Discovery BoxJohn 6:15-17 
Context6:15 Then Jesus, because he knew they were going to come and seize him by force to make him king, withdrew again up the mountainside alone. 1
6:16 Now when evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 2 6:17 got into a boat, and started to cross the lake 3 to Capernaum. 4 (It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.) 5
1 sn Jesus, knowing that his “hour” had not yet come (and would not, in this fashion) withdrew again up the mountainside alone. The ministry of miracles in Galilee, ending with this, the multiplication of the bread (the last public miracle in Galilee recorded by John) aroused such a popular response that there was danger of an uprising. This would have given the authorities a legal excuse to arrest Jesus. The nature of Jesus’ kingship will become an issue again in the passion narrative of the Fourth Gospel (John 18:33ff.). Furthermore, the volatile reaction of the Galileans to the signs prepares for and foreshadows the misunderstanding of the miracle itself, and even the misunderstanding of Jesus’ explanation of it (John 6:22-71).
2 tn Or “sea.” The Greek word indicates a rather large body of water, but the English word “sea” normally indicates very large bodies of water, so the word “lake” in English is a closer approximation.
3 tn Or “sea.” See the note on “lake” in the previous verse.
4 map For location see Map1 D2; Map2 C3; Map3 B2.
5 sn This is a parenthetical note by the author.
