John 6: Feeding the Five Thousand
1 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. 4 Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. 7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.” 8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?” 10 Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.”13 Therefore they gathered themup, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.
After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. "Our Lord left the presence of the unbelieving Jews (Matthew 15:13-14). What a warning to every traditional religionist!" (Mahan) "He goes from place to place to try the dispositions of people, and excite a desire to hear Him: ‘And a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His miracles which He did on them that were diseased.’ (2)” (Theophyl) He taught them too. “Though favored with such teaching, they were influenced less by it, than by the miracles; a sign of their low state of belief: for Paul says of tongues, that they are for a sign, not to them that believe, I but to them that believe not. They were wiser of whom it is said, that they were astonished at His doctrine.” (Chrystomdom)
“Jesus went up on the mountain and He sat with His disciple,” (3) representing rest from His creative work, as well as redemption, pointing to the consummation. And then John tells us the Passover was nigh. (4) A great multitude followed Jesus because of the signs, but the crowds likely grew because of the pilgrimage to Jerusalem. “This was likely the third passover after His baptism. And here Jesus was likely preparing the disciples for the discourse on the Bread from Heaven (John 6:22-40), as well as the Passover of our Lord’s Passion— the last one-- when He spoke “of the spiritual eating of Himself, the true Paschal Lamb: for even ‘Christ our passover was sacrificed for us,’ 1 Corinthians 5:7.” (John Trapp)
Jesus seeing the great multure coming towards Him said to Phillip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. (5-6) “Thus tried by our Lord, Philip was found to be possessed with human notions, as appears from what follows, Philip answered Him, ‘Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.’…” (Theophlyl), Andrews was also worldly minded. He stated, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?” (9) So, Jesus reveals the dullness of mind of the disciples.
Yet still , how comforting! They were without provision, a long way from home and without understanding, “but the Lord Jesus Christ had already planned to meet that need.” (Ironside) And He knew the means. (6) "Jesus told the disciples to make the people sit down. He took the loaves and the fishes and He blessed them. When He did that He was acting as father of the family [, as He is indeed Father of the human family.] The grace He used would be the one that was used in every home: 'Blessed art Thou, O Lord [Yahweh], our God, who causest to come forth bread from the earth.' The people ate and were filled. Even the word that is used for filled (chortazesthai, Greek #5526) is suggestive. Originally, in classical Greek, it was a word used for feeding animals with fodder. When used of people it meant that they were fed to repletion.” (William Barclay)
Moreover: “There was more food left than there was at the beginning!”(Box) "When the people had eaten their fill, Jesus bade his disciples gather up the fragments left. Why the fragments? At Jewish feasts the regular practice was to leave something for the servants. That which was left was called the Peah; and no doubt the people left their usual part for those who had served them with the meal. Of the fragments twelve baskets were taken up. No doubt each of the disciples had his basket (kophinos, Greek #2894). It was bottle-shaped and no Jew ever travelled without his." (William Barclay) None will be without.
And in this miracle, the Son of God— in blessed union with the Father— shows His creative power. “In healing the sick, and raising the dead, something was amended or restored that had already existed. [In turning water to wine, He amended.] In feeding five thousand men with five loaves, something must have been created which before had no existence.” (J. C. Ryle) Yahweh chastened Job asking, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?” (Job 38:4) Every son of man must answer negatively. No we weren’t. But here a great multitude saw His creative power and partook of His goodness in meeting their need.
“This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” “When they had seen the miracle of Christ’s multiplying five loaves and two fishes, to the feeding of five thousand persons, besides women and children; a miracle of that nature, that never any such was wrought either by Moses or any prophet, and to the working of which a creating power was necessary; this brought them to a strong persuasion that this was the Messias; for he is signified by that phrase, ‘that prophet that should come into the world’, as appeareth from Luke 7:19…” (Matthew Poole) “whom Moses said the Lord would send. Deuteronomy 18:15; Deuteronomy 18:18. Malachi 4:5. Because, like Moses, He had fed them with bread. His Divine works were convictions to the people of His Divine descent.” (Sutcliffe) The power to create, "and the benevolence manifested in it, showed that he was the long-expected Messiah.” (Albert Barnes' Notes)
Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and make Him an earthly king, He withdrew from them. “He departed into a mountain. He knew that all they meant by making Him king was to become the leader of a carnal movement to overthrow the hated Roman government." (Gaebelein's Annotated)
John 6: Jesus Walks on the Sea
16 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. 18 Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. 19 So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. 20 But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.
They had concluded that Jesus is the long awaited Messiah and desired to make him king. (15) “They draw from the sign a correct conclusion (a true doctrine) and a false application (a bad moral). So with orthodox faith a false (ecclesiastical or secular) morality is often associated.” (J. P. Lange, D. D.) Faith often produces a self-righteousness rather than the righteousness of God by faith in Jesus. This miracle was yet another sign, not for the crowd- but for the still weak disciples.
If Jesus is not your Captain, then make Him so now by prayer. Let Him in your boat— representing your life, and you will never regret it. You must transition to trust in Him alone for salvation. “His disciples went down to the sea- by Christ’s own command, Matthew 14:22; Mark 6:45, yet they met with a sore storm. So may the best with trouble, in their most lawful employments, Psalms 34:18. But these make them look to their tackling, patience; to their anchor, hope; to their helm, faith; to their ace card, the Word; to their Captain, Christ, who is ever at hand.” (John Trapp)
They were in a boat. Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. (18) And it was dark. And they were afraid.
Then they saw Jesus walking towards them on the sea. “That which is contrary to all natural reason was perfectly possible to Christ.” (J. C. Ryle)
“When Jesus drew near to the boat, it was the ‘fourth watch’ (Matthew 14:25), and therefore the darkest part of the night.” (Philip Schaff) “It was now dark, the Lord had not come to them, and the sea was being tossed about by the wind. We live in a dark world, a world of trouble, and a world, which ‘lieth in the wicked one.’ Sometimes the Lord withholds the light of His presence even from His own; and they are allowed to be tossed about, sifted as wheat, and tried severely. But He will soon come, in His own time, when His purpose for us has been accomplished.” (Mahan)
“These lines will, doubtless, be read by more than one saint who is in a tight place. For you, too, the night is fearfully dark, and the breakers of adverse circumstances look as though they would completely swamp you. O tried and troubled one, read the blessed sequel of John 6:17 , 18. It contains a word of cheer for you, if your faith lays hold of it. Notice that the disciples did not give up in despair—they continued ‘rowing’ (verse 19)! And ultimately the Lord came to their side and delivered them from the angry tempest. So, dear saint, whatever may be the path appointed by the Lord, however difficult and distasteful, continue therein, and in His own good time the Lord will deliver you. Again we say, Notice that the disciples continued their ‘rowing.’ It was all they could do, and it was all that was required of them. In a little while the Lord appeared, and they were at the land. Oh may God grant both writer and reader perseverance in the path of duty. Tempted and discouraged one, remember Isaiah 30:18 (look it up and memorize it) and continue rowing!” (A.W. Pink)
On rowing without His presence- “They are all stout rowers in the Church- not the idle and effeminate, but the strenuous and persevering in good works, attain to the harbor of everlasting salvation.” (Bede)
"He does not say, 'I am Jesus', but only 'I am'. He trusts to their easily recognizing His voice, which was so familiar to them, or, as is more probable, He shows that He was the same who said to Moses, 'I am that I am.'" (Bede) “'Be not afraid’-- ‘I am ever near you’, God unchangeable, immovable; let not any false fears destroy your faith in Me. Observe too our Lord did not come when the danger was beginning, but when it was ending. He suffers us to remain in the midst of dangers and tribulations, that we may be proved thereby, and flee for succor to Him Who is able to give us deliverance when we least expect it. When man’s understanding can no longer help him, then the Divine deliverance comes.” (Theophyl)
“It… is very seldom true, that when Christ comes on board opposition ends, and the purpose is achieved. But it is always true that when Christ comes on board a new spirit comes into the men who have Him for their companion, and are conscious that they have. It makes their work easy, and makes them ‘more than conquerors’ over what yet remains. With what a different spirit the weary men would bend their backs to the oars once more when they had the Master on board, and with what a different spirit you and I will set ourselves to our work if we are sure of His presence. The worst of trouble is gone when Christ shares it with us. Friends! Life is a voyage, anyhow, with plenty of storm, and danger, and difficulty, and weariness, and exposure, and anxiety, and dread, and sorrow, for every soul of man. But if you will take Christ on board it will be a very different thing from what it will be if you cross the wan waters alone…” (A. Maclaren)
John 6: The Work Which Endures
22 On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone— 23 however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks— 24 when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?” 26 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
“We should mark first, in this passage, what knowledge of man's heart our Lord Jesus Christ possesses. We see Him exposing the false motives of those who followed Him for the sake of the loaves and fishes. They had followed Him across the Lake of Galilee. They seemed at first sight ready to believe in Him, and do Him honor. But He knew the inward springs of their conduct, and was not deceived. ‘You seek me,’ He said, ’not because you saw the miracles, but because you ate the loaves, and were filled.’” (J C. Ryle) The prosperity gospel- a false gospel- already existed.
Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life… (27a) “The expression used here by Christ is a relative and comparative one: His meaning is, ‘Labor for the latter rather than for the former.’ The word ‘labor’ is very expressive. It signifies that men should be in deadly earnest over spiritual things; that they should spare no pains to obtain that which their souls so imperatively need.” (A.W. Pink)
Labor- “We may not dream of a delicacy in God’s ways, or think that good things will drop out of the clouds to us, as towns were said to come into Timothy’s toils while he slept. We must be at pains for heaven. 'Laborandum' 'Working' was one of the emperor’s mottoes, and may be every Christian’s. Strive they must even to an agony, { αγωνιζεσθε, Luke 13:24} ere they can get into the strait gate; together with our stooping, there must be a certain stripping of ourselves.” (John Trapp)
”We learn farther from this caution, that our Lord improved his own miracles for spiritual good. Ministers therefore have a full right to do the same. He raised the dead, and said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life.’ He washed the disciples’ feet, and intimated at the same time, that unless he washed them with justifying and sanctifying grace, they could have no part with him. When they tasted the wine, he made a transition to the better wine they should next drink in his Father’s kingdom. Here then is full justification of those who choose to improve the works of Christ for the benefit of their hearers.” (Joseph Sutcliffe)
Yet, the crowds missed the spiritual meaning and only saw how the christians religion would benefit them in this life- not the one to come.
“The strength derived from the doctrines of the gospel is not exhausted. It endures without wasting away.” (Barnes) Every thing that can be obtained, except the salvation of God, “is a perishing thing: this is its essential character: it can last to us no longer than the body lasts. But, when the earth and its produce are burnt up, this bread of Christ, his grace and salvation, will be found remaining unto eternal life…” (Adam Clarke)
Which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him. We learn that Jesus is the dispenser of true spiritual gifts for the Father has set His seal on Him. “So God the Father, by the miracles which had been performed by Jesus, had shown that He had sent Him, that He approved His doctrines, and ratified His works. The miracles were to His doctrine what a seal is to a written instrument.” (Albert Barnes)
Labor- by searching the Scriptures and prayer- to trust in Jesus for your salvation. Once you are convinced of His Person, obey the gospel. “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38) Then, He will set His seal on you. “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” (Eph1:13-14)
John 6: The Work of God for Mankind
28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
Jesus had just suggested a different sort of toil which leads to eternal life, but they were still thinking on the physical level- not the spiritual.
"'Work the works of God'; they have reference to the exhortation just given by the Saviour, 'Labor-for that meat which endureth.' The works of God; such as he required, and such as would secure the enduring good of which Christ spoke." (Justin Edwards)
“By keeping what commandments shall we be able to fulfill the law of God?” (Bede) This is the view of the carnal man. But Jesus gives the answer of God: "This is the work of God, that ye believe - There is nothing you can be employed in more acceptable to God than in yielding to the evidence set before you, and acknowledging me as your Messiah and the Savior of a lost world." (Adam Clarke) Yet how few do it.
“Why do you make ready your tooth and your belly? Only believe, and you have eaten already.” (Augustine)
"They speak of 'works,' regarding life as an aggregate of individual deeds. He speaks of 'work,' regarding separate acts as the outcome of principle. His own works (John 5:36) made one complete work (John 17:4). They had one great work to do, which indeed seemed not a work, but which when realised would be the living principle of every work, and would be as food abiding unto eternal life.
That ye believe on him whom he hath sent... "To believe on Him whom God hath sent is already to have the spiritual life which is eternal. The contrast of the words comes to us across the discussions of many centuries, speaking to the angry waves which arise in men’s souls and bidding them be still. Faith and work, then, are one. As soul and body, they together make one life. The energy of every work is in the faith which links the soul with God; the outcome of all faith is in the act which links the soul with man. The work of life is faith; and 'faith worketh by love' (Gal 5:6)." (John Charles Ellicott)
"It is an easy matter to believe (thinks the worldling), but he that goes about it shall find it as hard a work to believe the gospel, as to keep the law. [Rogers of Faith] For God must enable to both. Non minus difficile est nobis velle credere It is no less difficult for us to wish to believe than for a corpse to wish to. (saith Beza) quam cadaver; volare. We believe with much conflict, saith another. [Dike of the Deceitful Heart] The combat was not so great between Michael and Satan about Moses’ dead body, as between Satan and the believer concerning Christ’s living body. Faith is fain to tug and wrestle for it, till it sweat again." (John Trapp)
Morning Repost: John 6: The Bread of Life
30 Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”[Exodus 16:4; Nehemiah 9:15; Psalm 78:24]
32 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”
35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
The work of man is to believe in Messiah of Israel. “What work will you do?” (30b)- Jesus… here, called a sign. “In the middle of the second month after their start from Egypt, the Israelites went forth one morning and found a small round thing upon the ground, and they cried, (Man-hu?) [meaning] ‘What is this?’ And they found that it was bread rained from the skies; and their question, Man-hu?—manna, became its name (Exodus 16:14-15). And this bread was their food until their arrival under Joshua at Gilgal. ‘The manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten or the old corn of the land, neither had the Children of Israel manna any more.’ (Joshua 5:12) The only trace left on earth of its existence was, (Exodus 16:32,) an omer thereof, kept by Jehovah’s command, ‘for your generations; that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth out of the land of Egypt.’” (Whedon)
What is this? Neither did this generation know that the Man in front of them was One substance with the Father. Manna sustained Israel in the wilderness. If we believe in You, what will you give us to sustain us until we make it to Canaan’s Shore? “Thou hast, we grant, fed five thousand men with five loaves and two small fishes; but what is this in comparison of what Moses did in the desert, who for forty years fed more than a million of persons with bread from heaven: do something like this, and then we will believe in thee, as we have believed in Moses." (A Clarke)
Sign after sign is needed by the unbelieving, natural heart. “The Lord had said, ‘Believe.’ They replied, ‘Show us a sign.’ Give us something we can see along with it. Man must either see or feel before he will believe. ‘We do not mean to say that salvation is not by believing on Christ, but we want some evidence first. We will believe if we can have some evidence on which to believe.’ Oh, perfect picture of the natural heart! ” (A. W. Pink)
You have my Word! Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life…” satisfying your hunger and thirst. “Christ is such meat and drink as preserves from death. Other meat and drink cannot keep man from the grave. That rich man that fared deliciously every day was not made immortal. ‘The rich man died and was buried’ (Luke 16:22). All that generation that fed on manna, and drank the water out of the rock, died (John 6:49). But Christ preserves the soul from death… This is the bread of God that came down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof and not die. It immortalizes the soul that feeds on it. He that believeth on Him hath eternal life… Other meat and drink cannot preserve a living body from death, much less can it give life, and restore breath to a dead body.” (Ralph Robinson)
But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. (36) “‘But I said to you’ refers to the testimony of the Scriptures, of which He said above, ‘they are they which testify of Me’; and… ’that you have seen Me’, is a silent allusion to His miracles.” (Chrytomdom) You have already seen signs and not believed. “I did not say what I did to you about the bread, because I thought you would eat it, but rather to convict you of unbelief.” (Alcuin) “This these Jews did not, John 6:36. Some slight knowledge of Christ they had; but it amounted not to a saving faith… Meteors hang awhile in the air, but are not of strength enough to ascend to the upper region hence they soon vanish.” (John Trapp) “You desire bread from heaven: but, though you have it before you, you eat it not.” (Augustine)
Yet His hand was outstretched still. “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” (37) “A powerful speech, and a most comfortable consideration. Who would not come to Jesus Christ upon such sweetest encouragement? Surely as all that were in debt and distress came to David, and he became their captain; so should all afflicted spirits come to the Son of David, the Captain of our salvation.” (John Trapp)
“I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.” (39b) “Our Lord confirmeth what He had before said concerning His gracious reception of believers, and preserving them by His grace in their state of grace, so that they shall not be cast out with reprobates in the day of judgment, from this, that He came not to execute any particular will of His own, but what was also the will of His Father, who sent Him into the world.” (Matthew Poole's English Annotations)
Here is the sign of faith: “When people are being strengthened of God, they are not content with one meal on the Sabbath; they want another, and perhaps a prayer-meeting or a Sunday-school for a dessert. They are not content with just two or three minutes’ prayer in the morning; they like, if they can, to slip out of business and get a word with God in the middle of the day. They delight to carry a text of Scripture in their memories to sweeten their breath all the day, and they cannot be happy unless they meditate upon the Word. I think you make a great mistake when you go galloping through the whole Bible, reading half a dozen chapters every day; you do much better when you get a text and ruminate upon it, just as the cows chew the cud. Turn the Scripture over and over, and get all the juice, sweetness, and nourishment out of it, and you will do well. The spiritually hungry man says, ‘I must go and hear some servant of God, and hear what God, the Lord, will speak to me. I must get as much of the heavenly food as I possibly can, for I need it so greatly.’” (C. H.Spurgeon)
John 6: Biblical Learning Exalted
41 The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” 42 And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43 Jesus therefore answered and said to them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ [Isaiah 54:13] Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.
The Jews in the crowd then murmured. And the address of the Savior turns to them. They murmured because they believed not, for the whole of this discourse was "to prove that He was infinitely greater than Moses; and that He alone could give present peace and eternal glory to men.” (Adam Clarke) Jesus had “no right to speak such words, for he was not God. He had not come from heaven but from a Galilean family, as people well knew.” (Bridgeway Bible Commentary)
It was natural logic- “The popular opinion, based on Daniel 7:13, was that when Christ came no one should know whence He was (vii. 27). But the Jews supposed that they knew exactly whence Jesus was, and that He should have come down from heaven seemed absurd.” (Biblical Illustrator) But God's teaching is spiritual- based on the Scriptures and heavenly.
Jesus addresses their murmurings by teaching them- “No man can come to Me except the Father who has sent Me draw him.” (44a)
Some assert that Jesus teaches that nothing is in our own power. "Our Lord's words however do not destroy our free agency, but only show that we need Divine assistance.” (Chrystomdom) “But, though a man can enter the Church involuntarily, he cannot believe other than voluntarily; ‘for with the heart man believes to righteousness.’” (Augustine)
Drawn of the Father- “A man is attracted by that which he delights in. Show green herbage to a sheep, he is drawn by it: show nuts to a child, and he is drawn by them. They run wherever the person runs who shows these things: they run after him, but they are not forced to follow; they run, through the desire they feel to get the things they delight in. So God draws man: he shows him his wants - he shows the Savior whom he has provided for him: the man feels himself a lost sinner; and, through the desire which he finds to escape hell, and get to heaven, he comes unto Christ, that he may be justified by his blood. Unless God thus draw, no man will ever come to Christ; because none could, without this drawing, ever feel the need of a Savior.” (Adam Clarke)
“In the prophets; Isaiah 54:13. His doctrine about being drawn or taught of God was not new, but was the same which was taught in the Scriptures, and which they ought to have understood and believed.” (Justin Edwards)
No one has seen the Father at any time, but Jesus had seen Him. (46) "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life." (47) "And I will raise them up in the last Day." (44b)
John 6: You Must Eat My Flesh And Drink My Blood
48 [Jesus said] "I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”
52 The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?” 53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.” 59 These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” 61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.” 66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
These verses contain a difficult teaching that has caused many people to stop following Jesus. The Jew- the religious formalist- understood much but said: “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?” (52) … And even Jesus’ disciples said: “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” (60) Many of his disciples stopped following Him after this. (66) They were perhaps offended by Jesus' exclusiveness. The world today will not accept the Words, but only the Church of God will- not that seen body, but the unseen body- the Universal Church.
"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." (Matthew Henry)
“Reader, remember this: it is one of the weightiest, and one of the truest and most important sayings in the book of God." (Adam Clarke)
Familiar for Jewish worshipers- “To most of us this is a very difficult passage. It speaks in language and moves in a world of ideas which are quite strange to us and which may seem even fantastic and grotesque. But to those who heard it first, it was moving among familiar ideas which went back to the very childhood of the race. These ideas would be quite normal to anyone brought up in ancient sacrifice. The animal was very seldom burned entire. Usually only a token part was burned on the altar, although the whole animal was offered to the God. Part of the flesh was given to the priests as their perquisite; and part to the worshipper to make a feast for himself and his friends within the temple precincts. At that feast God himself was held to be a guest. More, once the flesh had been offered to God, it was held that He had entered into it; and therefore when the worshipper ate it he was literally eating God. When people rose from such a feast they went out, as they believed, literally god-filled. We may think of it as idolatrous worship, we may think of it as a vast delusion; yet the fact remains these people went out quite certain that in them there was now the dynamic vitality of their God. To people used to that kind of experience a section like this presented no difficulties at all.” (William Barclay)
The question was sincere. "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” (2)They missed that Jesus spoke in allegory. Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood- We must meditate on Jesus’s life, examining how He lived and what He said, interpreting the Scriptures. And not only that, we must accept His saying and do them, with His help. And ultimately: “Unless ye be made partakers of the blessings about to be purchased by my blood, passion, and violent death, ye cannot be saved. As a man must eat bread and flesh, in order to be nourished by them, so a man must receive the grace and Spirit of Christ, in order to his salvation. As food in a rich man's store does not nourish the poor man that needs it, unless it be given him, and he receive it into his stomach, so the whole fountain of mercy existing in the bosom of God, and uncommunicated, does not save a soul: he who is saved by it must be made a partaker of it. Our Lord's meaning appears to be, that, unless they were made partakers of the grace of that atonement which he was about to make by his death, they could not possibly be saved. Bishop Pearce justly observes that the ideas of eating and drinking are here borrowed to express partaking of, and sharing in. Thus spiritual happiness on earth, and even in heaven, is expressed by eating and drinking; instances of which may be seen, Matthew 8:11, 26:29; Luke 14:15, 22:30; and Revelation 2:17. Those who were made partakers of the Holy Spirit are said by St. Paul, 1 Corinthians 12:13, to be made to drink into (or of) one Spirit. This, indeed, was a very common mode of expression among the Jews" (Adam Clarke)
“Therefore it is as if Jesus said: ‘Feed your heart, feed your mind, feed your soul on the thought of my manhood. When you are discouraged and in despair, when you are beaten to your knees and disgusted with life and living--remember I took that life of yours and these struggles of yours on me.’ Suddenly life and the flesh are clad with glory for they are touched with God. It was and is the great belief of the Greek Orthodox Christology that Jesus deified our flesh by taking it on Himself. To eat Christ's body is to feed on the thought of His manhood until our own manhood is strengthened and cleansed and irradiated by His.” (Barclay)
67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
John 6: One Lost of the Twelve
70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” 71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.
Jesus had questioned whether the twelve would also forsake Him, as the others had done. Simon Peter had answered for the them—> “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (68-69) Jesus answered them here, “Did I not chose you…?” He called them all. “For as the wicked turn the good works of God to an evil use, so reversely God turns the evil works of man to good. What can be worse than what Judas did? Yet our Lord made a good use of his wickedness; allowing Himself to be betrayed, that He might redeem us. In, ‘Have I not chosen you twelve’, twelve seems to be a sacred number used in the case of those, who were to spread the doctrine of the Trinity through the four quarters of the world. Nor was the virtue of that number impaired, by one perishing; inasmuch as another was substituted in his room.” (Augustine) “And one of you is a devil?”— “the body is here named after its head.” (Gregory)
Perhaps the invitation of Jesus that ends this chapter— to feast on the Son of God— could be diminished by the fact that Jesus had said, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out...” (37), and yet the son of perdition had been lost. But he was not cast out; he walked away! And that he would betray Jesus: “was determined and foretold, and which Christ knew full well, and therefore said the above words.” (Gill) And there is a message for us. “Do not suppose that, because you have followed Me, I shall not reprove the wicked among you. It is worth inquiring, why the disciples say nothing here, whereas afterwards (at the last supper) they ask in fear, ‘Lord, is it I?’” (Chrystomdom) They had then been changed for the good, perhaps symbolized by the fact that they had just partaken of the feast of unleavened bread- which speaks of the ridding of sin from your life.
“To be chosen by Jesus Christ for a unique privilege and yet to betray Him! It almost seems impossible. But we must recognise from this that Jesus already knew Judas’ heart and mind. Why then did He choose him? We must assume that Judas was at least partly sincere at this stage. He would after all perform miracles and cast out evil spirits as did the other Apostles. And every man must be given a chance. But his commitment was not full and true. He too believed for the wrong reasons, and the greed for money got the better of him. He was not following Jesus for the right reasons, he was gripped by ambition and hopes of power. We too must learn to root out anything within us that in the least hinders our obedience to Christ, or we too may find that our trust is not in the real thing. We must ask ourselves - Am I really committed to Him for Him to save, or is my Christianity just a social thing or a way of self advancement or in order to boost my self-esteem or for what I can get out of it? That is the crucial question.” (Peter Pett's Commentary) Let your mind (your doctrine) be changed by the Word of God for the good.
“A man, like Judas, may have been the means of casting out devils from others, and yet be a devil himself. Among the most flaming professors there will be found hypocrites and apostates. 'Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall... ' The purest societies on earth cannot answer for all their members. It is in heaven alone, or perhaps also in the great millennium, that the wheat will be free from the chaff.”
(Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible)