Exposition of John, Chapter 6 · Verse 45
Verſe 63. It is the Spirit that quickeneth: the fleſh profiteth nothing: the words that I ſpake unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life.
In the next place, Chriſt cleares that which chiefly offended them, concerning his fleſh and the quickening power, and the eating thereof. This he cleares in two aſſertions. 1. It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the fleſh profiteth nothing. This may be underſtood as a clearing of what he ſaid concerning the eating of his fleſh, that it was not a carnal fleſhly eating of him that could profit anything, but it is a ſpiritual eating of him by faith, that bringeth that quickening and life of which he hath ſpoken. But it ſeemeth rather to clear what he had ſaid concerning the quickening power of his fleſh and humane nature, and by Spirit, and fleſh we are to underſtand here his divine and humane nature, as Rom. 1.3, 4. 1 Pet. 3.18. And ſo the meaning is, that however much had been ſpoken of life to be given by partaking of his fleſh, yet this is not to be underſtood of his fleſh conſidered by it ſelfe and without his Godhead, as they conceived him to be a meer man: but all the quickening vertue that is aſcribed to his fleſh, or humane nature, doth flow from his Godhead to which it is united, And this alſo doth condemne their conceit of bodily eating his fleſh, ſeeing a Spirit, without which the fleſh profiteth nothing, cannot be eaten. 2. The ſecond aſſertion is, the words that I ſpeak unto you, they are ſpirit, and they are life. Wherein Chriſt directly refutes their ſtumbling at what he ſpake of eating his fleſh, which they underſtood in a carnal ſenſe; of eating with the mouth of the body. He declares that theſe words are not to be taken in a carnal groſſe ſenſe, but in a ſpiritual way, and being ſo taken, and Chriſt ſpiritually laid hold upon, the doctrine will not be found hard, but very refreſhful, and to contain that which brings life to the weary ſoul. And ſo the Spirit, is taken for what is ſpiritual, Job. 3.16. Doctrine 1. Albeit Chriſts fleſh and humane nature was quickned in it ſelfe, and have quickening vertue to merit, communicate, and preſerve life in beleevers; Yet the Godhead is the fountain from which all this floweth, and that which giveth merit and efficacy to all his ſufferings and obedience; for, it is the Spirit that quickeneth. 2. Such as do not look on Chriſts fleſh, as the fleſh and blood of the Sonne of God, nor do lay hold on him by faith as God incarnate, that they may attain life: But do look on him as meer man, or as one whoſe fleſh is to be eaten in a bodily manner; They will never finde that quickening vertue in and from him, which he declares to be in himſelfe; for, the fleſh profiteth nothing, to wit, in this reſpect. It is true, as God incarnate, his fleſh is the very price of life, the firſt receptacle of our ſpiritual life, and (being laid hold on by faith) the conduit to conveigh life to us. But being conſidered as a meer man, and his fleſh to be eaten bodily (as the Capernaits did) in that reſpect it profiteth nothing; for, no meer man can give life, nor merit it to loſt ſinners, and outward bodily feeding cannot be refreſhment nor food to ſouls. 3. Scripture is the beſt Commentary to it ſelfe, in regard what is ſpoken more darkly in one place, is cleared in another; for, ſo doth Chriſt expound the words he ſpake. 4. What Chriſt hath formerly ſpoken of eating his fleſh, is to be underſtood ſpiritually, of eating by faith, and not of bodily eating; for, ſo doth Chriſt declare; The words that I ſpeak unto you, they are Spirit. 5. None but they who underſtand Chriſts words ſpiritually, will finde them lively in operation; for, being Spirit, or taken ſpiritually, then they are life, and then only. 6. The doctrine of the Goſpel, pointing out ſalvation by faith in Chriſt crucified for ſinners, is b…th Spirit and life. It is a doctrine of a ſpiritual nature, the inſtrument and mean whereby the Spirit worketh and communicates himſelfe, Gal. 3.2. and tends to make us ſpiritual. And by it is life revealed, offered, conferred, and carried on to perfection, by the Spirit; for, thus it is commended, his words, they are Spirit, and they are life. See, Rom. 8.2. 2 Cor. 3.6.