Yochanan 6

1 After these things, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach departed beyond Lake Kinneret (Lake Tiberias).

2 And a riezige (sizable) multitude was following him, because they were seeing the otot (miraculous signs) which he was doing on the cholim (the ones being ill).

3 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach went up to the mountain, and there he was sitting with his talmidim.

4 Pesach was near at hand, the Chag (Jewish Feast).

5 Therefore, having lifted up his eyes, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach saw that a great multitude is coming to him, and he says to Philippos, From where may we buy lechem that these ones may eat?

6 But he was saying this to test Philippos, for he himself knew what he was about to do.

7 In reply, Philippos said, Two hundred denarii worth of lechem would not be enough that each one may take a little okhel.

8 One of his talmidim, Andrew, ach of Shimon Kefa, says to him,

9 There is a na’ar (lad) here who has five barley loaves and two dagim (fish), but what are these for so many? [2Kg 4:43]

10 Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said, Instruct the anashim (men) to recline. Now there was much grass in the area. Therefore the anashim reclined, their number being about chameshet alafim.

11 Therefore, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach took the loaves and, having made the bracha, distributed to the ones bimesibba (reclining); likewise also he distributed of the dagim (fish) as much as they were wanting.

12 Now when they were filled, he tells his talmidim, Gather the shirayim (Rebbe’s leftovers), that nothing may be lost.

13 Therefore, what they gathered from the five barley loaves filled Sheneym Asar (Twelve) baskets of shirayim left over by the ones having eaten.

14 Therefore, the anashim, having seen what ot (miraculous sign) he did, were saying, This one is beemes the Navi, Hu HaBah, the one coming into the Olam Hazeh. [DEVARIM 18:15,18]

15 Therefore, Yehoshua, having had da’as that they are about to come and to seize him that they might make him king by force, departed alone again to the mountain, withdrawing by himself.

16 And as erev came, his talmidim went down to the sea.

17 And having embarked into a sirah, they were going across the sea to K’far-Nachum. And choshech already had come and Yehoshua had not yet come to them.

18 And the sea, as a great wind blew, was becoming aroused.

19 Therefore, having rowed about esrim v’chamash or sheloshim stadia, they see Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach walking on the sea and coming near the sirah, and they were gefeirlich (horribly) frightened. [IYOV 9:8]

20 But he says to them, Ani Hu. Do not be afraid.

21 Therefore, the talmidim were willing to receive him into the sirah. And immediately the sirah came to the shore to which they were going. [TEHILLIM 106:30 TARGUM HASHIVIM]

22 On the next day the multitude that had stayed on the other side of Lake Kinneret saw that there had been only one sirah with which to cross the sea. They knew that Yehoshua had not embarked with his talmidim in that sirah, but that his talmidim had departed by themselves.

23 Then some sirot (boats) came ashore from Tiberias and landed near the area where they ate the lechem after Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu had made the bracha.

24 Therefore, when the multitude saw Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach is not there, nor his talmidim, they embarked into the sirot and came to K’far-Nachum, seeking Yehoshua.

25 And having found him across the sea, they said to him, Rebbe, when did you come here?

26 In reply, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said, Omein, omein, I say to you, you are seeking me not because you saw otot (miraculous signs), but because you ate of the loaves and were glutted.

27 Do not work for the okhel that is perishing, but for the okhel remaining to Chayyei Olam, which the Ben HaAdam [Moshiach] will give to you, for Elohim HaAv has set His chotam (seal) on this one [YESHAYAH 55:2].

28 Therefore, they said to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, What may we do that we may work the pe’ulot Hashem?

29 In reply, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to them, This is the mitzvah of Hashem, that you may believe in Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach whom Hashem has sent.

30 They said, therefore, to him, What ot (sign) then do you perform that we may see and may have emunah in you? What work do you do?

31 Avoteinu ate the manna in the wilderness [BAMIDBAR 11:7-9; SHEMOT 16:4,15; NECHEMYAH 9:15], as it has been written, LECHEM from SHOMAYIM he gave them to eat. [TEHILLIM 78:24; 105:40]

32 Therefore, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to them, Omein, omein, I say to you, it was not Moshe who has given you the lechem out of Shomayim, but HaAv of me gives you the lechem ha’amitti (the true bread) out of Shomayim.

33 For the lechem of Hashem is that which comes down out of Shomayim and giving Chayyim (Life) to HaOlam.

34 Therefore, they said to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, Adoni, always give us this lechem.

35 Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to them, Ani Hu [SHEMOT 3:14] the lechem haChayyim; the one coming to me never hungers, and the one with emunah in me will never thirst again.

36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet you do not have bitachon, you lack emunah.

37 All which HaAv gives to me will come to me, and the one coming to me I will never turn away.

38 For I have come down from Shomayim not that I may do my ratzon, but the ratzon of the One having sent me.

39 Now this is the ratzon of the One Who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all which He has given me, but I will raise him up on the Yom HaAcharon (Last Day). [Isa 27:3; Jer 23:4]

40 For this is the ratzon of Avi: that everyone seeing the Ben [HaElohim Moshiach] and believing in him may have Chayyei Olam, and on Yom HaAcharon I will raise him up.

41 Therefore, those of Yehudah were murmuring about Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, because he said, Ani Hu [SHEMOT 3:14] the lechem having come down out of Shomayim. [SHEMOT 16:4]

42 And they were saying, Is this man not Yehoshua Ben Yosef [Ben Dovid], and do we not know his Av and his Em? Now how does he say, Out of Shomayim I have come down. [Yochanan 1:1,14]

43 Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach answered and said to them, Do not grumble among yourselves.

44 No one is able to come to me unless HaAv Who sent me should draw him, and I will raise him up on the Yom HaAcharon. [Jer 31:3; Hos 11:4]

45 It has been written in the Nevi’im, V’CHOL they LIMUDI HASHEM (They shall all be taught of G-d [Isa 54:13; see Jer 31:33, 34]. Everyone having heard from HaAv and having learned comes to me.

46 Not that anyone has seen HaAv except the one being sent from Hashem; this one has seen HaAv.

47 Omein, omein, I say to you, the one having emunah has Chayyei Olam.

48 Ani Hu the lechem haChayyim. [BAMIDBAR 14:23; DEVARIM 1:35]

49 Your Avot ate in the wilderness the manna and died.

50 This is the lechem coming down out of Shomayim, so that anyone may eat of it and not die. [Gn 3:22]

51 Ani hu the lechem haChai (the living bread) having come down out of Shomayim. If anyone eats of this lechem he will live l’olam v’ed. And, indeed, the lechem which I will give on behalf of the Chayyim (life) of HaOlam is the basar of me [Ex 12:8].

52 Therefore, those of Yehudah were arguing with one another, saying, How is this man able to give us the basar of him to eat?

53 Therefore, he said to them, Omein, omein, I say to you, unless you eat the [Seudas Moshiach Seh] basar of the Ben HaAdam and drink [the Kiddush Cup of the Brit Chadasha in] his dahm, you do not have Chayyim (Life) in yourselves [Ex 12:3; Isa 53:7].

54 The one feeding on my [Seh Elohim] basar and drinking [Cup of Redemption in] dahmi has Chayyei Olam and I will raise him up on the Yom HaAcharon [Ruth 4:5,10].

55 For my basar is okhel emes (true food) and dahmi is shikuy emes (true drink).

56 The one feeding on my basar and drinking dahmi abides in, [YESHAYAH 53:7; SHEMOT 12:3] dwells in me and I in him [Ex 12:22].

57 As HaAv HaChai sent me and I live because of HaAv, so also whoever is feeding on me even that one will live because of me.

58 This is the lechem out of Shomayim having come down, not as the Avot ate and died; the one feeding on this lechem will live l’olam v’ed.

59 These things he said in a shul while teaching in K’far-Nachum.

60 Therefore, many of Moshiach’s talmidim, having heard, said, Hard is this dvar Torah. Who is able to hear it? [YESHAYAH 53:1]

61 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, having da’as in himself that his talmidim are grumbling about this, said to them, Does this cause a michshol for you?

62 What if you behold the Ben HaAdam ascending where he was Bereshis?

63 The Ruach Hakodesh is that which is making alive, the basar does not profit anything. The dvarim which I have spoken to you are as Ruach and they are as Chayyim (Life).

64 But there are of you some who do not have emunah. For from Bereshis, he had da’as of whom are the ones not having emunah and who is the one betraying him.

65 And he was saying, Because of this, I have told you that no one is able to come to me unless it has been given to him from HaAv.

66 From this time, many of his talmidim fell away and no longer followed him as talmidim.

67 Therefore, he said to the Sheneym Asar, Surely you do not want to depart also?

68 In reply, Shimon Kefa said to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, Adoni, to whom will we go? You have the divrei haChayyei Olam.

69 And we have bitachon and have trusted with emunah and we have da’as that you are HaKadosh of Hashem (the Holy One of G-d, YESHAYAH 49:7).

70 In reply, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to them, Did I not choose you Sheneym Asar (Twelve)? And is one of you not a Satan?

71 Now he was speaking of Yehudah Ben Shimon from K’riot, for, though he was one of the Sheneym Asar, this one was about to betray Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach.

Yochanan 6 Commentary

Chapter 6

Five 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.