ive thousand miraculously fed. (1-14) Jesus walks on the sea.
(15-21) He directs to spiritual food. (22-27) His discourse with
the multitude. (28-65) Many of disciples go back. (66-71)
Verses 1-14: John relates the miracle of feeding the multitude, for its
reference to the following discourse. Observe the effect this
miracle had upon the people. Even the common Jews expected the
Messiah to come into the world, and to be a great Prophet. The
Pharisees despised them as not knowing the law; but they knew
most of Him who is the end of the law. Yet men may acknowledge
Christ as that Prophet, and still turn a deaf ear to him.
Verses 15-21: Here were Christ's disciples in the way of duty, and
Christ was praying for them; yet they were in distress. There
may be perils and afflictions of this present time, where there
is an interest in Christ. Clouds and darkness often surround the
children of the light and of the day. They see Jesus walking on
the sea. Even the approaches of comfort and deliverance often
are so mistaken, as to become the occasions of fear. Nothing is
more powerful to convince sinners than that word, "I am Jesus
whom thou persecutest;" nothing more powerful to comfort saints
than this, "I am Jesus whom thou lovest." If we have received
Christ Jesus the Lord, though the night be dark, and the wind
high, yet we may comfort ourselves, we shall be at the shore
before long.
Verses 22-27: Instead of answering the inquiry how he came there, Jesus
blamed their asking. The utmost earnestness should be employed
in seeking salvation, in the use of appointed means; yet it is
to be sought only as the gift of the Son of man. Him the Father
has sealed, proved to be God. He declared the Son of man to be
the Son of God with power.
Verses 28-35: Constant exercise of faith in Christ, is the most
important and difficult part of the obedience required from us,
as sinners seeking salvation. When by his grace we are enabled
to live a life of faith in the Son of God, holy tempers follow,
and acceptable services may be done. God, even his Father, who
gave their fathers that food from heaven to support their
natural lives, now gave them the true Bread for the salvation of
their souls. Coming to Jesus, and believing on him, signify the
same. Christ shows that he is the true Bread; he is to the soul
what bread is to the body, nourishes and supports the spiritual
life. He is the Bread of God. Bread which the Father gives,
which he has made to be the food of our souls. Bread nourishes
only by the powers of a living body; but Christ is himself
living Bread, and nourishes by his own power. The doctrine of
Christ crucified is now as strengthening and comforting to a
believer as ever it was. He is the Bread which came down from
heaven. It denotes the Divinity of Christ's person and his
authority; also, the Divine origin of all the good which flows
to us through him. May we with understanding and earnestness
say, Lord, evermore give us this Bread.
Verses 36-46: The discovery of their guilt, danger, and remedy, by the
teaching of the Holy Spirit, makes men willing and glad to come,
and to give up every thing which hinders applying to him for
salvation. The Father's will is, that not one of those who were
given to the Son, should be rejected or lost by him. No one will
come, till Divine grace has subdued, and in part changed his
heart; therefore no one who comes will ever be cast out. The
gospel finds none willing to be saved in the humbling, holy
manner, made known therein; but God draws with his word and the
Holy Ghost; and man's duty is to hear and learn; that is to say,
to receive the grace offered, and consent to the promise. None
had seen the Father but his beloved Son; and the Jews must
expect to be taught by his inward power upon their minds, and by
his word, and the ministers whom he sent among them.
Verses 47-51: The advantage of the manna was small, it only referred to
this life; but the living Bread is so excellent, that the man
who feedeth on it shall never die. This bread is Christ's human
nature, which he took to present to the Father, as a sacrifice
for the sins of the world; to purchase all things pertaining to
life and godliness, for sinners of every nation, who repent and
believe in him.
Verses 52-59: The flesh and blood of the Son of man, denote the
Redeemer in the nature of man; Christ and him crucified, and the
redemption wrought out by him, with all the precious benefits of
redemption; pardon of sin, acceptance with God, the way to the
throne of grace, the promises of the covenant, and eternal life.
These are called the flesh and blood of Christ, because they are
purchased by the breaking his body, and the shedding of his
blood. Also, because they are meat and drink to our souls.
Eating this flesh and drinking this blood mean believing in
Christ. We partake of Christ and his benefits by faith. The soul
that rightly knows its state and wants, finds whatever can calm
the conscience, and promote true holiness, in the redeemer, God
manifest in the flesh. Meditating upon the cross of Christ gives
life to our repentance, love, and gratitude. We live by him, as
our bodies live by our food. We live by him, as the members by
the head, the branches by the root: because he lives we shall
live also.
Verses 60-65: The human nature of Christ had not before been in heaven,
but being God and man, that wondrous Person was truly said to
have come down from heaven. The Messiah's kingdom was not of
this world; and they were to understand by faith, what he had
said of a spiritual living upon him, and his fulness. As without
the soul of man the flesh is of no value, so without the
quickening Spirit of God all forms of religion are dead and
worthless. He who made this provision for our souls, alone can
teach us these things, and draw us unto Christ, that we may live
by faith in him. Let us apply to Christ, thankful that it is
declared that every one who is willing to come unto him shall be
made welcome.
Verses 66-71: When we admit into our minds hard thoughts of the words
and works of Jesus, we enter into temptation, which, if the Lord
in mercy prevent not, will end in drawing back. The corrupt and
wicked heart of man often makes that an occasion for offence,
which is matter of the greatest comfort. Our Lord had, in the
foregoing discourse, promised eternal life to his followers; the
disciples fastened on that plain saying, and resolved to cleave
to him, when others fastened on hard sayings, and forsook him.
Christ's doctrine is the word of eternal life, therefore we must
live and die by it. If we forsake Christ, we forsake our own
mercies. They believed that this Jesus was the Messiah promised
to their fathers, the Son of the living God. When we are tempted
to backslide or turn away, it is good to remember first
principles, and to keep to them. And let us ever remember our
Lord's searching question; Shall we go away and forsake our
Redeemer? To whom can we go? He alone can give salvation by the
forgiveness of sins. And this alone brings confidence, comfort,
and joy, and bids fear and despondency flee away. It gains the
only solid happiness in this world, and opens a way to the
happiness of the next.
ive thousand miraculously fed. (1-14) Jesus walks on the sea.
(15-21) He directs to spiritual food. (22-27) His discourse with
the multitude. (28-65) Many of disciples go back. (66-71)