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9 Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, who hath five barley-loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among 10 so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. (Now there was much grass in the place.) So the men sat down, in number 11 about five thousand. And Jesus took the

loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them who were sat down; and also of the 12 fishes, as much as they would. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments which remain, that nothing be 13 lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley-loaves, which remained over 14 and above unto them who had eaten. Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet who should come into the world.*

15

Now when Jesus perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain alone. 16 And when it was evening, his disciples went 17 down into the sea, and entered into a ship, and

went over the sea towards Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to 18 them. And the sea arose by reason of a great 19 wind that blew. So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh

*By prophet here must be meant Messiah, whom they were expecting: And thus it appears that Christ was spoken of by different names and epithets.

But he
Then

20 unto the ship: and they were afraid. 21 saith unto them, It is I, be not afraid. they willingly received him into the ship immediately the ship was at the land whither they would go.

22

and

The day following, when the people who stood on the other side of the sea, saw that there was none other boat there, but the 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; 23 (howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias, nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, 24 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 25 Jesus. And when they had found him on the

other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, 26 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 filled. Labor not for the meat that perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him the Father, even God has sealed.* 28 Then they said unto him, What shall we do,

that we may perform the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the

* God has given him his testimony and sanction, by granting him the Holy Spirit without measure, and enabling Sim to perform works which imply divine power.

work of God, that ye believe on him whom he 30 hath sent. They said therefore unto him,

What sign shewest thou then, that we may see and 31 believe thee? What doest thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 32 Then said Jesus unto them, Verily, verily I

say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the 33 true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who cometh down from heaven, and 34 giveth life unto the world. Then they said

unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35 And 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 36 never thirst. But I said unto you, that ye also 37 have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me, will come to me; and him who cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine

own will, but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the Father's will who hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing; but should raise it up again at 40 the last day. And this also is the will of him who sent me, that every one who seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day.

Or the bread of heaven.

My doctrine is heavenly, and is necessary for your spiritual life.

I have before told you, that though ye see me, ye do not believe.

41 The Jews then disputed about him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from 42 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 43 down from heaven? Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Dispute not among your44 selves. No man can come to me, except the Father, who hath sent me, draw him and I 45 will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore who hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me.* 46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, but he who is from God, he hath seen the Father.† 47 Verily, verily I say unto you, He who believ48 eth on me, hath everlasting life. I am the bread 49 of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the 50 wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread

which cometh down from heaven, that a man 51 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 52 I will give for the life of the world. Then the Jews contended amongst themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53 Then Jesus said unto him, Verily, verily I say

* See Isaiah liv. 13. It refers to the gospel, by which God teaches mankind, Gentiles as well as Jews. And this is also the means, which he uses to draw men to Christ, to induce them to believe and obey him.

He is intimately acquainted with the perfections and purposes of God.

54 you.

unto you, except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise 55 him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.* 56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my 57 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 58 live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead. He that cateth of 59 this bread, shall live for ever. These things

he spake in the synagogue, as he taught in 60 Capernaum. Many therefore of his disciples,

when they had heard this, said, This is an hard 61 saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? 62 What and if ye should see the Son of man 63 ascend up where he was before ? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing the words that I speak unto you, they 64 are spirit, and they are life. But there are

1

*The 54th and 55th verses contain strong figurative expressions. See 63d verse.

The meaning of Christ here, no doubt, is that the doctrines of his gospel were necessary to our spiritual life and improvement.

That is, a difficult doctrine: who can understand it? The pre-existence of Christ in heaven is here explicitly declared. See chap. iii. 13.

Then the expressions in this chapter are spiritual or figurative.

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