John Calvin Commentary John 6:10

"Jesus said, Make the people sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand." — John 6:10 (ASV)

Make the men sit down. That the disciples were not sooner prepared to cherish the hope which their Master held out, and did not remember to ascribe to his power all that was proper, was a degree of stupidity worthy of blame; but no small praise is due to their cheerful obedience in now complying with his command, though they did not know what his intention was, or what advantage they would derive from what they were doing.

The same readiness to obey was manifested by the people; for, while they were uncertain about the result, they all sat down as soon as a single word of command had been pronounced.

And this is the trial of true faith, when God commands people to walk, as it were, in darkness.

For this purpose, let us learn not to be wise in ourselves but, amid great confusion, still to hope for a prosperous outcome when we follow the guidance of God, who never disappoints his own people.