Exposition of John, Chapter 6 · Verse 1 – Verse 4
Verſe. 1. AFter theſe things Jeſus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias:
This hiſtory of the miracle of the loaves is the ſame with that which is recorded, Matth. 14.13, &c. Mark. 6.32. Luk. 9.10, &c. And here are mentioned ſome antecedents, occaſions, and circumſtances of the miracle, to ver. 5. ſome preparations to it, to ver. 1…. the forme of the miracle, ver. 11. and ſome conſequents following upon it, to ver. 16.
In this firſt ver. we have a general connexion, and tranſition from what had been formerly ſaid, to what now followeth, with a general deſignation of the time and place of this miracle. As for the time of it, it is ſaid to be after theſe things, which is not to be underſtood as if this followed immediately upon what is ſpoken of, chap 5. for then Chriſt was in Jeruſalem, now he is in Galilee: But John doth paſſe over many things that are marked by the other Evangeliſts, and doth only pitch upon the hiſtory of theſe miracles, though marked by others, becauſe they gave occaſion to the following Sermon which the reſt had omitted. And in particular, the other Evangeliſts do cleare that this followed upon the beheading of John the Baptiſt, Matth. 1….10, 11, 12, 13, &c. which tryſted alſo with his diſciples return, after he had ſent them out to preach, Mark. 6.29, 30, 31, 32, &c. and with Herods hearing of his fame, and deſiring to ſee him, Luk. 9.7.—10, &c. As for the place it is ſaid he went over the Sea of Galilee, &c. This lake in Galilee, through which Jordan runs, gets ſeveral names in Scripture from ſeveral places upon the banks of it, as here it is called the Sea of Tiberias, from a Town built there by Herod the Tetrarch, and named from Tiberius the Roman Emperour. We need not conceive that Chriſt went over the lake to the oppoſite ſhoare, for Tiberias and Bethſaida (to the bounds whereof he went, Luk. 9.10) were both on one ſide of that lake, and the people followed him on foot, ver. 2. with Mark. 6.33. But he paſſed over ſome creek or bay of that lake, that ſo he might more ſpeedily retire himſelfe into a deſert place, as the reſt call it, and might eaſe his wearied diſciples, who had been toiled with travel, and be rid of the preſſe of the multitude, at leaſt for a time. From theſe words, as they are cleared, we may learn. 1. Chriſts practice and lot teacheth, that his ſervants ought to be very buſſie in their ſtations, and may expect, and ſhould ſubmit unto a toſſed unſetled life; for, he is whiles in Judea, and whiles in Galilee, about his calling, and is here driven to new wandring. 2. Chriſts and his ſervants entertainment in the world, is ordinarily ſuch, as moſt deſart and barren places will be more ſweet and comfortable, then any other; Therefore, Chriſt leaveth the Cities, and retires to a deſart, ſhunning Herods fury. See Heb. 11.37, 38. 3. As it is no right way to keep Chriſt among a people, to wrong his ſervants; (for, he removes when John is ſlain) So it is lawful for Miniſters to withdraw themſelves from the dangers wherewith they are threatned, providing the trial be perſonal, and they may do it without wronging their cauſe and calling; for, ſo hath Chriſt taught us, who went over the Sea of Galilee, &c. to ſhun the rage of Herod, who being engaged in perſecution would be at more of it. 4. As Chriſts ſervants may have much toile, and ſhould ſpend themſelves willingly in his work; So he will be tollicitous for them who ſerve him, and careful to give them needful refreſhments and breathings; for, ſuch is his care of his diſciples here, who return wearied unto him.
Verſe 2. And a great multitude followed him, becauſe they ſaw his miracles which he did on them that were diſeaſed.
This verſe contains a remote occaſion of the miracle and a conſequent of Chriſts removal; which is, that many did follow him, conſidering the miracles he had done; And their following him till they were hungry, occaſioned the miracle in feeding of them. Doctrine 1. Perſecution and trouble will not make Chriſt have a thin back, when he ſees it meet to honour himſelfe by having many followers; for, here a great multitude followed him, though Herod be ſeeking him, and he go but to a deſert place, where they could be but ill accommodate. And this ſpeaks ſadly againſt the lazineſſe of many in times of greater quiet. 2. Such as have an errand to Chriſt, or any eſtimation of him, will be at pains to follow him, for, ſo did they here, yea and outwent them, Mark. 6.33. though they were not, at leaſt all of them, well principled. 3. It is not enough that multitudes pretend great reſpect to Chriſt, and follow him for outward conſiderations and advantages, unleſſe their principals and their motives be yet more ſpiritual; for, herein they fell ſhort, in that they followed him, becauſe they ſaw his miracles, not taking up the true excellency of his perſon thereby, nor being affected with his doctrine, or ſeeking their own ſpiritual good; But the great wheele in all this, was their being affected with his works as a novelty, and the outward benefit they had thereby. And therefore however now they follow him on all hazards, yet afterward when he lets them ſee their errour, and preſſeth ſpiritual things upon them, they voluntarily forſake him, ver. 66. It is better to feel one miracle wrought upon the heart in changing of it, then to be affected with many outward miracles. 4. Chriſt doth perfectly know and take notice who they are that do follow him, and what their principles and motives are; for, here an account of it is given and regeſtrate; and afterward he lets them know it more clearly. 5. Chriſt makes himſelfe known by theſe miracles on the diſeaſed, not onelyonly to fulfil the propheſies that went before of him, Matth. 11.5. with Iſa. 35.6. But to ſhew that he came by his miracles to do good, Acts 10.38. and not to ſatisfie curioſity; And to teach, that his company and diſpenſations are very alluring, to invite men to come to him: for, they will finde many diſeaſes and wants among his followers, and him taking notice of them all, and curing them, even miraculouſly.
Verſe 3. And Jeſus went up into a mountain, and there he ſate with his diſciples.
Followeth another antecedent of the miracle, ſhewing that however the people do follow and interrupt him, yet he went up for a while into a retired mountain with his diſciples, to refreſh them with his company. This mountain was not the place where the miracle was wrought, but after he had reſted a while here, he came down to the plain to the multitude, as may be gathered from verſe 15. Whence learn, 1. Refreſhment after labour and travel in Gods ſervice, is ſo neceſſary and ſo lawful, that Chriſt will have a care to afford it to his ſervants, even in greateſt throng of buſines; Therefore, albeit the people do follow and interrupt him, yet he went up into a mountain, for this end. 2. It is the ſweet refreſhment of Chriſts followers, when they have not onelyonly vacation, for a time, from their laborious toile, but when they enjoy ſome familiar hours of fellowſhip with himſelf, being free from the noiſe of diſtractions in the world; for, thus were they refreſhed, there he ſate with his diſciples, where no doubt he refreſhed their bodies with reſt and food, as may be gathered from Mark 6.31. but chiefly their ſouls with divine conferences. 3. Chriſt is the wiſe diſpenſer of his ſervants refreſhments and breathing times, who doth let out their allowances as they may be moſt uſeful, and not prejudicial unto them; for he doth not bring them after their toile, to a place of delights, but to a deſert and a mountain to reſt them in, and allowes it but for a while, or, a little, as it is, Mark 6.31. and preſently they are at work again: If Chriſt did not deale thus, they would finde reſt and exceſſe of delights waſte them more, then toile it ſelf.
Verſe 4. And the Paſſeover, a feast of the Jewes was nigh.
In this verſe the circumſtance of the time of this miracle, which was but generally ſpoken of, verſe 1. is now more expreſſely declared, that it was about the time of the Paſſeover. And ſo if that Feaſt, Chap. 5. 1. were the Paſſeover, this ſhould be the third ſince his Baptiſme, for the firſt is ſpoken of chap. 2.13. This circumſtance is marked, not onelyonly to confirme the truth of the Hiſtory; or, to put us in minde that theſe anniverſary feaſts were peculiar to the Jewes; or, to ſhew how ſeaſonably Chriſt did preach of eating the ſpiritual food of their ſouls, about that time the Paſſeover was to be eaten. But further, it would appeare that Chriſt went not up to this Feaſt, for it is here marked, that a little before that time, he is in the deſart places of Galilee, and nothing is marked of his going up afterward to it, by the reſt of the Evangeliſts. And John 7.1. ſeemes to point out his continued reſolution, after this Sermon, to ſtay in Galilee; and John 7.3, 4. his brethren do chalenge him for lurking, and John 7.21. he ſeemes to point at that work at the poole of Betheſda, of which chap. 5. as the work which he had laſt done among them, and which ſtuck much in their minds at Jeruſalem. As for the multitude that followed him, it is not needful to enquire whether they went up after this to the Feaſt, or not; But for his part, it teacheth, 1. Corrupt Church men are as dangerous, and as much to be avoided, as any perſecutors: for, as he withdrew for a time from Herod, though he went afterward to Capernaum, verſe 59. belike, becauſe Herod was gone to the Feaſt, as he uſed ſometime to do, Luke 23.7. or, becauſe he would not alway lurk) ſo he kept himſelf without the reach of the Scribes and Phariſees. 2. It is no ſtrange thing to ſee Chriſt and his ſervants ſecluded from the publike and ſolemne meetings of the Church, becauſe of dangers and ſnares laid for them: And in ſuch a caſe, it is their affliction, not their ſinne, to ſtay away; for ſo much doth Chriſts practice and lot teach. Though it be remarkable how prudently he carrieth it, that he will not give offence, by ſtaying in the Cities at ſuch a time, but retireth himſelf till the importunity of the people bring him back again. 3. Chriſt would have his people expecting preſervation, in the uſe of all ordinary lawful means; and for this end, he who could by his omnipotencie reſtrain the fury of men, doth ſanctifie that way in his own practice, which his people are to walk in; for, he doth ſtay away, though he could have gone there, and have preſerved himſelf even when he was among their hands.