The Bible

 

John 6

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1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.

2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.

4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.

5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,

9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

16 And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,

17 And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.

18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.

19 So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.

20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.

21 Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.

22 The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;

23 (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)

24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.

25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.

42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?

43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.

47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

48 I am that bread of life.

49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.

50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?

53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?

62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?

63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?

71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

   

Commentary

 

Explanation of John 6

By Rev. John Clowes M.A.

Explaining the Inner Meaning of John 6

Verses 6:1, 2. That the Lord applies himself to those who are in the ultimates of the church amongst the Gentiles, and is followed by many who are under the influence of a miraculous faith.

Verses 6:3, 4. On which occasion he elevates himself to union with his divine good, to which he conjoins the truths of the church, and thus approaches to his final glorification.

Verses 6:5, 6, 7. In this state he tries the faith of those of the church who are in intelligence, by exciting doubt respecting the implantation of good in truths, when yet he knew that it could only be done from himself.

Verses 6:8, 9. This doubt extends also to those who are principled in the good of faith, being further excited from a sense of the small portion of innocence and of living scientific truth which remained in the church.

Verse 6:10. Wherefore to remove this doubt, the Lord requires, that the truths of the church should be admitted into the will, or love, so as to affect it, and thus to rule over scientific truths.

Verse 6:11. And when this was accomplished, he imparts the good of his own love to the good of those of the church who are principled in truth, and through them to those who are principled in good, with as much of living scientific truth as could be received.

Verses 6:12, 13. And this in all the fullness of instruction and benediction.

Verse 6:14. Thus proving himself to be that divine doctrine, which, it had been predicted, was to be made manifest in the flesh.

Verse 6:15. But perceiving the state of the church to be such, that doctrine was in danger of being exalted above the life of doctrine, he again elevates himself into the good of his divine love.

Verses 6:16, 17. On which occasion, they who are principled in the truths of the church, being without illustration, consult scientifics and knowledges, and even the things of sense, thus immersing themselves in false principles, separate from divine good and truth.

Verses 6:18, 19. Under the influence of which false principles, they are brought into a state of disturbance and temptation, in which state their understandings are opened to the Lord's Divine Humanity, so as to perceive him controlling the disturbance both in the scientifics and knowledges, and begetting holy adoration.

Verse 6:20. Convincing them thus that he is Jehovah, the divine source of all peace and security.

Verse 6:21. Therefore they supplicate, that their knowledges may be always under his divine presence and influence, in consequence of which supplication they attain the life of knowledge.

Verses 6:22, 23, 24, 25. That they, who are principled in the ultimates of scientific and sensual truth, perceiving their want of the knowledge of good and truth, and that these knowledges are in the possession of the men of the church, though separated from their divine source; and perceiving further that the knowledges of what is good and true are in themselves in connection with the divine instruction and benediction; consult those knowledges, and seek conjunction with the Lord in his Divine Humanity, and make enquiry about the establishment of the church.

Verse 6:26. On which occasion they are led to explore the motives by which they are influenced, and whether those motives are grounded in external or internal considerations.

Verse 6:27. They are exhorted also to regard the good things of heavenly love and faith as infinitely superior to all other goods, and to regard them also in their connection with the Lord's Divine Humanity, from whom alone they are derived.

Verse 6:28. Thus they are led to enquire further concerning the life of heavenly love and faith, and how it is to be attained.

Verse 6:29. And are instructed that the life of love and faith results from the acknowledgement in heart and life of the Lord's Divine Humanity.

Verses 6:30, 31. Still they want further testification of this truth, and that it should be confirmed by some representative sign, like that of manna in the wilderness.

Verses 6:32, 33. Therefore they are further instructed, that the manna was merely representative of the Lord's Divine Humanity, thus of the divine love, and of reciprocal love on the part of man.

Verses 6:34, 35. Which instruction operates to produce that love, and therefore they are further taught that the Lord in his Divine Humanity is the only source of all celestial good and truth, and that they, who receive this good, will want no other good, and they, who receive this truth, will have a sufficiency of all truth.

Verses 6:36, 37. Still there are some, who know the truth of faith, and do not receive it, inasmuch as they alone receive, who are principled in heavenly good, by virtue of which good they have eternal conjunction of life with the Lord.

Verses 6:38, 39, 40. For this was the great end of the Lord's assuming humanity, that he might fulfill the purpose of his divine love, which purpose is, that all who believe in that humanity from a right faith and love, shall have eternal life.

Verses 6:41, 42. But this doctrine is opposed by those of the perverted church, who conceive the Humanity of the Lord to be like that of other men, and not a Divine Humanity.

Verses 6:43, 44. The reason of which is, because they are not principled in that heavenly good which conducts to heaven.

Verse 6:45. For thus the eternal truth teaches, that it has access to all human minds, and is received by those who are principled in heavenly good, and obedient to it.

Verse 6:46. Nevertheless none can acknowledge divine good except by divine truth, and therefore no one can have celestial good, unless he acknowledges the Lord.

Verses 6:47, 48. For to acknowledge the Lord is to possess the life of heaven, since he is the very essence of that life.

Verses 6:49, 50. Therefore they, who receive only natural nourishment from the Word, perish in their evils, whilst they, who receive spiritual nourishment, which is that of the good of heavenly love, have eternal conjunction of life with the Lord.

Verse 6:51. For these latter are made partakers of the Divine Celestial principle, or the divine good, communicated from the Lord's Divine Humanity.

Verses 6:52, 53, 54. Which appears incredible to those who are of the perverted church, and who are therefore taught, that the Divine Celestial principle and the Divine Spiritual, which is from the Divine Humanity of the Lord, is the all of life, and that whoever does not appropriate to himself this principle, has no living principle in him, but whoever appropriates it, has in him an eternal living principle.

Verses 6:55, 56. Because the Divine Celestial principle is the only nourishment of celestial life, and the Divine Spiritual principle the only nourishment of spiritual life, and therefore whoever partakes of those principles, has conjunction of life with the Lord.

Verse 6:57. And thus derives life from the Lord, in like manner as he, as to his Humanity, derived life continually from the divine good in himself.

Verse 6:58. In which case spiritual and living nourishment is received from the Word, and not merely natural and dead nourishment.

Verses 6:59, 60. That this doctrine is not apprehended by those, who are under the influence of worldly and sensual love.

Verses 6:61, 62, 63. Who are therefore instructed, that they cannot apprehend it, unless they apprehend how the Lord's Human [principle] was finally united to the Divine, and how the divine operation proceeding from that union is the source of all spiritual life, whilst what proceeds from the selfhood of man is without life; thus how the Word is the complex of divine wisdom and divine love.

Verses 6:64, 65. They are instructed further, that all men have not faith, and that from eternity the Lord foresaw the principles both of what is false and of what is evil, which are opposed to himself, and therefore taught, that none would believe in his Divine Humanity, who were not under the influence of the divine love.

Verses 6:66, 67. Nevertheless, many of those who heard this instruction, relapse into their former evils and errors, which gives occasion to tender expostulation of divine love with those of the new church, who are more confirmed in its goods and truths.

Verses 6:68, 69. Which expostulation excites confession on the part of those who are principled in faith, that the Lord's Humanity was filled with the wisdom of the divine love, and thus was one with it.

Verses 6:70, 71. Yet even amongst those, who have received the doctrines of the new church, and been made sensible of its goods, there are some who are under the influence of infernal love.

The Bible

 

John 6:37

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37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.