John 6:61

Followeth Christs answer to their murmuring, which seems to have been spoken after they were now come out of the Synagogue. In it, he reprehends their stumbling, ver. 61. cleares his doctrine, ver. 62, 63. and points out the true cause of all their mistakes, ver. 64, 65. In this ver. it is recorded that Christ perfectly knew and took notice of their murmuring, and doth challenge and reprove their unjust and causelesse stumbling. Whence learn, 1. It is Christs prerogative to know most secret things in himselfe; neither needing sight nor information, nor yet any divine revelation extrinsecal to his person, such as the Prophets had, but by vertue of the union of his humane nature to the Godhead, his humane nature by revelation from the Godhead, is made to know what is needful, though it be not made omniscient of it selfe; for, Jesus knew in himselfe, when they had gone aside, and discoursed upon this matter apart from him. 2. Christ makes use of this his knowledge, to take notice what his followers are doing, and what fruits follow upon his doctrine and preaching to them, as here we see. 3. Christ doth take notice of, and is offended with the corrupt affections of men, and the secret out-breakings thereof, how secretly however they be conveighed; Therefore doth he reprove that which he know in himselfe they were guilty of. 4. Stumbling, and being offended at Christs doctrine and dispensations, whether by the weak or malicious, is a great impediment to the successe of the Gospel, and a great fault in men; Therefore doth he reprove that they were offended, or scandalized, and stumbled. 5. Murmuring, and repining, or quareling, at that which Christ saith or doth, is a sad evidence of stumbling, and of hazard of falling; Therefore from their murmuring, he gathers their being offended. 6. When Christs followers and disciples do stumble and take offence, the fault is the greater; Therefore saith he to his disciples, doth this offend you? God hath taken most pains on them, they have professed the contrary, and their stumbling giveth more offence, and therefore is the more odious. 7. Albeit many stumble at the doctrine of Christ, some at the doctrine of the crosse, others at the depth of his decrees, some at the strict doctrine of holinesse and renouncing our own righteousnesse, and some at the simplicity of the doctrine of the Gospel; yet there is no just ground of offence in any of these: And in particular, it is a causelesse and sinful stumbling, when men offend at the sweet doctrine of closing with, and feeding upon Christ: Therefore saith he, with indignation, doth this offend you? to wit, my doctrine, and in particular, this sweet and easie doctrine, formerly taught.