The Cause of Unbelief

He says this, reproving the minds and stating the cause of unbelief: for the rulers pursue the approval from the people, but the people love the honor from the rulers, and so you stand away from the faith toward me; the rulers do this so that the glory in you might not be diminished, and you do this so that you might not lose the honor from them.

At the same time, desiring to lead the benefit toward more, he did not remain settled in one place. To the disciples, the sign that has happened he does not promise by word, but by deed he demonstrates (John 6:10-11); for this was fitting for the economy, not as it was said then to Moses, 'Will not the hand of the Lord suffice? You shall already see if my word descends upon you,' but here he commands only that the people rise up quickly and quietly, and having taken the loaves and the fishes, he gives thanks as if they were food lying before him, and as if feeding with these and giving with these, yet in this he was producing those which were not.

He changes the focus not to fly toward food that is perishing, but toward that which remains for the age, which feeds the soul (John 6:27). This was the life-giving faith, through which one is made like to the flesh of the Lord, which has been sealed by divine power by the Father.

Here, the work of God is called that which is suitable to God. And he says that for the Lord to be the faith toward him is to declare faith as a work, making it both priestly and perfect.

Therefore, even without human works, it appropriately justifies and sanctifies, since it possesses the most excellent activity of the soul, not some idleness or inaction. John 6:54 There is no partaking of the word of God unto eternal life, except through his flesh; for previously it was not mixed with flesh, as all flesh was held by death. But now life-giving flesh is given, nourishing all the only-begotten into life through the strength being reinforced in it, and by remaining sharing in the flesh, it makes them shine through likeness.

True is the food which is not an attacker of the temporary and perishing life, but a preparer of the eternal. John 6:55 This also is a true drink, which if not sufficient for a little time to the thirst, but providing always the one who has filled it and making it unrequited, just as the Lord was saying to the Samaritan woman.

He who blesses those who mourn over the present age also speaks now, something common also passing through all the saints, saying to himself that there is no time of feast for us in the midst of the present tribulations, in as much as malice is being mustered and truth is being set aside by the majority and the will of God is not prevailing on earth. John 7:6-8 Because of these things the Lord was saying that his own time is not here; for it was not possible to feast together with the evil, nor with those who hate the one who remains hating.

You, he says, ascend having feasted together, you who neither hate nor are hated by them. John 7:8 But I do not ascend; for the time of my feast is different, when clearly the good will prevail, the hand being cast down, and the evil will be seen nowhere. John 7:21 He refers to the five loaves, saying, or to the...