ShareIn the previous section, the Evangelist had begun to discuss the setting in which Christ revealed the origin of His spiritual teaching. He had recounted how certain wicked “brothers” of the Lord had attempted to coerce Him to go up with them to Jerusalem for the feast of Sukkoth. But Jesus wisely refused, and chose [...]

ShareIn chapter three, the Evangelist began a discussion of the spiritual regeneration of fallen man. He showed how this is offered to the Jews, as illustrated in the story of Nicodemus. In chapter four, he showed how spiritual regeneration is offered to the Gentiles, some of whom are converted by the teaching, as illustrated in [...]

ShareNow that Christ had responded to the two objections of the people, one concerning the origin of spiritual food (vv. 41-52), and the other concerning the eating of spiritual food (vv. 53-59), He then addressed the doubts of His disciples (vv. 60-71). Some of His disciples were so scandalized by His statements concerning living bread [...]

ShareNow that Christ had responded to the peoples’ objection concerning the origin of spiritual food (vv. 41-51), He then addressed their second objection, which concerned the eating of spiritual food (vv. 52-59). “The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’” (Jn 6:52). The fact that they [...]

ShareSome of the Jews who had witnessed Christ’s miraculous feeding of the five thousand raised two questions: one concerned the origin of spiritual food (vv. 41-51), and the other concerned the eating of spiritual food (vv. 52-59). In the previous lecture, we had seen how Christ began to address their first concern. In what follows, [...]

SharePreviously Christ had laid out His teaching on spiritual food (vv. 27-40). Next, He answered two objections from the people, one concerning the origin of spiritual food (vv. 41-51), and the other concerning the eating of spiritual food (vv. 52-59). “The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, ‘I am the bread which came [...]

ShareWe continue with Christ’s discourse on the meaning of spiritual food. Christ had said to the people that the Son of man wished to give them “food which endures to eternal life” (v. 6:27a). But they demanded a sign to prove that Christ could make good His claim (v. 30), and they further implied (v. [...]

ShareWe continue the discussion concerning the third effect of the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand: namely, that they searched for Christ. In the previous section (vv. 16-21), we had seen how the disciples searched for Christ and found Him walking on the Sea of Galilee. In what follows (vv. 22-26) we will see [...]

ShareAt the beginning of chapter six, the Evangelist began to discuss the second benefit of spiritual regeneration: namely, spiritual food. This benefit was illustrated by the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand with five barley loaves and two fish. In what follows, he discusses the three effects of that miracle: that they obtained [...]

ShareThere are three benefits of spiritual regeneration: spiritual life, spiritual food, and spiritual teaching. The Evangelist had discussed the first benefit in chapter five, where he illustrated the spiritual life by recounting the healing of a lame man in Jerusalem (5:1-18), and then gave Christ’s teaching on His power to give life and to judge [...]