John 6:41-51 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.… I. The enigma of CHRIST'S HEAVENLY ORIGIN (vers. 41-43). 1. The mystery propounded. The difficulty was not that the Messiah's origin should be mysterious. The popular opinion, based on Daniel 7:13, was that when Christ came no one should know whence He was (vii. 27). But the Jews supposed that they knew exactly whence Jesus was, and that He should have come down from heaven seemed absurd. 2. The mystery resolved. What to the learned Scripturists of His day was a puzzle He left a puzzle. To have refuted their objections by a declaration of what took place at Bethlehem would only have increased their incredulity. The true method of faith is not to believe that Christ is Divine because the Incarnation story is authentic: but that Christ having been powerfully declared to be the Son of God with power by His resurrection (Romans 1:4), the account given of His conception must be correct. II. The enigma of MAN'S RESPONSIBLITY (vers. 43-45). 1. The difficulty set forth. Christ blamed His hearers for their unbelief (ver. 36), and yet affirmed (ver. 44). This is what the intellect of centuries has wrestled with. 2. The difficulty set aside. (1) Not by denying the fact of man's responsibility (John 5:40; John 6:36). This the Scripture often declares (Romans 1:18; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 5:6; 1 Peter 3:12) and conscience confirms. (2) Not by explaining away the alleged necessity of Divine grace (vers. 37, 44, 45). But — (3) By showing that the Father's drawing interferes pot with human freedom. In naming it "drawing" and a "teaching" Christ makes it a moral suasion. III. Enigma of SAVING FAITH (vers. 46, 47). 1. The perplexity stated. If no one could come to Him without first hearing and learning of the Father, then no one could come (Exodus 33:20; 1 Timothy 6:16). This, though not expressed, was clearly the hearer's thoughts. 2. The perplexity recognized. He admitted that no one had ever seen the Father. 3. The perplexity removed. He, the Son, had seen the Father (vers. 19; 1:18; 16:28). Hence to hear and learn of the Father was to hear and learn of Him whom He had sent. To learn of the Father one must be a disciple of Christ. IV. The enigma of ETERNAL LIFE (vers. 47-51). 1. The riddle proposed. The manna had only supported physical life for a few years, and those who had partaken of it were dead. The Jews were at a loss to know how Christ could do more for them than Moses. 2. The riddle read. (1) The bread of life was a living, spiritual Person (ver. 48). (2) It was in itself living and life-giving. (3) When eaten by the soul it communicates to the soul the life itself contained. (4) The soul thus vivified could not die. (T. Whitelaw, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. |
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