John 6

1 post haec abiit Iesus trans mare Galilaeae quod est Tiberiadis

2 et sequebatur eum multitudo magna quia videbant signa quae faciebat super his qui infirmabantur

3 subiit ergo in montem Iesus et ibi sedebat cum discipulis suis

4 erat autem proximum pascha dies festus Iudaeorum

5 cum sublevasset ergo oculos Iesus et vidisset quia multitudo maxima venit ad eum dicit ad Philippum unde ememus panes ut manducent hii

6 hoc autem dicebat temptans eum ipse enim sciebat quid esset facturus

7 respondit ei Philippus ducentorum denariorum panes non sufficiunt eis ut unusquisque modicum quid accipiat

8 dicit ei unus ex discipulis eius Andreas frater Simonis Petri

9 est puer unus hic qui habet quinque panes hordiacios et duos pisces sed haec quid sunt inter tantos

10 dixit ergo Iesus facite homines discumbere erat autem faenum multum in loco discubuerunt ergo viri numero quasi quinque milia

11 accepit ergo panes Iesus et cum gratias egisset distribuit discumbentibus similiter et ex piscibus quantum volebant

12 ut autem impleti sunt dixit discipulis suis colligite quae superaverunt fragmenta ne pereant

13 collegerunt ergo et impleverunt duodecim cofinos fragmentorum ex quinque panibus hordiaciis quae superfuerunt his qui manducaverunt

14 illi ergo homines cum vidissent quod fecerat signum dicebant quia hic est vere propheta qui venturus est in mundum

15 Iesus ergo cum cognovisset quia venturi essent ut raperent eum et facerent eum regem fugit iterum in montem ipse solus

16 ut autem sero factum est descenderunt discipuli eius ad mare

17 et cum ascendissent navem venerunt trans mare in Capharnaum et tenebrae iam factae erant et non venerat ad eos Iesus

18 mare autem vento magno flante exsurgebat

19 cum remigassent ergo quasi stadia viginti quinque aut triginta vident Iesum ambulantem super mare et proximum navi fieri et timuerunt

20 ille autem dicit eis ego sum nolite timere

21 voluerunt ergo accipere eum in navi et statim fuit navis ad terram quam ibant

22 altera die turba quae stabat trans mare vidit quia navicula alia non erat ibi nisi una et quia non introisset cum discipulis suis Iesus in navem sed soli discipuli eius abissent

23 aliae vero supervenerunt naves a Tiberiade iuxta locum ubi manducaverant panem gratias agente Domino

24 cum ergo vidisset turba quia Iesus non esset ibi neque discipuli eius ascenderunt naviculas et venerunt Capharnaum quaerentes Iesum

25 et cum invenissent eum trans mare dixerunt ei rabbi quando huc venisti

26 respondit eis Iesus et dixit amen amen dico vobis quaeritis me non quia vidistis signa sed quia manducastis ex panibus et saturati estis

27 operamini non cibum qui perit sed qui permanet in vitam aeternam quem Filius hominis vobis dabit hunc enim Pater signavit Deus

28 dixerunt ergo ad eum quid faciemus ut operemur opera Dei

29 respondit Iesus et dixit eis hoc est opus Dei ut credatis in eum quem misit ille

30 dixerunt ergo ei quod ergo tu facis signum ut videamus et credamus tibi quid operaris

31 patres nostri manna manducaverunt in deserto sicut scriptum est panem de caelo dedit eis manducare

32 dixit ergo eis Iesus amen amen dico vobis non Moses dedit vobis panem de caelo sed Pater meus dat vobis panem de caelo verum

33 panis enim Dei est qui descendit de caelo et dat vitam mundo

34 dixerunt ergo ad eum Domine semper da nobis panem hunc

35 dixit autem eis Iesus ego sum panis vitae qui veniet ad me non esuriet et qui credit in me non sitiet umquam

36 sed dixi vobis quia et vidistis me et non creditis

37 omne quod dat mihi Pater ad me veniet et eum qui venit ad me non eiciam foras

38 quia descendi de caelo non ut faciam voluntatem meam sed voluntatem eius qui misit me

39 haec est autem voluntas eius qui misit me Patris ut omne quod dedit mihi non perdam ex eo sed resuscitem illum novissimo die

40 haec est enim voluntas Patris mei qui misit me ut omnis qui videt Filium et credit in eum habeat vitam aeternam et resuscitabo ego eum in novissimo die

41 murmurabant ergo Iudaei de illo quia dixisset ego sum panis qui de caelo descendi

42 et dicebant nonne hic est Iesus filius Ioseph cuius nos novimus patrem et matrem quomodo ergo dicit hic quia de caelo descendi

43 respondit ergo Iesus et dixit eis nolite murmurare in invicem

44 nemo potest venire ad me nisi Pater qui misit me traxerit eum et ego resuscitabo eum novissimo die

45 est scriptum in prophetis et erunt omnes docibiles Dei omnis qui audivit a Patre et didicit venit ad me

46 non quia Patrem vidit quisquam nisi is qui est a Deo hic vidit Patrem

47 amen amen dico vobis qui credit in me habet vitam aeternam

48 ego sum panis vitae

49 patres vestri manducaverunt in deserto manna et mortui sunt

50 hic est panis de caelo descendens ut si quis ex ipso manducaverit non moriatur

51 ego sum panis vivus qui de caelo descendi

52 si quis manducaverit ex hoc pane vivet in aeternum et panis quem ego dabo caro mea est pro mundi vita

53 litigabant ergo Iudaei ad invicem dicentes quomodo potest hic nobis carnem suam dare ad manducandum

54 dixit ergo eis Iesus amen amen dico vobis nisi manducaveritis carnem Filii hominis et biberitis eius sanguinem non habetis vitam in vobis

55 qui manducat meam carnem et bibit meum sanguinem habet vitam aeternam et ego resuscitabo eum in novissimo die

56 caro enim mea vere est cibus et sanguis meus vere est potus

57 qui manducat meam carnem et bibit meum sanguinem in me manet et ego in illo

58 sicut misit me vivens Pater et ego vivo propter Patrem et qui manducat me et ipse vivet propter me

59 hic est panis qui de caelo descendit non sicut manducaverunt patres vestri manna et mortui sunt qui manducat hunc panem vivet in aeternum

60 haec dixit in synagoga docens in Capharnaum

61 multi ergo audientes ex discipulis eius dixerunt durus est hic sermo quis potest eum audire

62 sciens autem Iesus apud semet ipsum quia murmurarent de hoc discipuli eius dixit eis hoc vos scandalizat

63 si ergo videritis Filium hominis ascendentem ubi erat prius

64 spiritus est qui vivificat caro non prodest quicquam verba quae ego locutus sum vobis spiritus et vita sunt

65 sed sunt quidam ex vobis qui non credunt sciebat enim ab initio Iesus qui essent credentes et quis traditurus esset eum

66 et dicebat propterea dixi vobis quia nemo potest venire ad me nisi fuerit ei datum a Patre meo

67 ex hoc multi discipulorum eius abierunt retro et iam non cum illo ambulabant

68 dixit ergo Iesus ad duodecim numquid et vos vultis abire

69 respondit ergo ei Simon Petrus Domine ad quem ibimus verba vitae aeternae habes

70 et nos credidimus et cognovimus quia tu es Christus Filius Dei

71 respondit eis Iesus nonne ego vos duodecim elegi et ex vobis unus diabolus est

72 dicebat autem Iudam Simonis Scariotis hic enim erat traditurus eum cum esset unus ex duodecim

John 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.