disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 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. 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. And

15 The people judged rightly that He was "that prophet"-or the Messiah. But they judged wrongly in expecting Him as a temporal prince. He therefore withdrew to his holy solitude.

when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea, and entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. 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. But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. Then they willingly received him into the ship and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went. 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; (howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks :) when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? 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 27 He skilfully avails himself of the filled. 27 Labour not for the occasion to convey general instrucmeat which perisheth, but for tion. that meat which endureth unto of man shall give unto you

19" He made the sea also." Why marvel we that the sea should obey Him-its Creator? (Matt. viii. 26.)

everlasting life, which the Son for him hath God the Father

adding the instructive and monitory reason" that nothing be lost." This applies to us all; especially to servants, who are often placed in trust over the goods of others.

sealed. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of 29 To each of my followers, faith is

29

indispensable-whatever be their station and walk in life-rich or poor, great or lowly *.

God? Jesus answered and
said unto them, This is the
work of God, that believe
ye
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?

my

30 So is it with ourselves. Our de liverance out of former troubleshow often do we forget it, and ask new signs of the goodness of our God!

Our fathers did eat

32 "As bread nourishes the body, so my doctrines nourish the soul. It was a wonder past your comprehension that your fathers were miraculously fed by manna in the wilderness. Learn from faith in that mystery, to believe in the mystery which I now declare unto you, namely, that I am the bread of life,' spiritually."

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 Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 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. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 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. And this is the will

40

And

40 Let us rejoice in this truth, so earof him that sent me, that nestly repeated by our blessed Lord. every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day. The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. 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?

The principle here laid down is as comforting to the individual Christian, as it is important and beneficial to society at large. Men doubted, whether if they entered into the service of Jesus Christ, they must not give up entirely their worldly calling, and devote themselves exclusively to their spiritual labours-and so follow Him! This doubt He briefly resolves. (See the note on Luke iii. 12.)

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

45 This explains the preceding verse showing us, that though no man can go to Christ, unless God call him to the knowledge of Christ by the Gospel; yet He now teaches all

Gentile as well as Jew.

Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 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. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to

eat?

53 As our Lord was in life when He thus expressed Himself, it is manifest that He spake these words in a spiritual sense *. (See ver. 63.)

63 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. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and ase dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. These things said he in the syna

60

gogue, as he taught in Capernaum. Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?

60 The difficulty arose from their not understanding his words spiritually.

*This expression had reference to the paschal lamb, by eating the flesh of which, according to God's ordinance, as a type of Jesus, the Lamb of God, the Jews hoped to have pardon for their sins, and acceptance with Jehovah.

63

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing the words that I speak unto you, they are spi

:

63 This clears up the subject. He affirms distinctly, that it is not really flesh that He means, but doctrinethat is spirit that is life.

rit, and they are life. 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. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time, many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 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

6s Reader! whither, or to whom, can we go for life eternal, except to this Saviour-God blessed for ever!

of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. 70 Jesus

an

swered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

70 Among other reasons for Judas having been chosen as one of the apostles, was this-to show that no unworthiness in the minister of the Gospel could weaken the blessings of the doctrine He promulgates. Our Lord terms Judas a devil, inasmuch as his sin displayed all the malice and cunning of the Devil, who first tempted man to sin.

1

CHAPTER VII.

MARCH 20, JULY 19, Nov. 15.

AFTER these things Jesus 1 So long as he had his great work walked in Galilee: for he still to do, so long he exercised all would not walk in Jewry, be- prudence to escape his enemies. cause the Jews sought to kill him. Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand. His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judæa, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. For neither did his brethren believe in him. "Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but time your is alway ready. The world cannot hate you; but me it that the works thereof are evil. Go ye up unto this feast: I

❝ His kindred could at any time go safely to the feast; he was compelled to choose fit opportunity, lest his adversaries altogether prevented him being in Jerusalem.

hateth, because I testify of it,

go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come. When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee. But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he? 12 And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people. beit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews. about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. 15 And the Jews 15 Not having been instructed in marvelled, saying, Howknow- the law by the scribes. eth this man letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

12 The best men will find some to say "Nay" to their virtues; not perhaps openly, but by mean whispering, as did these Jews.

How-
Now

"If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. eth his own glory: but he him, the same is true, and 19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me? The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee? Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel. *Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man. If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? "Judge 24 Let this be your rule of judging others.

17 Unbelief springs from aversion to that purity of heart and holiness of conduct which faith requires. He that speaketh of himself seekthat seeketh his glory that sent no unrighteousness is in him.

19 Knowing their resolve to kill him, he reminds them that their own law would condemn their act.

not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill? But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ? How

The argument is strong-" Ye break the law of Moses by circumeising on the Sabbath day, and ye stand justified; circumcision being before Moses, even of your father Abraham. Why then be angry with me, who heal on the Sabbath day? Is not the law of charity and goodwill before Moses before Abraham? even from the beginning?"