Structural Outlines of the Fourth Gospel
by Rev. Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.


The Feeding of the Five Thousand (6:1-15)
[full NAB text] [see related art]

A) Geographical and Temporal Introduction: Sea of Galilee (Sea of Tiberias); large crowd followed Jesus, since they saw the SIGNS he was doing; he goes up a mountain; Jewish feast of Passover was near (vv. 1-4)

B) Jesus asks Philip: "Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?" Philip replies: "Two hundred days wages would not be enough" (vv. 5-7)

C) Andrew, one of his disciples, suggests: "Here's a boy with five barley loaves and two fish, but what good is that for so many people?" (vv. 8-9)

D) Jesus orders: "Have the people recline"; about 5000 men recline on the grass (v. 10)

E) Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them... (v. 11a)  --  [see the Synoptic Parallels]

D') ...to those who were reclining; also of the fish, as much as they wanted (vv. 11b)

C') Jesus tells his disciples to collect the fragments; they fill 12 wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves (vv. 12-13a)

B') Which were leftovers from those who had eaten (v. 13b)

A') The people saw the SIGN and say, "This is the Prophet who is to come to the world"; Jesus knew they wanted to make him a king, so he withdrew to the mountain alone (vv. 14-15)


Jesus Walks on the Water (6:16-25)
[full NAB text] [see related art]

A) In the evening, his disciples go down to the sea, get in a boat, cross the sea to Capernaum (vv. 16-17a)

B) Already dark, Jesus had not yet come; sea is stirred up, strong wind blowing (vv. 17b-18)

C) They row 3-4 miles, see Jesus walking on the sea, coming near the boat (v. 19ab)

D) They are afraid; (v. 19c)

E) Jesus says, "It is I (ego eimi)." (v. 20a)

D') "Do not be afraid." (v. 20b)

C') They want to take him into the boat, but immediately arrive at the shore where they were going (v. 21)

B') Next day, the crowd realizes Jesus had not gone in the boat with his disciples (v. 22)

A') Other boats come from Tiberias (cf. v. 1); near where they had eaten the bread when the Lord had given thanks (cf. v. 11); crowd sees that Jesus and his disciples are not there, get into boats, go to Capernaum; find Jesus across the sea, and ask: "When did you get here?" (vv. 23-25)

[Note: Structurally, vv. 22-25 form a transition to the following "Bread of Life" discourse.]



The Bread of Life Discourse  and  Its Effects (6:22-71)
[full NAB text] [see related art]

OVERVIEW:

Part I: Introduction: signs and food; the works of God; believing in Jesus; bread from heaven; Moses and the Father (vv. 22-34)

Part II: The Bread of Life = The Words and Teachings of Jesus (vv. 35-50)

Part III: The Bread of Life = The Flesh and Blood of Jesus (vv. 51-59)

Part IV: Reactions: Some disciples depart; the Twelve remain; Peter professes his belief (vv. 60-71)
 


Part I: Introduction: signs and food; the works of God; believing in Jesus; bread from heaven; Moses and the Father (vv. 22-34)

Part II: The Bread of Life = The Words and Teachings of Jesus (vv. 35-50)

Part III: The Bread of Life = The Flesh and Blood of Jesus (vv. 51-59)

Part IV: Reactions: Some disciples depart; the Twelve remain; Peter professes his belief (vv. 60-71)

 

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