the Sea of Galilee, and at least two of them were called, “House of fishing.” One Bethsaida was east of Capernaum on the north shore. Since the “deserted place belonging to a town called Bethsaida” (Luke 9:10) was “near” (John 6:23) Tiberias, which was and still is a city on the west shore, the second Bethsaida was also on the west shore of the Sea of Tiberias/Galilee.

After what “things” (John 6:1) did Jesus take His disciples to the deserted place belonging to the Bethsaida on the west shore?
After they returned from their mission trip and needed rest: He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. And He sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick (Luke 9:1-2). Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and reported to Him everything, both what they had done and what they had taught. And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and get some rest.” For those coming and those going were many, and they had no opportunity to even eat. So they departed in the boat by themselves to a deserted place (Mark 6:30-32).

Why did “a great multitude” (John 6:2) follow Jesus?
“Because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were sick” (John 6:2).

What did Jesus do with the great multitude of people?
“He was moved with compassion for them” (Matthew 14:14), so instead of taking rest from ministering to them, “He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing” (Luke 9:11).

How much time had passed since the beginning of Jesus' ministry?
About a year, as this is the second “Passover” (John 6:4) mentioned, so Jesus is one-third into His three-year ministry. This Passover is also six months after the previous “feast of the Jews” mentioned in John 5:1, which shows that the Gospel of John, like the other three gospels, isn't a diary. Each of the four gospel writers described the highlights of Jesus' ministry as led by the Holy Spirit, so there are overlaps as well as elements unique to each of them.

Was Jesus' question, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” (John 6:5) to Philip intended to start a private conversation?
Since the other disciples replied to Jesus as well, it probably was intended for them to also hear.

What was the ensuing exchange between them and Jesus?
“This is a deserted place and the hour is already late. Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding farms and villages and buy themselves bread, for they have nothing to eat.” But He answered and said to them, “You give them to eat.” And they said to Him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them to eat?” (Mark 6:35-37)

Whose idea did Philip shoot down?
The other disciples, for even “two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them” (John 6:7).