John 6:24

Joh_6:24-25

When the people saw that Jesus was not there … they took Shipping, and came to Capurnaum

Abuse of the miracle of the loaves and fishes

I.

A COMMENDABLE PURSUIT (Joh_6:24).

1. Where they sought Him. At Capernaum. Probably His abode. He has His house on earth still, and should be sought in His own ordinances.

2. How they sought Him. They lost no time and spared no trouble.

3. Why they sought Him.

(1) Not because they were anxious for instruction.

(2) Nor because, conscious of their spiritual necessities, they longed for the bread of life.

II. A REPREHENSIBLE MOTIVE (Joh_6:25-26). Not that self.regard is always improper, but here it was unjustifiable. Three things are shown here.

1. Our Lords knowledge.

2. His faithfulness.

3. His requirement: sincerity of purpose.

III. AN IMPORTANT EXHORTATION.

1. What it forbids.

2. What it enjoins. These words contain

(1) A striking contrast.

(2) An encouraging assurance.

(3) A decisive pledge. (Miracles of the Lord Jesus.)

Seeking for Jesus

I. THE CHARACTER OF THE STATE DESCRIBED.

1. It has a large amount of hopefulness in it.

(1) Indifference is gone.

(2) Some kind of faith is implied.

(3) The face is turned in the right direction.

2. There is much that is doubtful, The seeker disobeys the great command of the gospel, which is to believe, for Christ is not far from any one of us.

II. THE PERPLEXITIES OF THIS STATE. First seekers are very often perplexed.

1. As the result of their ignorance of the way of salvation, which is to take God at His word, and to believe that Jesus is what He is--the Atonement for sin.

2. To increase their perplexity, they are often distracted with fear. Persons in a panic act generally in the worst manner for their own safety. So the sinner, conscious of guilt and Gods anger, scarce knows where to flee.

3. The mind is usually harassed with a thousand questions--about doctrine, about Satans suggestions.

4. It is also much grieved to find that it cannot even now cease from sin, as though this could be before pardon.

III. THE DANGERS OF THIS STATE.

1. Present peace and comfort is lost.

2. There is the peril of despair.

3. Seeking may die out in indifference.

4. Something short of Christ may be taken up.

IV. DIRECTIONS FOR SEEKERS.

1. Give attention to the object of faith. Christ as presented in the gospel.

2. Clear away everything that would hinder your believing.

(1) Cherished sin.

(2) Evil company.

3. Remember that, till you have believed, your danger is of the most imminent kind. (C. H. Spurgeon.)

Seeking for Jesus

Hear, dear friend, your true position. It is the case of a soldier on the battlefield, wounded, bleeding, life oozing away from him. He is perishing; but he is sufficiently sensible to know it and to call for help. The surgeon is on the field within hearing; the sufferer pleads for relief with many cries and entreaties. So far well; but I pray you remember that crying and weeping will not of them- selves heal the sick man; the surgeon must actually come and bind up his wounds. So remember that your prayers and seekings of themselves cannot save you. Jesus must come to you, and it is madness for you to refuse Him by your unbelief. (C. H.Spurgeon.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

6:24 The crowd sailed north to Capernaum to search for Jesus because he had made Capernaum his home in Galilee (Mark 2:1).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Joh 6:24. Αὐτοί, themselves) In antithesis to Jesus, whose route the people observed directly; that of the disciples indirectly.[125]—πλοῖα, ships) These same just before the apostle termed, πλοιάρια, small vessels [boats, Joh 6:23]. Both appellations are true.—Καπερναούμ, Capernaum) Joh 6:17 [whither the disciples had sailed].

[125] i.e. Their immediate object of search was Jesus.—E. and T.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Verse 24. They also took shipping] That is, as many of them as could get accommodated with boats took them and thus got to Capernaum; but many others doubtless went thither on foot, as it is not at all likely that five or six thousand persons could get boats enow to carry them.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(24) When the people.—Better, the multitude, as before. It is not necessary to suppose that the whole 5,000 crossed over. The crowd came probably in part from the eastern side, and many would continue their journey to Jerusalem (comp. Joh_6:2). If indeed we press the words of Joh_6:22, “the multitude which (still) stood on the other side of the sea,” they would include the remnant only.

Therefore saw.—Resuming Joh_6:22. The sentence is long and involved, and this has been, as we may expect, followed by some variations in the text. “Saw,” in Joh_6:22, should be interpreted of the previous evening, and the same word here of the day of their own embarking. They knew there was only one boat, and that the disciples had gone away in it, but Jesus had not. They expected therefore to find Him among themselves, but did not. Meanwhile, other boats had come across from Tiberias. From these they may have learnt that He was not there.

They also took shipping.—Better, they themselves entered into the boats.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

24. they also took shipping] More literally, they themselves entered into the boats, i.e. the boats that had come from Tiberias, driven in very possibly by the gale which had delayed the Apostles: ‘also’ is not genuine. Of course there is no reason to suppose that all who had been miraculously fed crossed over; but a sufficient number of them to be called a ‘multitude.’

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And when they had found him on the other side of the sea,.... At Capernaum, and in the synagogue there; see Joh 6:59.

They said unto him, Rabbi; or "master", a name now much in use with the Jewish doctors, and by which they delighted to be called; and these men being convinced by the miracle, that Christ was that prophet that should come, honour him with this title, saying,

when camest thou hither? since he did not go with his disciples, and there was no other boat that went off the night before, but that in which they went; and they came over in the first that came out that morning, and he did not come in any of them; and therefore it was amazing to them, both when and how he came, since they could not devise how he should get there by shipping, and also how he should so soon get there on foot.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.

Ver. 24. Seeking for Jesus] But not for Jesus’ sake. See Joh 6:26.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Took shipping - Went into the boats.

Came to Capernaum - This was the ordinary place of the residence of Jesus, and they therefore expected to find him there.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

24. The people—Not the whole five thousand, but a section of them who still stood on the other side of the sea. (Joh_6:22.) These were mostly of Capernaum, probably, and its near towns, as appears by Joh_6:42. This section was doubtless a small one. The great body either returned to their homes, or continued on their way to the Passover, or prosecuted their preparations for the journey.

Seeking for Jesus—How happy if they were seeking for Jesus as a true Saviour!

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

"Seeking Jesus.

The Lord Jesus came to earth to seek and to save that which was lost. And again and again in the course of his ministry he was sought by those whom he was seeking. There were periods of popularity when, from various motives, the multitudes resorted to the Prophet of Nazareth. Their seeking Jesus was emblematical of the conduct becoming in all men, when Christ comes nigh to them in the messages of his Word and the ordinances of his Church.

I SEEKING JESUS IMPLIES NEEDING JESUS. Men do not seek what they do not want. The soul that is without Christ, and has a perception of its destitution and need, is urged to go in quest of him. Men may have health, luxury, wealth, learning, fame; yet if they are without him who is the Son of God, and who brings God near to man, they are strangers to the highest good which we are capable of partaking. If there be any spiritual awakening, then the actual need becomes a conscious want, and the pressure of spiritual indigence urges to undertake this spiritual quest and pilgrimage.

II SEEKING JESUS IS PROMPTED BY PRIZING JESUS. He is the Treasure hidden in the field, he is the costly Pearl; they who recognize him as such are constrained to use every endeavour to make him their own. Since to find him is to find all spiritual blessings forgiveness of sin, help for duty, fellowship with heaven, and life eternal it is natural enough that those who understand and feel this should set a high value upon Christ, and should seek him with all their heart.

III SEEKING JESUS IS CREDITING AND HONOURING JESUS. It is his wish to be sought, nay, it is his command that men should seek him. There is, therefore, no presumption in this attitude and action of the soul; it is just what the Lord himself expects and desires from us. He will neither hide himself from those who seek him, nor will he repel and dismiss them from his presence. For, in coming to him, they take him at his word, and render to him the honour which is his due.

IV SEEKING JESUS INVOLVES TRUSTING AND LOVING JESUS. They who earnestly, patiently, persistently seek the Lord, are drawn to him growingly by the bonds of a Divine attraction. The closer they keep to him, the stronger grows their faith, the warmer grows their love.

V SEEKING JESUS LEADS TO FINDING JESUS. His own word of assurance is ample warrant for this: "Seek, and ye shall find." Many good things may be sought with diligence, and by a lifelong search, and yet may be sought in vain. Of the best of all blessings this cannot be said. Every one that seeketh findeth.

APPLICATION. Here is a picture of the action which is becoming to every one to whom the gospel comes. It is not enough to admire the character of Jesus and to approve his work. Our will, our active nature, must be engaged in the effort to attain and to enjoy him. And we have this promise to cheer us: "Seek, and ye shall find. T.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

24. Came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. As they did not see the Lord longer on the eastern shore, they sought him at the place where he made his home.

B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.

General Information:

The people go to Capernaum to find Jesus. When they see him, they start asking him questions.

translationWords

Jesus

disciple

Capernaum

Rabbi

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

24. εἶδεν. A fresh seeing; not a resumption of εἰδον in Joh 6:22.

εἰς τὰ πλ. The boats from Tiberias, driven in probably by the contrary wind (Mat 14:24; Mar 6:48) which had delayed the Apostles. There is no need to suppose that all the 5000 crossed over.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

24. There is no art. before Ἰησοῦς, contrary to the general usage of Jn. (see on 1:29). But the reason is the same as at 4:1, 47, viz. that ὅτι is here recitantis. What the people actually said to each other was, “Jesus is not there, nor His disciples.”

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.