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John Chapter
Six
I. Content of the Chapter
The Son of God the Savior is the Bread of
Life
A. Feeding the five thousand by the five barley loaves and two
small fish (v.1-15) ---- a
sign indicating that He is the bread of life.
B. Walking on the sea and saving the disciples (v.16-23) ----
indicating He is above all
and the existence of life depends on Him
C.
Taking about the bread of life (v.24-59) ---- those who believe Him will obtain
the bread of life
D. Men’s
reaction to the fact that He is the bread of life (v.60-71)
II. Verse by Verse commentary
John. 6:1 “After these things Jesus
went over the Sea of Galilee
which is the
YLT: “After these things Jesus went away beyond the sea
of Galilee (of Tiberias)
”
Meaning of Words: “went over”: go
(aside
away
back
out
...ways)
pass away
Literal Meaning: “after these things”
it disclosed that the author had an idea of the order
of time (see 5:1; 7:1).
“The
Sea of Galilee
which is the
Spiritual
Meaning: the sign of feeding
the five thousand happened
on the mountain near the lake.
John. 6:2 “Then a great multitude followed Him
because they saw His
signs which He performed on those who were diseased.”
YLT: “and there was following him a great
multitude
because they were seeing his signs that he was doing on the ailing;”
Literal
Meaning: note
that Jesus would not commit Himself freely (see 2:23-25) to those who followed
for the signs He did.
John. 6:3 “And Jesus went up on the mountain
and there He sat with
His disciples.”
YLT: “and Jesus went up to the
mount
and he was there sitting with his disciples
”
Literal
Meaning: the mountain
typifies the superior condition (see Matt 17:1-2). The Lord Jesus did not feed
the five thousand at “the seaside (see v.1)”
but brought men onto the mountain
and then raised the matter of eating (see v.5).
Enlightenment
in the Word: if
believers want to enjoy Christ
he should keep away from the corrupted world
(at the seaside) and thus will be brought unto the superior circumstance (on
the mountain).
John. 6:4 “Now the Passover
a feast of the Jews
was near.”
YLT: “and the passover was
nigh
the feast of the Jews.”
The
Background:
“the Passover”
one of the three great
feasts of the Jews
was purposed to remember that their fathers were delivered
from Egypt by God ---- from the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month
every family would slay the lamb of the Passover
sprinkle its blood and eat it
(see Ex 12:11-33).
Spiritual
Meaning: with the background
of “the Passover of the Jews”
the sign of feeding the five thousand indicated
that Christ who had been crucified on the cross was the lamb of the Passover
(see 1Cor5:7). He had been slain and shed His blood and had thus become the
bread of life (see v.35) for men in the world so that those who eat Him may
live.
John. 6:5 “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?"”
YLT: “Jesus then having lifted
up eyes and having seen that a great multitude doth come to him
saith unto
Philip
`Whence shall we buy loaves
that these may eat?' --”
Meaning of Words: “see”: look closely at;
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Difficulties we meet are usually allowed by the Lord who intends to try our faith (see 6:67; Mark
6:48; Luke 20:3-4)
2) The question of the
Lord is purposed to drive the
disciples to Him and let them know and experience Him ---- a Lord
who has full
of mercy and power.
3) If believers love
the Lord
they shall look after and feed the lambs of the Lord (1John
21:15-17).
4) Only had a man
realized that he was nothing
he would finally turn to God who “calls those
things which be not as though they were (Rom 4:17).”
John. 6:6 “But this He said to test him
for He Himself knew what He
would do.”
YLT: “and this he said
trying
him
for he himself had known what he was about to do.”
Meaning of
Words: “test”: scrutinize
prove;
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “But this He said to
test him”
what the Lord has said is usually a test for us
trying the real
condition of our knowledge of Him and faith in Him.
2) “For He Himself
knew what He would do”
the Lord can never be perplexed by any difficulty we meet
for He is able to freely dominate any circumstance.
3) The Lord is filled
with confidence before manifesting His glorious work
for the origin of glory
and fullness has been earlier treasured in Him. We therefore should not only
know His work but also the reality in Him.
John 6:7 “Philip
answered Him
"Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for
them
that every one of them may have a little."”
YLT: “Philip answered him
`Two hundred denaries'
worth of loaves are not sufficient to them
that each of them may receive some
little;'”
Meaning
of Words: “have”: received
take
hold;
Literal Meaning: “two hundred denarii worth of bread”
“two hundred dearii”
a common worker at that time earned about one
denarii (see Matt 20:2) per day. It is said that the wages of a Roman soldier
then was one denarii too.
“Not sufficient for them
that every one of them may have a little”
Philip sought the answer from the physical
angle
which manifested his lacking of faith
and he failed in the test.
Enlightenment in the Word: one’s
natural eyes always focus narrowly on the limited things ---- “two hundred denarii worth of
bread is not sufficient for them”. However
it is by faith
not by sight that we believers walk
(2Cor 5:7).
John 6:8 “One
of His disciples
Andrew
Simon Peter's brother
said to Him
”
YLT: “one of his disciples -- Andrew
the brother
of Simon Peter -- saith to him
”
John 6:9 “"There
is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish
but what are they
among so many?"”
YLT: “`There is one little lad here who hath five
barley loaves
and two fishes
but these -- what are they to so many?'”
Meaning
of Words: “have”: received
take
hold;
Literal Meaning: “there is a lad here”
“lad” may refer to a little boy or
girl
and it often refers to a child servant.
“Has five barley loaves”
“barley loaves”: food of the poor families.
“Two small fish”
“fish” in the original refers to a sort of processed fish
---- salted or dried fish as a condiment eaten with the barley loaves.
Spiritual
Meaning: “five barley loaves”
in Scripture the number “five” is connected with
human taking responsibility for something
typifying that the Creator ---- “one”
here
takes the responsibility for feeding the we creatures ---- “four”. “Loaf”
a kind of crop which is ripe earlier than any other crops
symbolizes the
first-fruit among all the harvest of crops (see Lev23:10)
typifying the
resurrection of Christ. “Loaf”
a kind of food which is made by barley through
the process of crushing
kneading
and baking
symbolizes the life of Christ’s
incarnation
suffering and death
thus becoming the provision of those who
believe Him in His resurrection.
“Two
small fish”
“two”
a number in the Bible representing testimonies (see Rev
11:3)
here witnesses that Christ is far sufficient to meet the need of men. “Fish”
a sort of animal out of the sea
typifies that Christ had been born for us in
the world which had been corrupted by the devil. He had never been defiled by
sin (just as fish in the sea had not been rotten by the seawater)
but was
killed for us and shed His blood
which purified us from all sins and enabled
us to enjoy Him as our provision of life.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “Five barley loaves and two
small fish” were both insignificant
things
which unveil that Christ humbled Himself and even was despised by
others
and finally became our provision of life.
2) “Five barley loaves and two
small fish”
it symbolizes
both Christ Himself and all things that believers have received from Christ
including our limited power
wisdom
strength
possessions
one’s self as well
as the experience in the life of Christ that was died and has risen again.
3) “Five barley loaves
and two small fish”
once the limited food is devoted to the Lord
it will be
much more than two hundred denarii (see v.7). He can meet all the need just by
the limited loaves and fish
and even there remain fragments (v.13)
4) “But what are they
among so many?” ---- What we have in our hands are too limited to meet such a
great need.
5) He who has just believed
like a child in respect of the spiritual things may think that what he has had
is so limited that he plays a merely insignificant role in the assembly. However
the Lord sometimes does wondrous work by him (see v.13; Matt21:16).
6) If God intends do a
sign
He will place us in a difficult circumstance. If a greater one
He will
place us in a circumstance that is of no possibility. Only when our conditions
are too hard for ourselves and we entirely switch our confidence from ourselves
to God only
will He then perform His miracles.
7) We believers may
meet the troubles brought by the environment every day
but we shall still do not
murmur. Once the Lord has become the Lord of our environment
there will be
nothing impossible.
John 6:10 “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.”
YLT: “And Jesus said
`Make the men to sit down;'
and there was much grass in the place
the men then sat down
in number
as it
were
five thousand
”
Literal Meaning: “in number about five thousand”
only men (Mark 6:44)
women and children had not
been counted in the number of “five
thousand” (see Matt 14:21)
Spiritual
Meaning: “make the people sit down.”
---- It typifies that one rest at Jesus' feet (see Luke 10:39) instead of
struggling by himself.
“In number about five
thousand”
“five” in
Scripture the number five is connected with human “responsibility”
and here it
symbolizes that the Lord takes the responsibility of satisfying all the needs
of men.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) If a man wants to
enjoy the Lord
he should “sit down” at rest in the first place.
2) Corporate
fellowship is different from that of individuals ---- for it embraces a special
enjoyment and even much fuller.
3) No matter how considerable
our needs are
the Lord will meet them entirely and even more than sufficiently.
4) In Bible it also
recorded feeding one hundred with twenty loaves of barley (2King 4:42-44) and
four thousand with seven loaves and a few small fishes (Matt 15:32-39). Here
there was the least amount of loaves and the largest number of men who had been
fed
for the reason that the loaves were broken into many pieces. It does not
lie in the number of the loaves
but the extent how the loaves have been broken
that counts ---- the more they are broken
the more people will be satisfied.
John 6:11 “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.”
YLT: “and Jesus took the loaves
and having given
thanks he distributed to the disciples
and the disciples to those reclining
in like manner
also of the little fishes as much as they wished.”
Meaning
of Words: “give thanks”: to
be grateful
to express gratitude
Literal Meaning: “as much as they wanted”: to supply amply according to the measure of
every one.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Before we give something that of
ourselves to others
we should first let the Lord “take” it ---- only by devotion to the Lord can we
receive spiritual value.
2) If the limited
things of us linger in our own hands
they will be nothing. But it they are
devoted to the Lord
they will become blessings for many people.
3) The key point does
not rest on the amount of the loaves in our hands
but whether the Lord has
given blessings or not. Maybe we are unable to meet the present need in the
beginning
but if the Lord grants His blessings to us
there will be more than
sufficient provisions.
4) Do not complain
about “the limited things
of yourself”
but give thanks
for “what you have had”. The more gratitude we have expressed
the
more signs of God we will witness.
5) If the loaf remains
perfect
it will never satisfy the need of others. But if it has been broken
and distributed to others
it will bring about satisfaction to more people.
6) We shall not hide
the experience that we have obtained from the Lord every time
though it seems
so limited. Instead
we should learn to share it with others.
7) Our hands are not
only “receiving” the grace of God or “keeping” the
miracles of God
but rather should be “giving
out” to others. The more
grace you give and distribute to others
the more abundantly grace of God will
be.
8) It is the Lord that
“distributes” the loaves and fish to others. Only is He
the Lord who grants bread to men.
9) We are just the “loaves” in the hand of the Lord. Those who eat the
bread are grateful to “the
One who distributes the bread”
---- the Lord
not to the “loaves” ---- us. As for the service and provision
in the assembly
all glory and gratitude should be given to the Lord
not
ourselves.
10) “As much as they wanted”
we can see that: (1) we shall ask the Lord
in faith everything that we need. (2) The Lord provides us what we need rather
than what we do not need.
John 6:12 “So
when they were filled
He said to His disciples
"Gather up the fragments
that remain
so that nothing is lost." ”
YLT: “And when they were filled
he saith to his
disciples
`Gather together the broken pieces that are over
that nothing may
be lost;'”
Meaning
of Words: “remain”:
enough and to spare
abundance; “gather up”: collect or convene; “lost”: destroy
die
and lose;
Literal Meaning: “gather up the fragments that remain”
we should ruin or waste food
for it is
gifted by God.
Spiritual
Meaning: “when they were filled”
everyone can enjoy Him and be satiated.
“The fragments that remain”
it typifies that the provision of the
Lord is more than sufficient.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) To gather up the
fragments that remain teaches us that the grace of the Lord should be valued. Instead
of ruining it
we should preserve the superfluous one for possible future use.
2) We should treasure
everything provided by God for our life rather than squander or waste them.
3) Men have the
greatest inclination to waste grace when they are in riches. But our God
though being a God of the most fullness
is a God who most dislikes others’ wasting His fullness.
John 6:13 “Therefore
they gathered them up
and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five
barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.”
YLT: “they gathered together
therefore
and
filled twelve hand-baskets with broken pieces
from the five barley loaves that
were over to those having eaten.”
Meaning
of Words: “eat”: feed;
Literal Meaning: “basket”: a kind of vessel that the Jews
usually take along on their person
which could be hitched on their arms to
carry food or other sundries.
Spiritual
Meaning: “and filled twelve baskets”
the number of “twelve” is connected with
perfectness and fullness ---- His provision is fully complete.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) If one is reluctant to devote the five barley loaves and two small fish to the Lord
such a few food will be even too limited to satisfy his own. But once being
devoted to the Lord
it will produce abundant provisions after the Lord’s blessing.
2) When we have
learned to give the unsearchable fullness to others
we will find what we have
received again (“filled
twelve baskets”) is much more than
what we have presented (“five barley loaves and two
small fish”).
John 6:14 “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. " ”
YLT: “The men
then
having seen the sign that
Jesus did
said -- `This is truly the Prophet
who is coming to the world;'”
Literal Meaning: “the Prophet who is to come into the world”
the article
before “prophet” reveals that the prophet has been known by people
or it refers to the promised prophet like unto God in
Deuteronomy (18:15) (see 1:21).
John 6:15 “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. ”
YLT: “Jesus
therefore
having known that they are
about to come
and to take him by force that they may make him king
retired
again to the mountain himself alone.”
Meaning
of Words: “force”: seize
catch up (violently);
Literal Meaning: “they were about
to come and take Him by force to make Him king”
the Jews at that time longed
earnestly for the coming of the Messiah to lead them to overthrow the Roman government
and establish an Jewish Kingdom independent sovereignty.
“He
departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.” ---- It is true that the Lord
Jesus is the Messiah (Christ) of God
but He came into the world to be the
Savior of the whole world
not to establish a political Jewish kingdom. Prophesies
concerning the kingdom of the Messiah in the Old Testament will not be
fulfilled until the second coming of the Lord Jesus. In this case therefore
He
had to depart to the mountain alone.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “They were about
to come and take Him by force to make Him king.” ---- Servants of the Lord should not
fulfill the ministry of the assembly by the force of the world (see Zech
4:6).
2) “They were about
to come and take Him by force to make Him king.” ---- One should be subject to the Lord
instead of forcing Him.
3) One may take the
Lord by force to make Him do something for his own profit ---- even “he takes Him by force to make Him king”
proving that he regards the Lord as a tool
only.
4) “He departed again to the mountain by Himself
alone.” ---- If a servant
of God is high held among others
“to
depart” will be the best
way to avoid the harm of being held by men.
5) “To depart” means refusing the gain of the world. “To depart” presents a chance to prove that God is the
contentment of men. “To
depart” has exactly
testified that one has already taken God as his real joy.
John 6:16 “Now
when evening came
His disciples went down to the sea
”
YLT: “And when evening came
his disciples went
down to the sea
”
Spiritual
Meaning: “now when evening came”
it refers to the period from the ascension
of Christ to His second coming. The world has been in a long dark night.
“His disciples went down to
the sea”
“sea” typifies
the world.
Enlightenment in the Word: now the night is far spent
and the day is near (Rom 13:12). Though we feel the world be filled with deep
darkness
the Lord the day star is just
about to
appear.
John 6:17 “got
into the boat
and went over the sea toward
YLT: “and having entered into the boat
they were
going over the sea to
Spiritual
Meaning: “got into the boat”
“boat” typifies the church. The church on
the earth is just like the boat in the sea.
“And went over the sea toward
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The sign of “five barley loaves and two small fish” unveiled that the Lord had been dead for us
on the cross
thus enabling us to enjoy His life. “Going over the sea” remarked that the Lord had become the
enjoyment of our life
thus giving us strength to walk in the heavenly way ----
just as the people of
2) There is a way in which
we shall walk after we have been saved. It is of most crucial significance for
every Christian to seek the ordained way by the Lord and walk in it faithfully.
3) The boat remains still in
the sea and has not got into shore
and our journey has not arrived at the destination.
The problem of eternal life and death has been resolved
but the end in the
future ---- victory or failure
“being
faithful till the end”
or “giving up halfway” ---- depends on how we run today.
4) “Jesus had not come to them.” ---- The Lord leaves us in the world to run
the way that He has ordained. But we shall not faint for He will come again.
John 6:18 “Then
the sea arose because a great wind was blowing.”
YLT: “the sea also -- a great wind blowing -- was
being raised
”
Meaning
of Words: “blow”:
breathe hard;
The Background: the climatic condition
of the
Spiritual
Meaning: “sea”
symbolizes the world at present. “Wind” symbolizes the temptations and troubles
in the environment raised by the power of darkness.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Since the church is on
the earth
attacks and obstructions from the enemy are unavoidable.
2) If a believer has proceeded smoothly in
the world
it is unusual. And moreover
such prosperity may even prevent him
from experiencing the peace in the Lord (see 16:33).
3) If a believer stands for
the sake of the Lord
he will inevitably suffer from the adverse wind. To row
in the adverse wind is much better than to drift in the smooth wind. To drift
in the smooth wind does not require any labor
but it will never lead a man to
the end. It requires little labor to love the world
but it will definitely make
a men draw back and fall down.
4) The darker the
environment is (“it was already dark” v.17)
the sooner we will meet our Lord (or
the Lord will come to meet us).
John 6:19 “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. ”
YLT: “having pushed onwards
therefore
about
twenty-five or thirty furlongs
they behold Jesus walking on the sea
and
coming nigh to the boat
and they were afraid;”
Literal Meaning: “about three or four miles”
“three or four miles”: about 25 stadion in the original
i.e. about 5
miles.
“Jesus walking on the sea”
it shows that the Lord is the sovereign
over all things who has the surpassing power (see Ps 89:9; Is 51:10
15; Jem
31:35).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Although the Lord Jesus
had departed
again to the mountain by Himself alone
(see v.15)
he did not forget the disciples who were laboring in rowing in the
dark sea and walked in the sea to help them. No matter how dark
afflictive or
difficult the circumstance is
the Lord will never forget us. Moreover
He will
come to visit and help us on a most proper occasion.
2) The risen and ascended
Christ has surpassed the sin
the death
the world
Satan and all the troubles
---- Jesus is “walking on the sea”.
3) The Lord Jesus can walk
in the terrible waves of life and trample over every troubles (“walking on the sea”)
so we shall supplicate Him when we
undergo any hardship.
4) On account of our lack of
knowledge of the Lord
we will be afraid and even regard Him as an apparition
(see Mark 6:49) when we see the wondrous works of the Lord (“saw Jesus walking on the sea”). Therefore
do not draw a hasty conclusion
to the unknown things according to our traditional thoughts and old
conceptions
for it will be instantly clear when the Lord speaks directly
(v.20).
5) The church will pass from
the present age to the eternity
and the Lord is about to greet us. This Lord
who prays for and looks after His church is the Lord who walks in the waves. He
is far above every principality and authority and has put all things under his
feet (Eph 1:21-22).
John 6:20 “But
He said to them
"It is I; do not be afraid." ”
YLT: “and he saith to them
`I am
be not
afraid;'”
Literal Meaning: “It is I; do not be afraid.” ---- “It is I”: it is I am
(literal translation). God’s name is “I AM THAT I AM” (Ex 3:14). The moment
when the Lord said “I am”
men went away backward and fell to the ground (see
18:4-6) for He is God.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) If there is the presence
of the Lord
we shall take courage and not be afraid.
2) We shall be
comforted in every adverse situation if there is the word of the Lord. May the
Lord often grant us “a
word” (Matt 8:8) which
will be sufficient to satisfy our need.
3) Only can those who
have intimate fellowship with the Lord and are familiar with Him recognize this
voice of “I am” and have obtained comfort and
encouragement. That’s
why we shall draw near the Lord as much as possible.
John 6:21 “Then
they willingly received Him into the boat
and immediately the boat was at the
land where they were going.”
YLT: “they were willing then to receive him into
the boat
and immediately the boat came unto the land to which they were going.”
Literal Meaning: “and immediately the boat was at the land where they were
going” someone held that
this is the third miracle in this chapter. Anyway
it also suggested that the
boat had come onto the land safely for the sake of the Lord’s presence in the
boat.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) As long as the Lord has
been in our boat
all the winds and waves will be passed away and the boat will
arrive at the destination.
2) The Lord takes care
of men that are running the heavenly way like us
and always personally leads
us to pass through difficulties.
3) We should receive
the Lord into our “boat” ---- our marriage
family
career and etc.
thus enjoying peace with Him in the journey of life.
John 6:22 “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--”
YLT: “On the morrow
the multitude that was
standing on the other side of the sea
having seen that there was no other
little boat there except one -- that into which his disciples entered -- and
that Jesus went not in with his disciples into the little boat
but his
disciples went away alone
”
Literal Meaning: “the people who were standing on the other side of the sea”
“the other side of the sea” referred to the east side of the
This
verse indicated that the people felt confused when they could not find the Lord
Jesus since they had known that He had not entered the only boat there with His disciples.
John 6:23 “however
other boats came from Tiberias
near the place where they ate bread after the
Lord had given thanks--”
YLT: “(and other little boats came from Tiberias
nigh the place where they did eat the bread
the Lord having given thanks)
”
Literal Meaning: “other boats came from Tiberias”
the boats came from the opposite shore. “Tiberias” lies in the southeast bank of the
John 6:24 “when
the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there
nor His disciples
they also
got into boats and came to
YLT: “when therefore the multitude saw that Jesus
is not there
nor his disciples
they also themselves did enter into the boats
and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus;”
Literal Meaning: “the
people” refers to some of the people who are feed with
loaves
not all of them.
“Got
into boats and came to Capernaum
seeking Jesus”
since the people could not find Jesus nearby
they had to guess the most possible place that Jesus might go ---- Capernaum ---- and came to find Him.
John 6:25 “And
when they found Him on the other side of the sea
they said to Him
"Rabbi
when did You come here?" ”
YLT: “and having found him on the other side of
the sea
they said to him
`Rabbi
when hast thou come hither?'”
Literal Meaning: “when did You come here?” ---- The people were surprised by two points as
below: (1) when did the Lord Jesus come? (2) How did He come?
John 6:26 “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. ”
YLT: “Jesus answered them and said
`Verily
verily
I say to you
Ye seek me
not because ye saw signs
but because ye did
eat of the loaves
and were satisfied;”
Meaning
of Words: “fill”:
to gorge (supply food in abundance)
satisfy;
Literal Meaning: “because you ate of the loaves and were filled.” ---- In the original it remarked that one
had been satisfied by only loaves and sought none other things
so the Lord exhorted
them to labor for the everlasting food (see v.27).
Enlightenment in the Word: the Lord
does not like men to seek Him merely for the enjoyment of the world and in the
flesh (to be fed with loaves).
John 6:27 “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." ”
YLT: “work not for the food that is perishing
but
for the food that is remaining to life age-during
which the Son of Man will
give to you
for him did the Father seal -- God.'”
Meaning
of Words: “perish”: destroy
die
and lose; “labor”: be engaged in or with
work; “seal”: to stamp (with a signet or private mark) for security or
preservation
attest;
The Background: “God the Father has set His seal on Him.” ---- When a man sets his seal on a
document
the document has been fully authorized by him
proving that the
document has become true and changeless.
Literal Meaning: “do not labor for the food which perishes”: “do not labor for the material food which satisfies one’s need in the flesh only”. The Lord
here does not intend to prohibit us from laboring for food that meets our need
in the flesh (see 2The 3:10)
but means that it should neither be the focus of
our labor nor the entirety.
“But for the food which
endures to everlasting life”
“the food which endures to
everlasting life” refers to the
spiritual food which could feed our spiritual life. “Labor” here does not only
refer to physical labor but also spiritual labor in one’s mind (see Phil 1:27)
---- especially “faith” (v.29).
“The Son of Man will give you”
it suggests that “the food which endures to
everlasting life” is actually not an
object which could be gained by men’s own strength
but a gift of Christ.
“God the Father has set His seal on Him”: “God the Father has appointed and testified of Him”.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “Do not labor for the food
which perishes
but for the food which endures to everlasting life.”
---- It reminded us that the ultimate intention of our life should not be
earthly
transient or perishing things
but the ever-existing Christ.
2) All those who have
not realized the value of the inner life will be only satisfied by the external
and material enjoyment. But once we have tasted the relish of the inner life
we will turn to seek the internal enjoyment of life.
John 6:28 “Then
they said to Him
"What shall we do
that we may work the works of
God?" ”
YLT: “They said therefore unto him
`What may we
do that we may work the works of God?'”
Literal Meaning: “what shall we do
that we may work the works of God?” ---- “the works of God” refers to all the works that please God.
This
question disclosed that they thought “the food which endured
to everlasting life” could be gained by
“doing the
works of God”. They had not even
understood the words of “which
the Son of Man would give you” at all.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Men’s natural concept concerning the works of
God may focus on “doing” ---- those visible works of men.
2) It is the concept
of the fallen race always wants to do something for God
3) Those who want to
do works for God believe that they are capable enough to do the works of God.
If we have really known the conditions of us
we will confess that we can do
nothing by ourselves.
John 6:29 “Jesus
answered and said to them
"This is the work of God
that you believe in
Him whom He sent." ”
YLT: “Jesus answered and said to them
`This is
the work of God
that ye may believe in him whom He did send.'”
Literal Meaning: “this is the work of God that you believe in Him whom He
sent.” ---- “The work of God” refers to the work of God Himself. In
brief
to believe God is to do the work of God. For it is God
not men that
works. To believe God is to receive the work of God.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) We can see from this
verse the idea of the Lord is completely opposite to that of men ---- it is “believing” rather than “working” that enables a man to do the work of God
---- it is receiving
not giving; it is by God
not for God.
2) To believe Jesus
Christ is the only work that one can do and that is acceptable to God (see Eph
2:9; 1John 3:23).
3) If one serves God
in faith
what he has done are works of God though there are not many. If one
lacks faith when serving God
what he has done are not works of God though
there are many.
4) In faith
there is none
men’s labor or capability.
“Men should only
believe” unveils that men
are unable to do anything.
5) Only can God do the
work of God. Men can not do the work of God and has no portion of it either.
John 6:30 “Therefore
they said to Him
"What sign will You perform then
that we may see it and
believe You? What work will You do?
”
YLT: “They said therefore to him
`What sign
then
dost thou
that we may see and may believe thee? what dost thou work?”
Literal Meaning: “what sign will You perform then
that we may see it and
believe You?” ---- They believe
that only “sign” from the heaven is the substantial evidence to prove that He
has been sealed by God.
John 6:31 “Our
fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written
"He gave them bread
from heaven to eat."'”
YLT: “our fathers the manna did eat in the
wilderness
according as it is having been written
Bread out of the heaven He
gave them to eat.'”
Meaning
of Words: “manna”: what is this?
The Background: after the people of
Literal Meaning: “he gave them bread from heaven to eat.”
---- It was a common notion among the Jews that when the Messiah came
He would
rain manna from heaven for them again. The people might think that what the Lord
Jesus had done at that time was far inferior to that of Moses. He only fed five
thousand once
but Moses fed the whole nation for the whole 40 years. Therefore
they thought if the Lord Jesus was the Messiah
he had to be capable of doing
greater miracles than Moses.
Note that it was misunderstood by the people that
it was Moses that gave them manna from heaven to eat
but actually the true
giver is God Himself
not Moses.
John 6:32 “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. ”
YLT: “Jesus
therefore
said to them
`Verily
verily
I say to you
Moses did not give you the bread out of the heaven; but
my Father doth give you the true bread out of the heaven;”
Literal Meaning: “but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven”
the present tense of the word “gives”
indicates that the Father not only gave men the true bread from heaven in the
past but also gives it to men at present.
“True
bread” is relative to “manna”
which discloses that manna in the past was not
the true bread for those who
had eaten the manna
died (v.49).
Spiritual
Meaning: “manna”
typifies the fact that Christ is men’s spiritual bread (1 Cor10:3-4)
so “the true bread from heaven” is just Christ Himself.
John 6:33 “For
the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the
world." ”
YLT: “for the bread of God is that which is coming
down out of the heaven
and giving life to the world.'”
Literal Meaning: “of God” and “from heaven (v.32)” are reciprocal synonyms.
“Is He who comes down from
heaven and gives life to the world”
it indicates two features of “the bread
of God”: (1) it comes down from heaven (2) it is able to give life to men.
Enlightenment in the Word: “the bread of God” is none other things but Christ Himself
who gives life to men.
John 6:34 “Then
they said to Him
"Lord
give us this bread always." ”
YLT: “They said
therefore
unto him
`Sir
always
give us this bread.'”
Literal Meaning: “give us this bread always”
the thought of them was still restrained in the material
sphere so that they regarded “this bread” and the Lord Jesus as separate.
John 6:35 “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. ”
YLT: “And Jesus said to them
`I am the bread of
the life; he who is coming unto me may not hunger
and he who is believing in
me may not thirst -- at any time;”
Literal Meaning: “I am the bread of life.” ---- This is the first time that the Lord Jesus applies
the phrase “I am” to describe His self in this book (see 48; 8:12; 9:5; 10:7
9
11
14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1
5). This phrase in the original carried a solemn
and emphatic tone
indicating that He is the God ---- “I AM THAT AM (Ex 3:14)”.
“The bread of life” refers to the bread which “makes men alive”
or “gives life to men” (v.51).
“He who comes to Me … he who believes in Me …” ---- it unveils that “to believe” the Lord
Jesus is to come to Him.
“Shall never hunger … shall never
thirst…” ---- it indicates that the bread given by
the Lord Jesus has the characteristics as follows: (1) it is true. (2) It is
perfect. (2) It is everlasting.
Enlightenment in the Word: one should
eat the material food to satisfy his hunger in the flesh. In like manner
one
should eat the Lord who is the bread of life to satisfy his hunger in his
spirit.
John 6:36 “But
I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. ”
YLT: “but I said to you
that ye also have seen
me
and ye believe not;”
John 6:37 “All
that the Father gives Me will come to Me
and the one who comes to Me I will by
no means cast out. ”
YLT: “all that the Father doth give to me will
come unto me; and him who is coming unto me
I may in no wise cast without
”
Meaning
of Words: “cast out”:
drive (out)
expel;
Literal Meaning: “all that the Father gives Me”: those who are drawn by the Father (see v.44).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The gift of the Father is
the origin of our faith in the Lord. The preservation of the Son is the origin
of our firm assurance till the end.
2) Since the salvation
does not originate from us
we shall freely commit ourselves into the Lord. For
we may fail
but the Lord the Lord will never fail.
John 6:38 “For
I have come down from heaven
not to do My own will
but the will of Him who
sent Me. ”
YLT: “because I have come down out of the heaven
not that I may do my will
but the will of Him who sent me.”
Literal Meaning: “I have come down from heaven.” ---- This sentence has
repeated for six times in this paragraph (see v.33
41
50-51
58)
stressing
the heavenly origin of the Lord Jesus.
“Not to do My own will”
“My
own will” refers to the will
of the Lord Jesus in His humanity. Although His will was distinct from that of “the One who sent Him”
He had actually never sought His own will (see Matt 26:39)
so the two wills
remained absolutely identical.
John 6:39 “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. ”
YLT: “`And this is the will of the Father who sent
me
that all that He hath given to me I may not lose of it
but may raise it up
in the last day;”
Meaning
of Words: “lose”:
destroy
mar
and perish;
Literal Meaning: “should raise it up at the last day”
“the last day (see v.40
44
54)” here specifically refers to the day that the Lord shall descend from
heaven (see 1The 4:16). Here it means that although those who have believed the
Lord shall die
they will still be raised up
showing that death will never prevail
against life gifted by Christ.
This verse indicates that those who have
believed the Lord will be kept in Christ till the last day.
John 6:40 “And
this is the will of Him who sent Me
that everyone who sees the Son and
believes in Him may everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last
day." ”
YLT: “and this is the will of Him who sent me
that every one who is beholding the Son
and is believing in him
may have life
age-during
and I will raise him up in the last day.'”
Literal Meaning: “that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him”
it can be comprehended through the
original meaning of the verb “see” like this: “that everyone who ponders who
the Son really is and thus believes Him”.
Enlightenment in the Word: the will
of the Father has appointed us that: (1) to see Christ ---- “sees the Son” (2) to be joined unto Christ ---- “believes”
(3) to enjoy His full life ---- “obtain the everlasting life” (4) to enter the ultimate glory ---- “raise him up at the last
day”.
John 6:41 “The
Jews then complained about Him
because He said
"I am the bread which
came down from heaven." ”
YLT: “The Jews
therefore
were murmuring at him
because he said
`I am the bread that came down out of the heaven;'”
Meaning
of Words: “complained
about”: grumble
murmur;
John 6:42 “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'?" ”
YLT: “and they said
`Is not this Jesus
the son
of Joseph
whose father and mother we have known? how then saith this one --
Out of the heaven I have come down?'”
Meaning
of Words: “know”: understand
Enlightenment in the Word: things
that we had known before we received the Lord tend to become a hindrance for us
to know the Lord.
John 6:43 “Jesus
therefore answered and said to them
"Do not murmur among yourselves.”
YLT: “Jesus answered
therefore
and said to them
`Murmur not one with another;”
Meaning
of Words: “murmur”: complain;
John 6:44 “No
one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise
him up at the last day.”
YLT: “no one is able to come unto me
if the
Father who sent me may not draw him
and I will raise him up in the last day;”
Literal Meaning: “the Father who sent Me draws him”
“draw” carries the meaning of drawing for
oneself.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) One can never come to the
Lord by himself
but the one who is drawn by the Father will come.
2) The Father intends
to draw and bring us to the Lord Jesus. Have the innermost depths of one's
hearts been drawn to draw near the Lord Jesus?
John 6:45 “It
is written in the prophets
"And they shall all be taught by God.'
Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.”
YLT: “it is having been written in the prophets
And they shall be all taught of God; every one therefore who heard from the
Father
and learned
cometh to me;”
Meaning
of Words: “taught”:
instructed; “learn”: understand;
Literal Meaning: “and they shall all be taught by God” it is quoted from the Book of Isaiah
(54:13).
“Everyone who has heard and learned
from the Father comes to
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Father draws
men to draw near Christ (v.44)
and teaches
men to come unto Christ. If we have been drawn by the Father internally and
have been taught by God externally
we will certainly find that only the
precious Christ is the unique goal which we shall come unto.
2) Only can those who
are willing to be taught by God come to the Lord and receive the salvation
so
we shall not despise the heart of the instructed.
John 6:46 “Not
that anyone has seen the Father
except He who is from God; He has seen the
Father.”
YLT: “not that any one hath seen the Father
except he who is from God
he hath seen the Father.”
Literal Meaning: “he who is from God” refers to the Lord Jesus.
John 6:47 “Most assuredly
I say to you
he who believes in
Me has everlasting life. ”
YLT: “`Verily
verily
I say to you
He who is
believing in me
hath life age-during;”
Literal Meaning: “he who believes in Me has everlasting life”:
he that believes on the Son has everlasting life (see 3:36).
John 6:48 “I
am the bread of life.”
YLT: “I am the bread of the life;”
Literal Meaning: please see the commentary of verse 35.
John 6:49 “Your
fathers ate the manna in the wilderness
and are dead.”
YLT: “your fathers did eat the manna in the wilderness
and they died;”
Literal Meaning: “and are dead”
refers to the physical death.
John 6:50 “This
is the bread which comes down from heaven
that one may eat of it and not die. ”
YLT: “this is the bread that out of the heaven is
coming down
that any one may eat of it
and not die.”
Literal Meaning: “that one may eat of it and not die”
it shows that one’s spiritual life will
not die.
Enlightenment in the Word: “ate the manna in the
wilderness
and are dead (v.49)”
the traditional way which has been used by God may not
necessarily bring fresh effect now. “The bread which comes
down from heaven
that one may eat of it and not die.” ---- It remarks that
only the full Christ is the everlasting and ever-fresh provision of men.
John 6:51 “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." ”
YLT: “`I am the living bread that came down out of
the heaven; if any one may eat of this bread he shall live -- to the age; and
the bread also that I will give is my flesh
that I will give for the life of
the world.'”
Literal Meaning: “I am the living bread which came down from heaven.” ---- “the living bread” in this verse is different from “the bread
of life” in verse 35. The former indicates the bread is living
and the latter
shows the nature of the bread is life.
“The bread that I shall give
is My flesh.” ---- To become
the provision (bread) of one’s life
Christ should firstly deliver His body
(flesh) up in order to redeem the sin of men. And it also indicates that one
shall receive His redemption (flesh) first and then enjoy Him as his provision
(bread) of life.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Our life in the flesh is
fed by the food on the earth
but our spiritual life is fed by the Lord who is
our spiritual food. May we often draw near and enjoy the Lord and regard Him as
our joy
thus keeping our spiritual life live forever.
2) “Bread” indicates that Christ is our provision. “Flesh” and “blood” (v.54) show that Christ who has been
crucified on the cross is our provision. So the center of the glad tidings is
to preach “Christ crucified” (1 Cor1:23).
John 6:52 “The
Jews therefore quarreled among themselves
saying
"How can this Man give
us His flesh to eat?" ”
YLT: “The Jews
therefore
were striving with one
another
saying
`How is this one able to give us flesh to eat?'”
Meaning
of Words: “quarrel”:
fight
strive;
Literal Meaning: the Jews quarreled for the reason that they
regarded the flesh of the Lord Jesus in the sight of material
but were ignorant
of the spiritual meaning of “eating His flesh”.
John 6:53 “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. ”
YLT: “Jesus
therefore
said to them
`Verily
verily
I say to you
If ye may not eat the flesh of the Son of Man
and may
not drink his blood
ye have no life in yourselves;”
Meaning of Words: “eat”
most of the
words “eat” in this chapter are this one according to the original: v. 5
23
26
30
31
49
50
51
52 and 58 (the second one).
Spiritual
Meaning: “eat the flesh of the Son of
Man…drink His blood”
“the flesh of
the Son of Man”
the flesh of the
Lord Jesus had been delivered up for us. “His blood” indicates the Lord Jesus shed His blood on the
cross for us. “Eat” and “drink” mean receiving into.
“Eat
the flesh of the Son of Man”
it typifies that one shall receive by faith all the accomplished work by the
Lord Jesus who surrendered His body for men. “…drink His blood” typifies that one shall receive by faith
all the accomplished work by the Lord Jesus who shed His blood. The meaning of
both of the above two points is identical ---- one shall receive the
accomplished salvation by the Lord on the cross by faith.
John 6:54 “Whoever
eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life
and I will raise him up at
the last day.”
YLT: “he who is eating my flesh
and is drinking
my blood
hath life age-during
and I will raise him up in the last day;”
Meaning
of Words: “eat”:
gnaw
chew. It is different from the other “eat” in verse 53 according to the
original
but is the same as that in verse 56
57
58 (the first one).
Literal Meaning: “whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life”
both of the words “eat” and “drink” from
verse 54 to verse 58 (except for the second “eat”) denote “to partake” and “to
enjoy together”.
John 6:55 “For
My flesh is food indeed
and My blood is drink indeed.”
YLT: “for my flesh truly is food
and my blood
truly is drink;”
John 6:56 “He
who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me
and I in him. ”
YLT: “he who is eating my flesh
and is drinking
my blood
doth remain in me
and I in him.”
Literal Meaning: “and I abide in him”
“abide”: “dwell” in Greek. It suggests that the
Lord Jesus comes to be our life and
provision of
life in His resurrection.
John 6:57 “As
the living Father sent Me
and I live because of the Father
so he who feeds on
Me will live because of Me.”
YLT: “`According as the living Father sent me
and
I live because of the Father
he also who is eating me
even that one shall
live because of me;”
Literal Meaning: “he who feeds on Me will live because of Me”
“eat” refers to the procedure as follows:
one shall receive the food into his stomach first
and then the nutrients in
the food will be assimilated into his body
thus maintaining the vitality of
his life. Therefore
to eat the flesh of the Lord is to receive by faith the
fulfilled salvation by the Lord Jesus. Meanwhile
the Lord Himself is also
received into our heart
and the elements of His life will be absorbed by us
through which we shall live.
John 6:58 “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." ”
YLT: “this is the bread that came down out of the
heaven; not as your fathers did eat the manna
and died; he who is eating this
bread shall live -- to the age.'”
John 6:59 “These
things He said in the synagogue as He taught in
John 6:60 “Therefore
many of His disciples
when they heard this
said
"This is a hard saying;
who can understand it?" ”
YLT: “many
therefore
of his disciples having
heard
said
`This word is hard; who is able to hear it?'”
Meaning
of Words: “hard”:
tough
harsh
severe;
Literal Meaning: “this is a hard saying”
the word “hard” carries a meaning of raising one’s
antipathy.
Enlightenment in the Word: the carnal men could not apprehend or receive the revelation of Christ who had been crucified ---- “This is a hard
saying; who can understand it?”
so they would be stumbled (the
literal translation of the word “offend” in verse 61) and they “went back and walked with Him no more” (v.66).
John 6:61 “When
Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this
He said to
them
"Does this offend you?”
YLT: “And Jesus having known in himself that his
disciples are murmuring about this
said to them
`Doth this stumble you?”
Meaning
of Words: “offend”:
stumble
trip up
John 6:62 “What
then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? ”
YLT: “if then ye may behold the Son of Man going
up where he was before?”
Literal Meaning: it declares manifestly that the Lord Jesus has risen and
ascended to the heaven
and His ascension is a great testimony that His work of
salvation has been accomplished (Heb 1:3).
John 6:63 “It
is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak
to you are spirit
and they are life.
”
YLT: “the spirit it is that is giving life; the
flesh doth not profit anything; the sayings that I speak to you are spirit
and
they are life;”
Literal Meaning: “it is the Spirit who gives
life”
having passed the death and resurrection
the Lord Jesus has become a
quickening spirit (1Cor 15:45 the literal translation). Christ
who has been
received by us
gives us life in spirit and comes to be the provision of our
life.
“The flesh profits nothing”
the Lord Jesus does not give us His
physical body to eat
yet we still profit nothing by even eating His physical
body.
“The words that I speak to
you are spirit
and they are life.”
---- “Word” here refers to the seasonable
transient and subjective word
(rhema). The abiding and objective word (logos) that we have read in Bible
should be changed into the personal and subjective word
and thus bringing
about profit to us. Then
the word of the Lord is spirit and is life.
This
verse manifests that the Lord has become the quickening spirit in His
resurrection
which has been substantiated and true in His transient word
(rhema). If we hold a right attitude towards the word of the Lord
we will receive
the provision from the quickening spirit.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The physical body of the
Lord Jesus profits us nothing ---- “the flesh profits nothing”
so it is unsuitable for Christians to put
up or even worship the image of the Lord Jesus.
2) Believers shall not
know Christ according to flesh any longer (see 2Cor5:16)
but know the Lord is
the spirit. Where the Spirit of the Lord is
there is liberty (2Cor3:17).
3) Since the Lord has
become “a quickening spirit”
we shall no longer commune with Him or
worship Him in the flesh outwardly
but worship Him in spirit and truth (see
4:24).
4) Things of the
Spirit of God are spiritually discerned. If a man wants to know the things of
the Spirit of God
he should not discern according to flesh (see 1Cor 2:14-15).
Instead
he must open his heart and receive the enlightenment of God.
5) Now the Lord has
granted us two great gifts: one is the indwelling spirit in us
and the other
is the Holy Bible. The spirit is the real content of the Bible
and the Bible
is the detailed description of the spirit.
6) One has received
the letter only when he reads the Bible without any contact with the spirit
therein. If the spirit is one-sidedly emphasized but the Bible is ignored
one
will run to an extreme
separate him from the preservation of truth and even be
deceived by the evil spirits.
7) We should often
search the words of the Lord and touch the spirit of the Lord. The spirit and
words should be employed in equilibrium so that we can obtain richer life of
the Lord.
John 6:64 “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. ”
YLT: “but there are certain of you who do not
believe;' for Jesus had known from the beginning who they are who are not
believing
and who is he who will deliver him up
”
Meaning
of Words: “betray”:
surrender
commit;
John 6:65 “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." ”
YLT: “and he said
`Because of this I have said to
you -- No one is able to come unto me
if it may not have been given him from
my Father.'”
Enlightenment in the Word:
it is a gift of God that we have been able to believe the Lord Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through
faith and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift
of God (Eph 2:8).
John 6:66 “From
that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. ”
YLT: “From this many of his disciples went away
backward
and were no more walking with him
”
Literal Meaning: “from that time many of His disciples went back”
“from that time”: thus
for this reason;
There
are two reasons of the disciples’ departure: (1) they came to follow the Lord
for being fed by loaves. Once the Lord did not provide them with the physical
loaves
they had to went away to make a living by themselves. (2) They could
not understand the word of the Lord and regarded it as a hard saying (see v.6).
Their departure is due to being not apprehend the truth in the word of the Lord
rather than being confronted with trials and tribulations.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “Many of His disciples went
back”
obviously
to be a
disciple of Christ is not easy. A well beginning does not guarantee a well
termination.
2) Neither the one who loves
the treasure on the earth (Mark 10:22)
nor he who regards his own and his
family more important that the Lord
nor he who is unwilling to take up his
cross shall be worthy of Christ’s disciples.
3) There are generally two
reasons for believers’ stumbling: “problems concerning life” and “problems
concerning the truth”. If Satan fails to cause a believer stumble for problems
about life
he will make the believer give up halfway for problems about the
truth.
4) We follow the Lord to seek eternity. Only will the
fallen Christianity help others to solve the problems of life
but be ignorant
of leading others to draw near Christ Himself.
5) A group of men who claim
to be Christians do not receive the words of the Lord yet ---- as for some
important truth
they do not understand
but doubt
misunderstand
despise or dispute
it. They clasp the external form of the Christianity
but refuse the truth of
it.
6) To believe
honor and treasure
the Bible is the most fundamental and necessary attitude for a Christian. Otherwise
one may give up halfway one day.
John 6:67 “Then
Jesus said to the twelve
"Do you also want to go away?" ”
YLT: “Jesus
therefore
said to the twelve
`Do ye
also wish to go away?'”
John 6:68 “But
Simon Peter answered Him
"Lord
to whom shall we go? You have the words
of eternal life. ”
YLT: “Simon Peter
therefore
answered him
`Sir
unto whom shall we go? thou hast sayings of life age-during;”
Literal Meaning: “You have the words of eternal life.” ---- It indicates that there is eternal
life in the words of the Lord.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Responding to the same words of the Lord
some said: “this is a hard saying; who
can understand it?” and some said: “Lord
to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life.”
The differences lay in whether they had faith or not (see v.69).
2) Having known that
the Lord have “the words of eternal life” and the eternal value and glory
Peter felt
disinclined to devote his heart unto other men or things. So obviously
knowledge is intimately connected with devotion. Only right knowledge brings
right devotion.
3) The words of the
Lord (“the
words of eternal life”)
are a touchstone
which is going to try who truly believes Him.
4) All those whose eyes
have been open and who know He is the One being filled with the words of life
can not follow other things any longer ---- “to whom shall we go?” Evidently
basic knowledge about Christ is
the great motive for following Christ and walking with Christ.
John 6:69 “Also
we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ
the Son of the living
God." ”
YLT: “and we have believed
and we have known
that thou art the Christ
the Son of the living God.'”
Literal Meaning: “also we have come to believe and know that…” the pluperfect
tense of the verbs in the original indicates that we
have been in a state of believing and knowing. And the state has maintained
till now.
“The Son of the living God”
refers to “the holy one of God” (the one who has been sanctified by God).
John 6:70 “Jesus
answered them
"Did I not choose you
the twelve
and one of you is a
devil?" ”
YLT: “Jesus answered them
`Did not I choose you
-- the twelve? and of you -- one is a devil.”
Meaning
of Words: “devil”:
false accuser;
Literal
Meaning: “and one of you is a devil”
it discloses that this one is the tool of
the devil as well as the dwelling of the devil (see 13:2
27) and has the
disposition of the devil.
John 6:71 “He
spoke of Judas Iscariot
the son of Simon
for it was he who would betray Him
being one of the twelve. ”
YLT: “And he spake of Judas
Simon's
Iscariot
for he was about to deliver him up
being one of the twelve.”
Literal Meaning: “Judas Iscariot
the son of Simon”
“Iscariot” was possibly a
small city in the South of Judaea. In the ancient days
the Jews were used to describe
a man with a place-name or his father’s name
e.g. the way of calling Judas in
this verse.
“For
it was he who would betray Him”
why did the Lord choose Judas as His disciple
since He had known Judas would betray Him? There were at least the several
reasons as below: (1) “that the scripture might be fulfilled” (see 17:12;
13:18; Matt 26:24
54; Mark 14:21); (2) The Lord had to suffer from many
tribulations when He was on the earth so that He would be able to sympathize
with our infirmities (see Heb 4:15). Of all the tribulations
to be betrayed by
one’s beloved one is really intolerable. (3) Even Judas who betrayed the Lord
should also confess that Jesus is innocent (see Matt 27:4).
III. Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
I. Christ is the Bread of Life
A. The bread that Christ Himself is able to feed five
thousand and even there remain fragments (v.10-13). ---- The essence of His
fullness.
B. The bread that Christ Himself endures to everlasting life (v.27). ---- The essence of His eternity
(which is opposite to mortality).
C. He is the living bread which
came down from heaven (v. 33
38
41
42
50
51
and 58). ---- His heavenly essence (which is opposite to the earthly
essence).
D. He is the “true bread” from heaven (v.32). ---- The essence of His truth
(which is opposite to falsehood).
E. He is the bread
of God (v.33). ---- His divine essence (which is opposite to the mortal essence).
F. He is the bread
of life (v.35). ---- His spiritual essence (which is opposite to the material essence).
II. How does Christ come
to be the Bread of Men’s Life?
A. The Passover was near (v.4). ---- He had
to come to be the Lamb of the Passover and be sacrificed.
B. Five barley loaves and two small fish
(v.9). ---- It symbolizes that He was dead and is alive again
thus fulfilling the
salvation.
C. He had given thanks He distributed them to (v.11). ---- The Father blesses
and the Son has been broken.
D. Be sealed by God (v.27)
be sent by God (v.29
38-39). ---- To keep the will of God.
E.
Came down from the heaven (V.33
38) ---- To humble Himself and come to the
earth.
F. The
Son of Man ascends to the place where He had been (v.62) ---- He died and has
been raised and ascended to heaven.
H. It
is the Spirit who gives life (v
I. The
words that I speak to you are spirit
and they are life (v.63b). ---- His words
have become the reality of the provision of life.
III. How to Enjoy Christ
as the Bread of Life?
A. Go up on the mountain with Jesus (v.3). ---- One shall enter the
heavenly surpassing region with the Lord.
B. Devote
the five
barley loaves and two small fish
to the Lord (v.9). ---- One shall devote all that which has obtained from and
experienced in the Lord to Him.
C. Give thanks (v
D. Distribute to others (v.11b). ---- One shall be willing to
partake with all the saints.
E. Gather up the fragments that remain
so that nothing is
lost (v.12). ---- One shall cherish every grace
to obtain more grace.
F. One shall not take Him by force so as to avoid His departure (v.15). ---- One
shall be subject to Him instead of utilizing Him.
G. They willingly received Him into the
boat (v.21). ---- One shall not fear Him
but be
willing to receive Him.
H. Do not labor for the food which perishes
but for the
food which endures to everlasting life
(v.27). ---- One shall switch his intention of his life to Christ.
I. This is the work of God that you believe in Him whom He
sent (v.29). ---- One shall stop his own work
rather than receive the work of Christ.
J. He who comes to Me shall never hunger
and he who
believes in Me shall never thirst
(v.35). ---- One shall often come to the Lord and look upon His provision in
faith.
K. That of all He has given Me I should
lose nothing (v.39). ---- One
shall commit himself into the Lord’s hands of grace.
L. Everyone who has heard and learned from
the Father comes to Me (v.45). ---- One
shall keep his heart being instructed and be willing to endeavor to search the
words of God.
M. Eat the flesh of the Son of Man and
drink His blood (v.53-54). ---- One
shall receive the Lord’s being and accomplished works into his heart.
N. Abides in Me
and I in him (v.56). ---- One shall commune often with
the Lord.
O. He who feeds on Me will live because of
Me (v.57). ---- One shall live by the Lord’s
life.
P. It is the Spirit who gives life (v
Q. The words that I speak to you are spirit
and they are
life (v.63b). ---- One shall apprehend the words
of the Lord in spirit.
R. Be firmly convinced that the Lord have the words of eternal life (v.68-69). ---- One shall not be distracted
by any words of men (even the words of some spiritual men)
otherwise his faith
in the Lord will be affected.
S. Know that only He is the Son of the living God (v.69b). ---- One shall hold fast Christ
for He is different any one who is in the flesh (even the one who is most
spiritual).
IV. The Teachings of the
Sign of Five Barley Loaves
and Two Small
Fish
A.
Three Distinct Sorts of Attitudes (v.4-9)
1. Philip ---- two hundred denarii worth of bread is
not sufficient for them ---- thought it completely
impossible.
2. Andrew ---- “what are they among so many?” ---- believed it was of no avail.
3. The lad ---- delivered his five barley loaves and two
small fish to the Lord ----
preferred that the Lord came to take charge of his food.
B. The
Works of the Lord Jesus (v.10-11)
1. Make
the people sit down ---- He asks men to
stop their works to rest before His feet.
2. Take
the loaves ---- He accepts men’s
devotion.
3. Give thanks to God ---- He
confesses that God is the origin of provision.
4. Distribute them to the people
as much as
they want ---- He bestows the
reward to men according to men’s personal measure.
C. The
enjoyment for all the People (v.12-13)
1. They
were filled ---- they were in
want of nothing.
2. Gather
up the fragments that remain ---- there still
remained.
3. The
fragments of the five barley loaves filled twelve baskets ---- the full and rich provision.
D. Two Sorts of
different Thoughts (v.14-21)
1. The Jews thought the Lord was the
king who came to lead them against the Roman government.
2. The disciples knew the Lord is the
King of kings
who exists over all.
V. Six Kinds of Men in
this Chapter
A. They
followed the Lord
because they saw His signs (v.2)
B. They praised the
Lord
because they saw His signs (v.14)
C. They found the Lord
because they had eaten of the loaves and been filled (v.26).
D. They still did not believe the Lord
because
they saw the works of the Lord outwardly (v.36).
E. They complained about
the Lord
because they knew the Lord only in the flesh (v.41-42).
F. They quarreled
because they had
not understood the words of the Lord (v.52).
G. They gave up halfway
because they had not understood
the words of the Lord (v.60
66).
H. They were not moved
because they had held fast
the words of the Lord (v.68).
I. They were utilized by the Devil
because they
had not believed the words of the Lord (v.64
70-71).
VI. The Flesh
Profits Nothing
A. The
sight of the flesh profits
nothing. ---- They followed
the Lord for having seen signs (v.2)
B. The
possession of the flesh profits
nothing. ---- Two hundred denarii worth of
bread is not sufficient (v.7).
C. The
mind of the flesh profits nothing. ---- The people took
the Lord by force to make Him king
and He departed (v.15).
D. The
satisfaction of the flesh profits nothing. ---- They found
the Lord for having eaten
of the loaves and been filled (v.26).
E. The
works of the flesh profits
nothing. ---- “What shall we do
that we
may work the works of God?” (v.28)
F. The knowledge of the flesh profits nothing. ---- “… whose father and mother we know?” (v.42)
G. The understanding of the flesh profits nothing. ---- “How can this Man give us His flesh to
eat?” (v.52)
H. The hearing of the flesh profits nothing. ---- “This is a hard saying; who can
understand it?” (v.60)
VII. How to Come to the
Lord?
A. All that the Father gives the Lord will come to the Lord (v.37
39).
B. No one can come to the Lord unless the Father who sent Him draws him
(v.44).
C. Everyone who has heard and
learned from the Father comes to the
Lord. (v.45).
D. No one can come to the Lord unless it has been granted to him by the Father (v.65).
VIII. The Reasons for the
Disciples’ Halfway Departure
A. They
did not understand the words of the Lord and were stumbled in the words of the
Lord (v.60-61).
B. They
understood the words of the Lord completely through the mind of the flesh
(v.63).
C. They
did not believe (v.64).
D.
They had not been granted by the Father (v.65).
VIII. How to Prevent Men
From Departing Halfway?
A. To
see the status of the Lord who has raised and ascended (v.62).
B. To
know the Lord is the quickening spirit (v
C. To enjoy the transient word of the Lord (v.63b).
D. Only the Lord has the words of eternal life (v.68).
E. To believe the Lord (v.69).
F. To know the Lord is the Son of the living God (“the holy one of God”) (v.69b)
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou