John 6:35

Christ returns an answer to this desire to ver. 41. Wherein. 1. He describes more plainly, what, and who this bread is, ver. 35. 2. He discovers their hypocrisie, and checks them that for not being that in reality, which here they pretend to in their desires, ver. 36. 3. He sheweth that his own Elect would not deale so with him, and should be well dealt with, according as was given him in Commission, ver. 37, 38, 39, 40.

In this ver. 1. Christ, upon occasion of their desire, doth declare what and who this bread of life is. He had told before the excellency thereof, and that he and his Father would give it to them who seek it sincerely; Now he brings out more of his minde, declaring that he is the bread of life. 2. He doth again repeat and inculcate the way of partaking of this bread, which is by beleeving and coming to him, of which, See chap. 5.40. 3. He confirmes that he is the bread of life, and points out the excellency thereof, from an effect, which is, that the partakers of him, shall finde compleat refreshment in him, for the preserving and perpetuating of their spiritual life. Whence learn. 1. Christ is so tender of any desires after himselfe, that he will labour and take pains to make the best that can be, even of natural and carnal desires, and not cast them away at first, but labour to make them better, and set them right; Therefore doth he answer this carnal crew, and propound an object, to elevate their desires. 2. A right sight of Christ, and his commending of himselfe to sinners, is a special mean to make desires spiritual, and elevate them toward him; for, he points out and commends himselfe here, for that end. 3. Christ is not only the giver of that food which begets and entertains spiritual life, and which is most necessary, and should be most sweet to sinners: But he himselfe is the food of our souls also, who gave himselfe to death, that he might be prepared meat for us, who by his merit doth purchase life, and by his efficacy, being applied, doth dispense and entertaine that life; for, saith he, I am the bread of life, that is, who hath life in himselfe, and who merits, begets, maintains, and perfects life, in them who embrace and apply him. And he speaks of himselfe under the notion of bread, because it was bread which that carnal people was seeking. 4. The right way of feeding on Christ for the entertainment of spiritual life, and of finding him the bread of life, is, by faith to embrace and close with him, his person, offices, and offers, and exercise our faith on him daily; for, he is the bread of life to him that beleeveth. 5. To come to Christ, and to beleeve in him, are all one; And he that is made sensible of his distance from Christ, and of the excellency and fulnesse that is in him, and doth turn his course and eye toward him, and is still moving on toward him, is a beleever whatever he enjoy: for, he that cometh unto me, is explained by this, he that beleeveth on me. 6. Christs offers unto all and every one that cometh unto him, are not faire complements, but produce real satisfaction; As this promise subjoyned doth teach. 7. As all they who come not to Christ, will eternally pine away, under the want of all satisfaction; So they who embrace him, shall finde alsufficiency in him for all wants, and that eternally; for, this bread satisfieth both hunger and thirst, as in Scripture phrase bread is put for all bodily refreshment: And it is promised, he shall never hunger, and never thirst. Whereby we are to understand. 1. That they who embrace him, though they will long after more of him, yet they shall never again hunger after the husks of sinne, nor after satisfaction thereby to the lusts of the flesh. 2. Albeit there will be lustings and longings after these, even in them who have embraced Christ; Yet in so far as they have come to Christ, and are renewed, they will be rid of them. 3. They shall not any more pine under the destroying hunger of total want, though they will still have an hunger of wholesome appetite to prepare them for feeding, and have food at hand to supply and satisfie it. 4. This promise, of being delivered from hunger and thirst, is but begun to be accomplished here, and daily going on, and shall be perfected hereafter, when believers shall enjoy compleat and total satisfaction throughout all eternity.