John 6:63

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 both 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.