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.
John 6
1
After these things, Jesus went away to the other side of the sea of Galilee, which is also called the Sea of Tiberias.
2
A great multitude followed him, because they saw his signs which he did on those who were sick.
3
Jesus went up into the mountain, and he sat there with his disciples.
4
Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.
5
Jesus therefore lifting up his eyes, and seeing that a great multitude was coming to him, said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, that these may eat?"
6
This he said to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.
7
Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that everyone of them may receive a little."
8
One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him,
9
"There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these among so many?"
10
Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was much grass in that place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
11
Jesus took the loaves; and having given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to those who were sitting down; likewise also of the fish as much as they desired.
12
When they were filled, he said to his disciples, "Gather up the broken pieces which are left over, that nothing be lost."
13
So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves, which were left over by those who had eaten.
14
When therefore the people saw the sign which Jesus did, they said, "This is truly the prophet who comes into the world."
15
Jesus therefore, perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force, to make him king, withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
16
When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea,
17
and they entered into the boat, and were going over the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not come to them.
18
The sea was tossed by a great wind blowing.
19
When therefore they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing near to the boat; and they were afraid.
20
But he said to them, "It is I. Don't be afraid."
21
They were willing therefore to receive him into the boat. Immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.
22
On the next day, the multitude that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except the one in which his disciples had embarked, and that Jesus hadn't entered with his disciples into the boat, but his disciples had gone away alone.
23
However boats from Tiberias came near to the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks.
24
When the multitude therefore saw that Jesus wasn't there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats, and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
25
When they found him on the other side of the sea, they asked him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?"
26
Jesus answered them, "Most certainly I tell you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves, and were filled.
27
Don't work for the food which perishes, but for the food which remains to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has sealed him."
28
They said therefore to him, "What must we do, that we may work the works of God?"
29
Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."
30
They said therefore to him, "What then do you do for a sign, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you do?
31
Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness. As it is written, 'He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.'"
32
Jesus therefore said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, it wasn't Moses who gave you the bread out of heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread out of heaven.
33
For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world."
34
They said therefore to him, "Lord, always give us this bread."
35
Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will not be hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
36
But I told you that you have seen me, and yet you don't believe.
37
All those who the Father gives me will come to me. Him who comes to me I will in no way throw out.
38
For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.
39
This is the will of my Father who sent me, that of all he has given to me I should lose nothing, but should raise him up at the last day.
40
This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son, and believes in him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day."
41
The Jews therefore murmured concerning him, because he said, "I am the bread which came down out of heaven."
42
They said, "Isn't this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then does he say, 'I have come down out of heaven?'"
43
Therefore Jesus answered them, "Don't murmur among yourselves.
44
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up in the last day.
45
It is written in the prophets, 'They will all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who hears from the Father, and has learned, comes to me.
46
Not that anyone has seen the Father, except he who is from God. He has seen the Father.
47
Most certainly, I tell you, he who believes in me has eternal life.
49
Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.
50
This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, that anyone may eat of it and not die.
51
I am the living bread which came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. Yes, the bread which I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."
52
The Jews therefore contended with one another, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
53
Jesus therefore said to them, "Most certainly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you don't have life in yourselves.
54
He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
55
For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56
He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I in him.
57
As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he who feeds on me, he will also live because of me.
58
This is the bread which came down out of heaven--not as our fathers ate the manna, and died. He who eats this bread will live forever."
59
He said these things in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
60
Therefore many of his disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying! Who can listen to it?"
61
But Jesus knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at this, said to them, "Does this cause you to stumble?
62
Then what if you would see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?
63
It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.
64
But there are some of you who don't believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who didn't believe, and who it was who would betray him.
65
He said, "For this cause have I said to you that no one can come to me, unless it is given to him by my Father."
66
At this, many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
67
Jesus said therefore to the twelve, "You don't also want to go away, do you?"
68
Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.
69
We have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
70
Jesus answered them, "Didn't I choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?"
71
Now he spoke of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for it was he who would betray him, being one of the twelve.
