E X1 5.1-47. In Jerusalem. x2 6:1-71. In Galilee.
X1 Y1 1-15. The 3rd sign. Impotent Man.
Y2 16-47. Consequent Conspiracy of, and Colloquy with, the Jews.
Y1 Z1 1-7. The occasion.
Z2 8-15. The sign.
Z1 e1 1. The time.
e2 2. The place.
e3 3,4. The people.
e4 5-7. The man.27 A.D.
2 Now there is at Jerusalem at the sheep market a pool, (which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda (Aramaic = the house of mercy.. Cp. Siloam in the 6th sign), having five arches).
3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, lame, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. (the stream was intermittent.)
4 For (it was said) an angel went down from time to time into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made well of whatsoever disease held him fast. (This was a man made saying - not Biblical.)
5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. (slavery, the period of wanderings. Cp. "from birth", 9:1)
6 When Jesus seeing (the Lord, in this and the 6th sign, takes the initiative) him lie, and knowing that he had been now a long time in that case, He said to him, "Desire you to be made whole?" (A lot of people sick here. Why did He only heal him?)
7 The impotent man answered him, "Sir (I am indeed willing, but) I have no man, when the water is troubled, in order that he may put me into the pool: but in the time when I am coming, another steps down before me."
Z2 A 8-11. The Lord. seeking, and healing.
B 12,13. The Jews. Question asked.
A 14. The Lord: finding, and saving.
B 15. The Jews. Question answered.
A f 8. "Take up your bed and walk" (says).
g 9-. "The man was made whole."
h -9-. "And took up his bed and walked."
i -9. "On the same day was the sabbath."
i 10-. "It is the sabbath day."
h -10. "Not lawful to carry your bed."
g 11-. "He that made me whole" (said).
f -11. "Take up you bed and walk."
In both cases, Messiah is the Seeker (5:6; 9:1), and takes the initiative; while in both the preceding pairs He was the One Who was sought.
Both "signs" were manifested in Jerusalem (5:1 and 8:50 with 9:1), and thus have special reference to Government and its seat.
Both are associated with a pool (5:2 and 9:7, 11), and may signify that Pool of spiritual cleansing which in a future day is yet to be "opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness" (Zech. 13:1). In connection with this it is significant that these two "signs" are the only two out of all the eight that have any reference to sin (5:14 and 9:2, 24, 25, 34), as the second and seventh are the only two connected with death.
Sin had been the cause, in the case of Israel, both of impotence and the blindness.
It was the cause of Israel's thirty-eight years' typical and helpless wandering before the nation entered into rest; as it was the cause of the suffering of this impotent man, before he met with the great and only Giver of Rest.
This rest is emphasized by the reference to a "Sabbath-Day" (5:9 and 9:14) and by the "sign" that Messiah (the true Joshua) can alone lead them into that true rest and sabbath-keeping that yet remains for Jehovah's People (Heb. 4:4-10).
Messiah is Himself not only the Seeker (5:6; and 9:1), but He is also the Finder (5:14 and 9:35).
The double reference to Moses' words (5:45, 46 and 9:28, 29), and to the Father's works (5:17 and 9:4), are both "signs" also, full of the utmost significance as deepening the sin of Israel, and enhancing the grace of God Who had raised up Messiah as the Prophet, like unto Moses (Deut. 18:15-19), and sent His Son to seek and to find and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:9, 10).
9 And immediately the man was made whole, (He obeyed and was healed. When an order comes from God you had better answer it.)
and took up his bed, and walked:
and on that day a Sabbath. (This seems to imply that it was not the weekly sabbath, but the same as in 19:14.)
10 The Judeans therefore said to him that had been healed, "It is the sabbath day:
it is not lawful for you to take up your bed." (They are stretching the point. A forced interpretation of Jer. 17:21, &c., by the Rabbis, made the carrying of anything from a public place into a private place, or visa versa, unlawful.)
11 He answered them, "He that made me whole, that One there said to me,
'Take up thy bed, and walk.'"
12 Then asked they him, "Who is the man that Which said to you, 'Take up thy bed, and walk?'"
13 But he that had been healed knew not who it was: for Jesus had turned aside, as if to avoid a blow, a crowd being in the place. (He healed the man and got out of there to avoid the crush.)
14 After these things Jesus finds him in the temple courts, and said to him, "Behold, you have become whole: continue no longer to sin, in order that a worse thing not happen to you." (When you sweep the house clean, put something in it, Christ. or demonic's will enter.)
15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
Y2 C 16. Conspiracy. Made.
D 17. Defense. The Father and the Son.
C 18. Conspiracy. Increased.
D 19-47. Defense. The Father and the Son.16 And on account of this begin the Jews to persecute Jesus (these were Kenites - sons of Cain - sons of satan, that lived in Judea. They play church. Beginning of open hostility), and were seeking to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
17 But Jesus answered them, "My Father works until now (Constantly, referring to the O.T. Dispensation. Now Yehovah was speaking "by His Son" [Heb. 1:2]), I also am working [now]."
18 Therefore the Jews ( = 1. From the tribe of Judah; 2. Resident of Judea, not necessarily of the tribe of Judah. Here, Kenites) sought the more to kill Him (note the 3 attempts on the Lord's life, all connected with His claim to Deity, here; 8:58,59: 10:30,31), not only because He was breaking the sabbath, but also called God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.
D E 19,20. The Son's works are the Father's.
F 21-29. Proof. Communication.
E 30. The Son's works are the Father's.
F 31-47. Proof. Witnesses.
19 Therefore answered Jesus and said to them, "Verily, verily, I say to you, The Son can do nothing from Himself, if not what He sees the Father doing: for what things soever He does, does the Son also in like manner. (Does it the same way because they are the same)
F G 21. Concerning giving life and resurrection.
H 22,23. Concerning judgment.
G 24. Concerning judgment.
H 25-29. Concerning giving life and resurrection.
21 For as the Father awakes up the corpses, and gives life to whom He will; so the Son also awakens the corpses, and gives life to whom He will. (He's going to raise a man from the dead.)
22 For not even the Father judges any one, but has given all judgment to the Son also:
23 That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honors not the Son honors not the Father which hath sent him.(Anybody not accepting will be judged.)
24 Verily, verily, I say to you, He that hears My word, and believes on Him that sent Me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment; but has passed out of death into life. (You won't see death spiritually.)
G j 25,26. Resurrection. k 27. Judgment. j 28,29-. Resurrection. k -29. Judgment.25 Verily, verily, I say to you, An hour is coming, and now is (because, had the nation repented, "all that the prophets had spoken" would have been fulfilled according to Acts 3:21, including the resurrection foretold in Ezek. 37, and Isa. 26:19 &c.), when the corpses shall hear the voice of the Son of God, (this title is associated with resurrection, as in v. 27 judgment is with the Son of man): and they that hear shall live.
27 And has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man.
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the tombs shall hear His voice, (Therefore they are not in heaven or hell.)
29 And shall come forth; they that have accomplished good things, into the resurrection of life;
and they that have practiced evil things (see Matt. 16:27. Luke 23:51. Acts 18:18. Rom. 8:13; 12:12. Col. 3:9), into the resurrection of judgment.
30 I can of My own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; because I seek not My own will, but the will of Him which has sent Me. (See 2 Pet. 2:9)
F J 31-35. The witness of John.
K 36-38. The Father's witness.
L 39,40. The testimony of Scripture.
K 41-44. The Fathers witness.
J 45-47. The witness of Moses.
31 If (assuming the condition, where experience will decide) I alone bear witness concerning myself, My witness is not true. (referring to Deut. 19:15. Cp. 8:14)
36 But I have the witness, greater than that of John: for the works which the Father has given Me in order that I should complete them, the same works that I do (i.e. the miracles), bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent me. (Please God and He will bless you. Please men and they will use and abuse you.)
37 And the Father Himself, which sent Me [at a definite time], has borne (and still bears) witness of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.
38 And you have not His word abiding in you: for whom He sent, Him you believe not. (If you cannot accept the living Word, how can you accept Christ?)
39 Search (Gr. ereunao = to search as a lion or hound tracks by the scent) the sacred [writings]; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me. (Deut. 18:15. )
40 And you do not will to come come to Me, that you may have life. (Who is He talking too?)
41 I receive not approval from men. (He is not a man pleaser)
42 But I know you (see 8:42-8. Jer. 35), that you have not the love toward God in yourselves.
43 I am come in My Father's name, and you receive Me not: if another shall come in his own name, him you will receive. (Cp. 2 Thess. 2:4.)
44 How can you believe, which receive honor from one another, and seek not the honor that comes from the only God? (Cp. 1 Tim. 1:17)
45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuses you, even Moses, on whom you have set your hope. (Deut. 18:15)
46 For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed Me; for He wrote of Me. ( See Luke 24:27)
47 But if you believe not his letters (Gr. Pl. gramma. Hence the Scribes were called grammmateis.), how shall you believe My words?" (He was the Word)
X2 M1 1-15. The Fourth Sign. (The feeding of the 5,000.)
M2 16-25. The Fifth Sign. (The walking on the sea.)
M3 26-71. The Significance of the Fourth and Fifth Sign.
M1 N P f 1,2-. Crowd. Following.
g -2. Signs seen.
Q 3,4. Departure to the mountain.
O 5-13. The Fourth Sign. (The feeding of the 5,000 fishes.)
N P g 14-. Sign seen.
f -14. Crowd. Confession.
Q 15. Departure to the mountain.
because they beheld signs which He was doing on them that were diseased. (They came to see the signs. Satan will show signs before crows too! Be careful.)
3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.
4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.
O R 5. Question to Philip.
S 6. Sign purposed.
R 7-9. Answer to Philip.
S 10-13. Sign performed.
Both "signs" are followed by the Lord's own signification in the discourses which manifested the special glory of His Deity.
The two "signs" are connected together by the parenthesis of 6:23, which shows that the signification is one, manifesting Messiah as Divine; in the former, as the Creator and the only Supplier of all His People's needs; temporal as in 6:6-13, and spiritual as in 6:32-51; in the latter, as the Creator and Lord of the elements.
The discourse which follows is to signify the enormity of the sin of His rejection, as shown in 7:1, 11, 12, 25, 30, 32, 43, 44, 45; as the second and seventh are the only two connected with death.
Thus, these two central "signs" manifest the two central truths which are common to all the four Gospels: viz., the glory of the Messiah and His rejection by the nation.
They were connected by His departing from them, and going up into a mountain (6:3 and 6:15), signifying that He was about to depart from them, until His return from heaven on the repentance of the nation.
6 And this He said to prove ( putting him to the test)i.e. him: for He Himself knew what He was about to do. (When Christ tests you, will you pass the test?)
7 Philip answered Him, "Two hundred pennyworth (apox. $33) of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little." (Only recorded in John)
8 One of his disciples, Andrew (He appears with Philip in 1:44; 12:22), Simon Peter's brother, said to Him,
9 "There is a little boy here (the "baker bor", with his basket of barley-loaves , is still to be seen where people congregate.), which has five (5 = Divine grace in Biblical numerics) barley loaves (first fruits, poor mans bread), and two small fishes (the Father & the Son - symbol of Christianity - the fish symbol, cypher): but what are they for so many?"
S T 10. Command to sit down.
U 11. Distribution.
T 12. Command to gather.
U Gathering.
10 And Jesus said, "Make the men sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. (Sit down and listen)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 also of the fishes as much as they wished. (Only recorded in John. Did Jesus feed the people? No! The disciples did. They were not mobbed, very disciplined. You do the feeding, or they won't get fed.)
12 But when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain over (Beware of false doctrine. A little leaven will work through the whole loaf), that nothing be lost." (after this, were they all believers?)
13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve wicker baskets (one for each Apostle. 12= Governmental perfection in Biblical numerics. Until He died, He was sent to 12 lost tribes of Israel.- After, open to "Whom soever will") with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above to them that had fed. (Gr. bibrosko. Root of our "browse", to feed in the open. When God gives you a seed from the Word, plant it, use it, cultivate it, reap it. You will always have more than enough left over. Cp. Amos 8)
14 Therefore the men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said,
"This is truly the prophet who is coming into the world."
15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force, in order that they might make Him a king, He withdrew again into a mountain Himself alone. (Irony - God wanted to be their king way back, but they wouldn't accept Him.)
M2 V j 16. At the sea. Disciples.
k 17-. A boat.
W l -17. The Lord absent.
m 18. Sudden danger.
X n 19-. The Lord seen.
o -19. "They were afraid."
X n 20-. The Lord heard.
o -20. "Be not afraid."
W l 21-. The Lord present.
m -21. The sudden safety.
V j 22-24-. At the sea. Crowd.
k -24,25. The boats.
16 And when it became late, His disciples went down to the sea,17 And entered into a fishing-smack, and were going over the sea toward Capernaum.
And it had become already dark, and Jesus was not yet come to them. (i.e. the multitudes)
18 And the sea was rising by reason of <>u>a great wind that was blowing. (Getting them ready for a time when His physical presence won't be with them, but He will be spiritually.)
19 So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs (5-6,000 yards: about halfway), they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing near to the ship:
and they were afraid. (They didn't know who it was)
20 But He said to them, "I am He;
be not afraid."
21 Then they were willing to receive Him into the ship:
and immediately the ship became at the shore to which they were bound. (Recorded only in John)
22 The day following, when the crowd which stood on the other side (the Eastern side) of the sea saw that there was none other dingy there, save that one into which His disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that His disciples went away away alone; (They think He is gone, but remember, Christ is always with you.)
23 (However there came other boats out from Tiberias near to the place where they did eat bread, after the Lord had given thanks:)
24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither His disciples,
themselves also entered into the boat, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.
25 And when they had found Him on the other side of the sea (The Western), they said to him, "Rabbi, when have You got here?" (They didn't know He took a shortcut across the water.)
M3 Z1 26-36. With unbelievers.
Z2 37-59. With believers.
Z3 60-71. With disciples.
Z1 A 26,27. Bread: earthly.
B 28,29. Belief.
A 30-35. Bread: heavenly.
B 36. Unbelief.
26 Jesus answered them and said, "Verily, verily, I say to you, You seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you did eat of the loaves, and were satisfied. (They were looking for Him to fill their flesh bellies.)28 Then said they to Him, "What are we to do, that we might work the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered and said to them (see Deut. 1:41), "This is the work of God, that you believe on Him whom He has sent."
A C 30,31. Request of Jews for sign.
D 32,33. Answer, Bread from heaven.
C 34. Request od Disciples for thing signified.
D 35. Answer, Bread of life.
30 They said therefore to Him (in consequence of the Lord's claim), "What sign show You then, that we may see, and believe You? what sign do You work? (The emphasis is on "You")
32 Then Jesus said to them, "Verily, verily, I say to you, Moses gave you not the [true] bread from heaven; but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
33 For the bread of God is He which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world." (Fig. ut for the inhabitants. Used in John to show that Gentiles will be included in Israel's blessing.)
34 Then said they to Him, "Lord, evermore give us this bread".
35 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life: he that comes to Me shall in no way hunger; and He that believes on Me shall in no way at anytime thirst.
36 But I said to you, That you have seen Me also, yet believe not.
Z2 E 37-40. The Father. His will. The Signification of the 4th sign.
F 41,42. The Lord. Bread from heaven. Jews murmuring. "
E 43-47. The Father. His action. "
F 48-59. The Lord. Bread of life. Jews murmuring. "
37 Whatsoever that the Father gives Me shall reach (denoting arrival) to Me; and him that comes (denotes the act and process) to Me I will in no wise cast without.
41 The Jews then were murmuring concerning Him, because He said, "I am the bread which came down from heaven."
42 And they were saying, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that He says, 'I came down from heaven?'"
43 Jesus therefore answered and said to them, "Murmur not with one another.(Don't get nervous)
44 No one is able to come to Me, except the Father Which has sent Me draw him (those thus drawn are defined in v.37 as "all" those who are given [without exception]. In 12:32 "all" are not thus defined, and denote "all" [without distinction].): and I will raise him up at the last day.
45 It stands written in >u>the prophets (see Isa. 54:13. Jer. 31:34), 'And they shall be all (without exception) taught of God.'(Mic. 4:2) Every man therefore that has heard, and has learned from the Father, comes to Me.
46 Not that any one has seen the Father, save He Which is from God (implying past and present union), He has seen the Father.
47 Verily, verily, I say to you, He that believes on me possesses everlasting life (Not, of course, in himself [or he would never die], but by faith in Christ.).
F p 48-51-. The Sign.
q -51. The Signification.
r 52. The Jews Contention.
q 53-57. The Signification.
p 58,59. The Sign.
48 I am the bread of life.if (conditional) any one eat of this [One before you], that person shall live (in and by resurrection, see 4:50,51,53) to an age time: but the bread, moreover, which I will give is Myself (in view of the Jews unbelief, the Lord used a fig. of speech. To take a figure of speech literally, and treat what is literal as a figure, is the most fruitful source of error. Troubling thought for many), which I will give for the life of the world."
52 The Jews therefore were contending with one another, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
53 Then Jesus said to them, "Verily, verily, I say to you, Except you eat the flesh (i.e. the Word) of the Son of man, and drink His blood (the Hebrews used this expression with reference to knowledge by a fig. of speech, where it is put for being alive and put for the whole person; so eating and drinking denoted the operation of the mind in receiving and "inwardly digesting" truth or the words of God. No idiom was more common in the days of our Lord. With them as with us, eating included the meaning of enjoyment, as in Ecc. 5:19; 6:2; for "riches" cannot be eaten; and the Talmud actually speaks of eating [i.e. enjoying] "the years of Messiah", and instead of finding any difficulty in the figure they said that the days of Hezekiah were so good that "Messiah will come no more to Israel; for they already devoured Him in the days of Hezehiah: [Lightfoot]. Even were eating is used of the devouring of enemies, it is the enjoyment of victory that is included. The Lord's words could be understood thus by hearers, for they knew the idiom; but of the "eucharist" they knew nothing, and could not have thus understood them. By comparing vv. 47, and 48 with vv. 53, and 54, we see that believing on Christ was exactly the same thing as eating and drinking Him), you have no life in you.
54 Whoso feeds on (as to enjoy) My flesh, and drinks My blood, has eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. (You will live forever, His shed blood washes away your sins)
55 For My flesh is meat truly, and My blood is drink truly.
56 He that eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, abides in Me, and I in him.
57 According as the living Father has sent Me, and I live by the Father: so he that eats Me, even he shall live through Me.
58 This is that bread which came down from heaven (Christ came down): not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eats of this bread shall live for ever. (This is opposite of death [v.49], and is to be only by and through resurrection [vv. 39,40,44)
59 These things said He in the synagogue (cp. Ps. 74:4,8), as He taught in Capernaum.
61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
64But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
65And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
66From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
67Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
68Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
69And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
70Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
71He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.