John 6:41-51 - Homiletics

Our Lord's explanation of Jewish unbelief.

A rupture was clearly near at hand.

I. THE MURMURING OF THE JEWS . "The Jews then murmured concerning him, because he said, I am the Bread which came down from heaven." It sprang:

1 . Partly from doubt . ( John 7:12 .)

2 . Partly from contemptuous surprise .

3 . Partly from dissatisfaction .

II. THE GROUND OF THEIR MURMURING . "And they said, Is not this Jesus, the Son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?"

1 . The Jews of Capernaum must have been personally acquainted with the humble family at Nazareth, which was not far distant .

2 . They did not know of the miraculous conception of Jesus, which was yet concealed in the heart of Mary, and was not to be revealed till after his resurrection.

3 . The miracles that Jesus wrought could not undo the impression made upon their minds by the circumstances of his familiar life at Nazareth . He was still, notwithstanding all his miracles, but the carpenter's Son.

III. OUR LORD 'S ANSWER TO THEIR MURMURED DISSATISFACTION .

1 . He attributes it to their incapacity to understand his saying . Their moral condition explained their ignorance.

2 . He emphasizes the necessity of a Divine influence to work faith in their hearts . "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him."

(a) not mere moral suasion.

(b) It is nothing merely arbitrary.

(c) It has no compulsory efficacy; for, as Bernard says, "No man is saved against his will."

(d) It is something distinct from the power of doctrine or miracles.

(e) It is that influence which makes a sinner willing in the day of God's power ( Psalms 110:3 ), enlightening his understanding, renewing his will, and alluring his heart by the power of his grace. "He draws with the bands of love."

(a) The teaching which is contained in the writings of Moses ( John 6:46 , John 6:47 ) and the Word of God in general ( John 6:38 ) discloses sin, and makes the sinner realize the nothingness of his own righteousness.

(b) The teaching enables us to learn concerning the Father's love, grace, and mercy, so that the sinner is led to commit his soul to Christ.

(c) This teaching, however precious, is not immediate. "Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father."

( α ) We are bound, notwithstanding, to believe in the revelation of the unseen Father just as we rejoice, believingly, in the unseen Saviour ( 1 Peter 1:8 ).

( β ) Because that revelation reaches us through him who is a sharer in Deity, "who is of God."

(a) He repeats several truths.

( α ) The connection between faith and eternal life. "He that believeth on me hath everlasting life."

( β ) The fact that he is himself the Bread of life.

( γ ) The fact that their fathers were fed on the manna, and yet died.

( δ ) The life-giving properties of the true manna that "cometh down from heaven."

(b) And then he explains its life-giving properties. "And the bread that I will give him is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

( α ) This refers, not to his incarnation, but to his atoning death, for he speaks of the gift as still future.

( β ) The design or application of the gift. "For the life of the world." There is here no narrow particularism. His life was to be sacrificed for the salvation of the world.