john-6:16-29

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 6:16

Verse 16 16.His disciples went down. Christ undoubtedly intended to conceal himself until the crowd should disperse. We know how difficult it is to allay a popular tumult. Now, if they had openly attempted to do what they had intended, it would have been no easy matter afterwards to wipe off the stain which had once been fixed upon him. Meanwhile, he spent all that time in prayer, as the other Evangelists (Matthew 14:23; Mark 6:46) relate; probably, that God the Father might repress that folly... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 6:17

Verse 17 17.It was now dark. John passes by many circumstances which the other Evangelists introduce; such as, that for several hours they struggled with a contrary wind; for it is probable that the storm arose immediately after the night began to come on; and they tell us that Christ did not appear to his disciples till about the fourth watch of the night, (Matthew 14:28; Mark 6:48.) Those who conjecture that they were still about the middle of the lake when Christ appeared to them, because... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 6:19

Verse 19 19.They were terrified. The other Evangelists explain the cause of that fear to have been, that they thought that it was an apparition, (Matthew 14:26; Mark 6:49.) Now it is impossible not to be seized with consternation and dread, when an apparition is presented before our eyes; for we conclude that it is either some imposture of Satan, or some bad omen which God sends us. Besides, John here holds out to us, as in a mirror, what kind of knowledge of Christ we may obtain without the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 6:20

Verse 20 20.It is I: be not terrified We learn from them that it is in Christ’s presence alone that we have abundant grounds of confidence, so as to be calm and at ease. But this belongs exclusively to the disciples of Christ; for we shall afterwards see that wicked men were struck down by the same words, It is I, (John 18:6.) The reason of the distinction is, that he is sent as a Judge to the reprobate and unbelievers for their destruction; and, therefore, they cannot bear his presence without... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 6:22

Verse 22 22.Next day. Here the Evangelist relates circumstances from which the multitude might conclude that Christ had gone across by divine power. There had been but one ship; they see it go away without Christ; next day, ships come from other places, by which they are conveyed to Capernaum; and there they find Christ. It follows that he must have been conveyed across in a miraculous manner. There is an intricacy and apparent confusion ( ἀνακόλουθον) in the words, but still the meaning of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 6:23

Verse 23 23.Near the place where they had eaten bread. The meaning of the words is doubtful; for they may be explained, either that Tiberias was near the place where Christ had fed them with five loaves, or that the ships reached the shore which was near and below that place. I approve more highly of the latter exposition; for Bethsaida, near which Luke states that the miracle was performed, is half-way between Tiberias and Capernaum. Accordingly, when ships came down from that place, which was... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 6:25

Verse 25 25.On the other side of the sea. We have already said that Capernaum was not situated on the opposite shore; for Tiberias is situated on that part of the lake where it is broadest, Bethsaida follows next, and Capernaum lies near the lowest part, not far from where the river Jordan issues from the lake. Now, when John places it on the other side of the lake itself, we must not understand him as if its position were directly across, but because, at the lower extremity, the lake made a... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 6:26

Verse 26 26.Jesus answered them. Christ does not reply to the question put to him, which would have been fitted to show to them his power in having come thither by a miracle. (134) But, on the contrary, he chides them for throwing themselves forward without consideration; for they were not acquainted with the true and proper reason of what he did, because they sought in Christ something else than Christ himself. The fault which he complains of in them is, that they seek Christ for the sake of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 6:27

Verse 27 27.Labour for food, not that which perisheth. He shows to what object our desires ought to be directed, namely, to eternal life; but because, in proportion as our understandings are gross, we are always devoted to earthly things, for this reason he corrects that disease which is natural to us, before he points out what we ought to do. The simple doctrine would have been, “Labour to have the incorruptible food;” but, knowing that the senses of men are held bound by earthly cares, he... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 6:28

Verse 28 28. What shall we do, that we may work the works of God? The multitude understood well enough that Christ had exhorted them to aim at something higher than the conveniences of the present life, and that they ought not to confine their attention to the earth, since God calls them to more valuable blessings. But, in putting this question, they are partly mistaken by not understanding the kind of labor; for they do not consider that God bestows upon us, by the hand of the Son, all that is... read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 6:16

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 6:17

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 6:19

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 6:20

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 6:22

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 6:23

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 6:25

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 6:26

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 6:27

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 6:28

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