5-9. thirty and eight years--but not all that time at the pool. This was probably the most pitiable of all the cases, and therefore selected.
10-16. The Jews--that is, those in authority. (See on [Joh 1:19].)
it is not lawful to carry thy bed--a glorious testimony to the cure, as instantaneous and complete, from the lips of the most prejudiced! (And what a contrast does it, as all our Lord's miracles, present to the bungling miracles of the Church of Rome!) In ordinary circumstances, the rulers had the law on their side ([Ne 13:15]; [Jr 17:21]). But when the man referred them to "Him that had made him whole" ([Joh 5:11]) as his authority, the argument was resistless. Yet they ingeniously parried the thrust, asking him, not who had "made him whole"--that would have condemned themselves and defeated their purpose--but who had bidden him "take up his bed and walk," in other words, who had dared to order a breach of the sabbath? It is time we were looking after Him--thus hoping to shake the man's faith in his Healer.
17-18. My Father worketh hitherto and I work--The "I" is emphatic; "The creative and conservative activity of My Father has known no sabbath-cessation from the beginning until now, and that is the law of My working."
19-20. the Son can do nothing of himself--that is, apart from and in rivalry of the Father, as they supposed. The meaning is, "The Son can have no separate interest or action from the Father."
for what things, &c.--On the contrary, "whatever the Father doeth that same doeth the Son,"
likewise--"in the like manner." What claim to absolute equality with the Father could exceed this: not only to do "the same things," but to do them as the Father does them?
21-23. raiseth the dead and quickeneth them--one act in two stages. This is His absolute prerogative as God.
so the Son quickeneth them--that is, raiseth up and quickeneth.
whom he will--not only doing the same divine act, but doing it as the result of His own will, even as the Father does it. This statement is of immense importance in relation to the miracles of Christ, distinguishing them from similar miracles of prophets and apostles, who as human instruments were employed to perform super-natural actions, while Christ did all as the Father's commissioned Servant indeed, but in the exercise of His own absolute right of action.
24. believeth on him that sent me--that is, believeth in Him as having sent Me. I have spoken of the Son's right not only to heal the sick but to raise from the dead, and quicken whom He will: And now I say unto you, That life-giving operation has already passed upon all who receive My words as the Sent of the Father on the great errand of mercy.
hath everlasting life--immediately on his believing (compare [Joh 3:18]; [1Jo 5:12], ).
is passed--"hath passed over"
from death unto life--What a transition! (Compare [1Jo 3:14]).
25-29. The hour cometh--in its whole fulness, at Pentecost.
and now is--in its beginnings.
the dead--the spiritually dead, as is clear from [Joh 5:28]. Here He rises from the calmer phrase "hearing his word" ([Joh 5:24]), to the grander expression, "hearing the voice of the Son of God," to signify that as it finds men in a dead condition, so it carries with it a resurrection-power.
shall live--in the sense of [Joh 5:24].
30-32. of mine own self do nothing--that is, apart from the Father, or in any interest than My own. (See on [Joh 5:19]).
as I hear--that is, "My judgments are all anticipated in the bosom of My Father, to which I have immediate access, and by Me only responded to and reflected. They cannot therefore err, as I live for one end only, to carry into effect the will of Him that sent Me."
33-35. Ye sent unto John--(See [Joh 1:19], &c.).
receive not testimony ... from man--that is, depend not on human testimony.
but ... that ye might be saved--"I refer to him merely to aid your salvation."
36-38. I have greater witness--rather, "The witness which I have is greater."
the works ... bear witness of me--not simply as miracles nor even as a miracle of mercy, but these miracles, as He did them, with a will and a power, a majesty and a grace manifestly His own.
39-42. Search the scriptures, &c.--"In the Scriptures ye find your charter of eternal life; go search them then, and you will find that I am the Great Burden of their testimony; yet ye will not come to Me for that life eternal which you profess to find there, and of which they tell you I am the appointed Dispenser." (Compare [Ac 17:11], ). How touching and gracious are these last words! Observe here (1) The honor which Christ gives to the Scriptures, as a record which all have a right and are bound to search--the reverse of which the Church of Rome teaches; (2) The opposite extreme is, resting in the mere Book without the living Christ, to direct the soul to whom is its main use and chiefest glory.
43-47. if another shall come, &c.--How strikingly has this been verified in the history of the Jews! "From the time of the true Christ to our time, sixty-four false Christs have been reckoned by whom they have been deceived" [Bengel].
Chapter 6
Joh 6:1-13. Five Thousand Miraculously Fed
(See on [Mr 6:31-44]).
3. a mountain--somewhere in that hilly range which skirts the east side of the lake.
4. passover ... was nigh--but for the reason mentioned ([Joh 7:1]), Jesus kept away from it, remaining in Galilee.
Joh 6:14-21. Jesus Walks on the Sea
(Also see on [Mr 6:45-56]).
14-15. that prophet--(See on [Joh 1:21]).
16-17. when even was come--(See on [Mr 6:35]).
entered into a ship--"constrained" to do so by their Master ([Mt 14:22]; [Mr 6:45]), in order to put an end to the misdirected excitement in His favor ([Joh 6:15]), into which the disciples themselves may have been somewhat drawn. The word "constrained" implies reluctance on their part, perhaps from unwillingness to part with their Master and embark at night, leaving Him alone on the mountain.
went--rather, "were proceeding."
toward Capernaum--Mark says ([Mr 6:45]), "unto Bethsaida," meaning "Bethsaida of Galilee" ([Joh 12:21]), on the west side of the lake. The place they left was of the same name (see on [Mr 6:32]).
Jesus was not come to them--They probably lingered in hopes of His still joining them, and so let the darkness come on.
18-19. sea arose, &c.--and they were "now in the midst of it" ([Mt 14:24]). Mark adds the graphic and touching particular, "He saw them toiling in rowing" ([Mr 6:48]), putting forth all their strength to buffet the waves and bear on against a head wind, but to little effect. He saw this from His mountain-top, and through the darkness of the night, for His heart was all with them; yet would He not go to their relief till His own time came.
20. It is I; be not afraid--Matthew ([Mt 14:27]) and Mark ([Mr 6:50]) give before these exhilarating words, that to them well-known one, "Be of good cheer!"
21. willingly received him into the ship--their first fears being now converted into wonder and delight.
and immediately the ship was at the land--This additional miracle, for as such it is manifestly related, is recorded here alone. Yet all that is meant seems to be that as the storm was suddenly calmed, so the little bark--propelled by the secret power of the Lord of Nature now sailing in it--glided through the now unruffled waters, and while they were wrapt in wonder at what had happened, not heeding their rapid motion, was found at port, to their still further surprise.