John 6:14

The conclusion drawn from the miracle by those who had witnessed it, was that this was “the beginning of that reign of earthly abundance, which the prophets were thought to have foretold”. See Lightfoot, Hor. Heb., 552. This at once found expression in the words οὗτός ἐστιν … κόσμον. “This is indeed,” or “of a truth,” as if the subject had been previously debated by them, or as if some had told them He was “the prophet who should come into the world,” ὁ ἐρχόμενος, used of the Messiah by the Baptist (Matthew 11:3) without further specification; but John adds his favourite expression εἰς τὸν κόσμον. That the people meant the Messiah (cf. Deuteronomy 18:14-19) is shown by the action they were prepared to take.