The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 412

carnal spirit, that spo!lks of either een!lllal want, or covetousness, or the spirit of idlonoss ; for no more labour would bo expended upon the production of food. II. JESUS REVEALS HIMSELF PLAINLY AS THE BREAD OF LIFE. "I am the Bread of life." 1. He represmts himself as the Sustainer of the life he communicates ; for he is that" Eternal Life which was in the beginning with tbo Father" (1 John i. 2). Ho thus presents the objective side of salvation. 2. Faith is the oondition cf its recep- tion. "He that comoth to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." (1) Faith ns e. coming suggests its more active aspect. (2) Faith as e. belioving its more restful aspect. 3. This Bread will bring the full sati.ifaction of all wants. '!'he receptive spirit will have no desire for any other food than Christ. It will have (1) strength from the food, and (2) peace from the appeasing of the thirst. III. JESUS PLAINLY DECLARER THE UNBELIEF OF THE JEWS. "But I said unto you, Ye ban seen me, and yet ye believe not." 1. They had asked to see, and their desire had been fully gratified. 2. Yet they refused to believe in him. An impression exists that if men could see lJhrist they should all surely believe in him. The Jews saw him from day to day, witnessed his miracles, heard his words, and yet were none the better for that immediate experience. We enjoy the higher blessing. " Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." IV. YET JESUS DECLARES THE ULTIMATE ACCOMPLism=-r OF HIS FATHEil's WILL, IN THE FAOE OF JEWISH UNBELIEF. ".All that the Father giveth me shall reach me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." 1. He declares the Divine purpose, in virtue of which "all that the Father giveth "-his seed, his spouse, his Church, his inheritance-shall be everlastingly saved. They will, surely reach the Saviour. 2. He declares at once tl~ subjective side of this salvation, and his attitude as a Redeemer toward those who come to him as their Refuge. He will in no wise cast them out of (1) his love; (2) his arms; (3) his Church; (4) bis glory. 3. The security for the salvation of all who come to him. " For this is the will of him that sent me, that of all which he bath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it np at the last day." (1) Chris~ has no separate will from his Father. (2) The Father's will has a. double aspect; it respects (a) the delivery of his people from destructioo.; (b) their restoration into the transfigured manhood of the resurrection. 4. The further confirmation of this security. "For this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and b~lieveth on him, may have everlasting life: aml I will raise him up e.t the last day." The previous verse presented the objective, this verse presents the subjective, side of this blessed truth. (1) Men must see Christ in order to obtain everlasting life. They are naturally blind. The Spirit opens their eyes that they may see, not merely themselves, their sin, their helplessness; but Christ, his righteousness, his peace, his grace, hi~ salvation. (2) Men must trust in him to obt,un everlasting life. There must be an actual reliance upon Christ. (3) 'l'he end is ever- lasting life; not mere escape from hell, or the absence of loss. ( 4) It is resurrection in glory. Christ will be the efficient Cause, as he is the Firstfruits of the resurrection. Vers. 41-51.-0ur Lorcl's explanation of Jewish unbelief. A rupture was clearly near at hand. I. THl!l 11un111un1NG OF THE JEws. "The Jews then murmnred concerning him, because he said, I e.m the Bread which came dowo. from heaven." It sprang: 1. Partly from doubt. (Ch. vii. 12.) 2. Partly from contemptuous surprise. 3. Partly from dissatisfaction. II. 'l'HE GROUND OF THEm MURlllURING, "And they said, ls not this Jesus, the Son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?" 1. 'J:he Jews of Capernaum must have been personally acquainted with the humble family at Nazareth, which was not fa,· distant. 2. They did not know of the miraculous conception of Jesus, which was yet concealed in the heart of Mary, nnd was not to be revealed till after his resurrection. 3. The miracles that Jesus wrought could not undo ths impression made v.pon their minds by the circumstances of his familiar life at Nazareth. He was still, notwith- standing all his miracles, but the carpenter's Son. III. Oun LORD'S ANSWER TO THEIR lllURMUBED DISSATISi'AOTION. 1. He atti-ibutes it to their incapacity to understand his saying. Their moral condition ex.plained their ignorance. 2. He emphasizes the necessity of a Diuine influence to work faith ·in the~ 280 THE GOSPEL .ACCORDING TO ST. JOIIN. [en. YI, 1--71.