John 6:30

“They said therefore unto him, etc.] Seeing he proposed believing in him as the grand work of God to be done, and what is most acceptable in his sight: what sign showest thou then, that we may see and believe thee? The people of the Jews were always requiring signs and wonders, and when they had one and another shown them, they still sought for more, and were never satisfied; (see <401239>Matthew 12:39 16:1). These men had lately seen various signs and miracles of Christ, as healing the sick, and feeding live thousand of them, and more, with five loaves, and two fishes; and though, for the time present, these had some influence upon them, and they were ready to believe he was that prophet;…”

“What sign showest thou, &c.--But how could they ask "a sign," when many of them scarce a day before had witnessed such a "sign" as had never till then been vouchsafed to men; when after witnessing it, they could hardly be restrained from making Him a king; when they followed Him from the one side of the lake to the other; and when, in the opening words of this very discourse, He had chided them for seeking Him, "not because they saw the signs," but for the loaves? The truth seems to be that they were confounded by the novel claims which our Lord had just advanced. In proposing to make Him a king, it was for far other purposes than dispensing to the world the bread of an everlasting life; and…”

“What sign showest thou? - On the word sign, compare the notes at Isaiah 7:14. What miracle dost thou work to prove that thou art the Messiah? They had just seen the miracle of the loaves in the desert, which was sufficient to show that he was the Messiah, and it would seem from the preceding narrative that those who crossed the lake to see him supposed that he was the Christ. It seems wonderful that they should so soon ask for further evidence that he was sent from God; but it is not improbable that this question was put by other Jews, rulers of the synagogue, who happened to be present, and who had not witnessed his miracles. Those men were continually asking for signs and proofs that he…”

“What sign dost thou? - Amazing, after what they had just seen! John 6:31”

“6:30 The crowd demanded a miraculous sign to demonstrate Jesus’ status as Messiah. Jews believed that when the Messiah appeared, he would duplicate the great miracle of Moses. Manna would once again fall, and everyone would consider it a second exodus.”

“What: Joh 2:18, Joh 4:8; Exo 4:8; Kg1 13:3, Kg1 13:5; Isa 7:11-14; Mat 12:38, Mat 12:39, Mat 16:1-4; Mar 8:11; Luk 11:29, Luk 11:30; Act 4:30; Co1 1:22; Heb 2:4 see: Joh 6:36, Joh 10:38, Joh 12:37, Joh 20:25-29; Isa 5:19; Mar 15:32 John 6:31”