Exposition of John, Chapter 6 · Verse 8 – Verse 10
Verſe 11. And Jeſus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he diſtributed to the diſciples, and the diſciples to them that were ſet down, and likewiſe of the fiſhes as much as they would.
In this verſe we have the miracle it ſelf, and the manner of it; that Chriſt having given thanks, did diſtribute to the diſciples, and they to the people, and that it grew among all their hands, ſo that every one got as much as they would. Whence learn, 1. Chriſts undertaking to do great things for his people, will not prove evaniſhing flouriſhes, but real works; for; he who bid them do ſeveral things in order to this work, doth now work it gloriouſly. 2. This thankſgiving and bleſſing, premitted to the miracle, teacheth 1. That all our refreſhments ſhould be ſanctified and gone about with prayer and praiſe, Deut. 8.10. Conſidering, that they are great mercies, though ordinary; that it is his word and bleſſing which maketh them feed us; that this is a mean to draw down a bleſſing upon them, as Chriſt here doth on the loaves and fiſhes; that hereby they are ſanctified to us, 1 Tim. 4.4, 5. and, that it is a mean to ſweeten common mercies to us, when we acknowledge them to come down from heaven, as proofs of love, and do ſo take them out of his hand. 2. That chearfulneſſe and thankfulneſſe to God is to be made conſcience of by them who have ſober and courſe fare, as well as if they had choiſeſt dainties; for, ſo doth Chriſts practice teach, when he had but barley loaves and fiſhes. 3. That God alone muſt have the glory of all the wonderful works he doth for his people. Therefore doth Chriſt give thanks and bleſſe, as Mediatour, to teſtifie that it was by the power of God that he (being one with the Father) did the work. Doctrine 3. This miracle it ſelf, and the diſtribution by the diſciples to the people, and the encreaſe of the loaves, teacheth. 1. As by curing the ſick and diſeaſed, Chriſt proved himſelf to be a Phyſician for all their plagues and ſores: ſo by this he proves himſelf to be the true ſpirituall food of ſouls, as he cleareth in the following Sermon. 2. It is not abundance, that is neceſſary for the maintenance of the life of man, but Gods bleſſing upon what a man enjoyes, be it leſſe or more; for, ſo doth this miracle teach. 3. It is Chriſt that ſends every man his portion and allowance, through whoſe hand ſoever it comes, for though the diſciples give immediately to the people, yet it is Chriſt who, by them, doth diſtribute. 4. Chriſt allowes much benefit upon his ſervants and minds it, in his employing them betwixt him and his people; for, he employeth them to diſtribute unto the people, not ſo much that they might get wherewith to refreſh themſelves, and ſatisfie their hunger, but eſpecially, that their faith might be confirmed, by being ſo near witneſſes of the glory of this miracle. 5. Obedience to a command, and making uſe of what we have, is a mean to make it encreaſe and grow as there is need; for, in diſtributing that ſmall portion at Chriſts command, it growes. 6. Chriſts ſervants may expect to have their endeavors bleſſed, when they get their furniture out of his hand, and employ themſelves as his inſtruments, in diſpenſing thereof: for, the diſciples getting their proviſion out of Chriſts hand, and ſo diſtributing it, to feed his people, it growes among their hands. 7. Chriſts allowance is very large; he can make courſe fare of barley-bread and fiſh ſatisfie men with his bleſſing; he can make little of it ſuffice never ſo many, and let every one have no ſcant: for, they got all as much as they would.
Verſe 12. When they were filled he ſaid unto his Diſciples, gather up the fragments that remaine, that nothing be loſt.
13. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above, unto them that had eaten.
Followeth ſome effects and conſequents of this miracle; And firſt, the people being ſatiſfied, Chriſt commands the fragments to be gathered up, whereby the truth of the miracle is confirmed, not only that the people are filled, but there is more left then they laid down at firſt. Whence learn. 1. Chriſts miracles are ſuch as ſenſe will beare witneſſe unto, and he will make his peoples ſenſible ſatisfaction, bear witneſſe for him, how really good he is unto them; for, ſo is this miracle confirmed from the effect, they were filled. 2. As the Lords people ſhould not be doubtful or anxious in wants; So when he giveth greateſt plenty, they ſhould be frugal and thrifty, and ſhould beware of abuſing greateſt abundance; for, though he had now fed them miraculouſly, yet ſaith he, gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be loſt. 3. Such as, at Chriſts command, lay out what he hath given them, for ſupplying the neceſſities of others, may expect to be no loſers, but rather gainers; for, the diſciples who gave out their proviſion, finde it returned with advantage, and inſtead of five loaves and two fiſhes, they filled twelve baskets with the fragments, &c.
Verſe 14. Then thoſe men when they had ſeene the miracle that Jeſus did, ſaid, This is of a truth that Prophet that ſhould come into the world.
A ſecond effect and conſequent of this miracle, is, that hereby they are led to acknowledge him to be that great Prophet, whom the Jewes expected according to the prediction, Deut. 18. which was indeed true of him, however they did not take him up as became in his perſon, offices and benefits, beſide that they went far wrong in the following purpoſe. Whence learn. 1. This knowledge of the Scriptures, and of the Meſſiah, which continued among theſe Jewes in theſe corrupt and declining times, may witneſſe ſadly againſt the ignorance of men in the daies of the Goſpel, when yet light is far clearer. 2. Chriſts working ſhould diſcover unto people ſomewhat concerning himſelfe; And the uſe of his miracles is, to diſcover unto us what his offices are, and to confirme us in the faith thereof; for, Theſe men, when they had ſeen the miracles that Jeſus did, ſaid, This is that Prophet. Though it be remarkable that this affects them more then many miracles as contributing to feed their belly, and being generally benificial to all, whereas healing of diſeaſes was but only for the good of a few; And beſide, they took occaſion to dreame of an eaſie life under this Meſſiah. 3. Chriſt ſhould be taken up and expected in the word of promiſe, that ſo his manifeſtations of himſelfe may be more ſweet when they come; for, this heightens their eſtimation of him, that he is the Prophet that ſhould come into the world, who had been promi…ed unto them, and whom they had ſo long expected. See Iſa. 25.9. 4. Points of truth, eſpecially concerning Chriſt, would not be ſuperficially and ſlightly cloſed with, but men ſhould be perſwaded of the truth of them, that ſo they may boldly confeſſe and profeſſe them, as they are called to it; for, ſay they, This is of a truth that Prophet. 5. Among other offices of the Meſſiah, he is alſo the Prophet of his people, and the great Teacher of the Church, from whom all other Teachers have their commiſſion; who teacheth his people infallibly an effectually, and who was to exerciſe this office at his incarnation and coming into the world; for, ſo much doth their deſignation of him, according to Scripture prophecy, teach, This is that Prophet. For, that prediction of Moſes, Deut 18.18. did ultimately and chiefly point at him, Act. 3.22.