John 6
SIBJohn 6:27-29
Beware of laying out your principal care and labour about temporal provision, or other perishing enjoyments;—but chiefly inquire after, and labour to possess, those spiritual and eternal blessings which I, as anointed and miraculously attested by my Father, freely give to every one that believes in me. Your great and important work, which God commands and effects as a source of obedience and means of acceptance, is cordially to believe on and receive me as the sent of God, and his unspeakable gift, offered in the gospel. 30, 31. What token can you produce of your Messiahship, and superiority to Moses, who not merely multiplied provision, but for forty years miraculously nourished our fathers in the wilderness with manna from heaven?
John 6:32-59
Christ calls himself bread in allusion to the manna, and because he, in his person, offices, work, and fulness, is the mean of all our spiritual and eternal life, happiness, and comfort. He is the true bread, of which the manna and all the bread used in the ancient oblations were but a typical shadow and which is infinitely excellent, important, and permanent in its virtue. He is living bread, having all life in himself as Son of God, and as Mediator, and as being the author of all spiritual life to sinful men. He is bread of life, which gives spiritual life to dead souls, and nourishes them up in knowledge and grace, comfort and holiness, to eternal life; and none that receive him by faith shall ever perish with hunger, or thirst for any necessary blessings. His flesh is meat indeed, and his blood drink indeed. His person God-man Mediator, and his righteousness, with the blessings purchased by it, are eminent and effectual means of our spiritual and eternal life. To eat his flesh and drink his blood is by faith to receive and rest on him for salvation, as God in our nature, who has fulfilled the law, and purchased, and bestows, all new covenant blessings upon us;—and by means hereof Christ dwells in us and we in him. There is the closest union and communion between him and us;—he dwelling in us by his Spirit, and we dwelling in him by the permanent habit of faith, and holding setlowship with him by repeated acts of it. 63, 64. Why do ye conceive prejudice against my saying that I came down from heaven, when, in a short time, some present shall see me ascend back to it? And the eating of my flesh and drinking of my blood must be understood in a spiritual, not in a carnal, sense. It is only the operation of the Spirit of God that quickens souls to a spiritual and eternal life. The carnal eating of my flesh could profit no one. My words, which I have spoken unto you, relate to spiritual things; and are the means of conveying the Holy Ghost, and his enlivening influences, into men’s hearts. But some of you, who profess to be my disciples, do not heartily believe in me; and are therefore ready to cavil at my doctrine, and put the most absurd construction on my words. ~~~~~
REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. VI.—Worthy of repeated remembrance are the great works of our Redeemer. He often graciously perplexes his people, that he may have the honour of kindly answering their doubts. And if we have him with us we can never want any good thing. The more liberal we are to others, from a principle of faith and love, the more liberal God will be to us. But we must never waste any thing in hopes of his miraculous supply. Carnal minds greatly mistake the nature of Christ’s kingdom. And his ministers ought earnestly to avoid every political office and work. Dark nights of desertion, temptation, and distress, often quickly succeed the most delightful seasons of fellowship with Christ, and even himself is suspected for Satan. But under all our distresses his word alone can relieve and comfort. And his presence is doubly precious after fearful storms of darkness and grief. Powerfully do his visits hasten forward his people to the haven of glory. They therefore who truly love him will grudge no pains to find him: and often they meet with him sooner, and more easily, than they expected. But, alas, that ever he should be sought, not from love, but for some carnal advantages!—What a wonderful, well-furnished, and divinely-authorised, Saviour is Jesus Christ! Heavenly and divine is his original;—deep was his debasement, even unto death;—and high his exaltation to his Father’s throne. He hath in himself, and gives to our souls, the living, life- 123 137* giving, substantial, and abundant provisions of his grace. And freely granted by himself and his Father to sinful men are all the blessings of his love. Yea, even the weakest act of faith on him secures permanent grace, a glorious resurrection, and eternal life. Every elect sinner shall come to him; and no one who comes, however weak or wicked, shall ever be cast out or finally lost. But none either will or can come till they be instructed by his Father, and quickened by his powerful and life-living word, and Spirit.—Awful is the thought that many should prefer earthly enjoyments to him and his everlasting salvation;—should ignorantly or maliciously cavil at the declarations of his grace;—should apostatize from him, offended with his spiritual doctrines or necessary reproofs;—or should adhere to him in profession, while carnal lusts are indulged in their heart. Never, O my soul, cavil at his words who is the wisdom of God. Never attempt to deceive him who searches the heart. Never neglect him who is thy food, and thy life, and the length of thy days. Never refuse him who is the free, the unspeakable, gift of God. Never doubt of that salvation which is intrusted to his care, who shuts out none, and loses none that the Father has given him. And never desert him who is Christ, the quickening Son of the living God, full of grace and truth