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Study No.27 : Feeding the Crowd: John 6:1-15

A. Find Out:    

         

1. Why did Jesus question Philip? v.5,6

2. What did Philip indicate? v.7

3. What apparently "useless" bit of information did Andrew come up with? v.8,9

4. What was the extent of Jesus' provision? v.11

5. How plentiful was his provision obviously? v.13

6. What was the effect of this miracle? v.14,15

   

B. Think :

 

1. How did Philip focus on the size of the problem?

2. How did Andrew focus on the smallness of the resources?

3. How did Jesus show he is able to provide?

   

C. Comment :

 

      This is not merely a wonderful miracle, it is a sign which teaches us many things.

      First let's observe the risk Jesus was taking performing this sign. Already the crowds were with him because he had provided healing and after it they are even more strongly with him because they see that he can provide food as well. There is every likelihood that Jesus will have a revolution on his hands, and that is something he doesn't want, yet he still does it because of his care for people and, it is an opportunity to teach his disciples.

      Second, let's note the different approaches to the problem. Philip focuses on the magnitude of the need and Andrew focuses in the smallness of the resources. Jesus on the other hand is quite clear about what he wants to do. He knows his capabilities while he is working in his Father's purposes.

      Finally let's note the extent of Jesus' provision. First it was as much as any of them wanted, and second there was plenty left over. There is no question of a limited provision. Here we have the Son of God who can provide all we ever need and much more as well!

 

D. Application?

1. When we face an "impossible" situation do we let the magnitude of the

     problem or the smallness of the resources squash any faith in us?

2. Faith says, "Jesus CAN provide!"

Study No.28 : Walking on Water : John 6:16-21

A. Find Out:

        

1. Who went with the disciples in the boat? v.17

2. What were the conditions on the lake? v.18

3. How far were they when Jesus came? v.19a

4. What was their response when they saw him? v.19b

5. How were their fears allayed? v.20

6. What happened when he got in? v.21

 

B. Think :

1. Why do you think Jesus sent the disciples (Matthew 14:22) ahead

     without him?

2. What must the disciples have thought when they first saw Jesus? (see

     Matthew 14:26)

3. What was it that put them at rest?

 

C. Comment :

 

      When you think about it, this is a strange incident. Why did Jesus do it? Why did John include it? Let's try looking at it the way John tells it, not including any of the extra facts that the other Gospel writers have included. What is John telling us?

     He pictures the disciples without Jesus. The environment is hostile and difficult. They are working hard at mastering it and are not doing very well. Suddenly Jesus appears in the same environment and he is in total control of it. Indeed as soon as he steps right into their situation (the boat) the trial comes to an end (they are at shore).

      Coming immediately after the feeding of the five thousand it is as if John is saying to us again and again, this Jesus is never out of his depth in the circumstances of the world. Whatever crisis occurs, Jesus is master of it. Jesus made this world (John 1:3) and he is totally at home in it and can cope with whatever comes up! In this passage therefore, we have Jesus very quietly (?!!) communicating these things to his disciples. When they think about it, they will come to see that this is the Lord of the earth.

   

D. Application?

  

1. Whatever the circumstances, Jesus is complete control and is never out

     of his depth.

2. With Jesus in control we may rest in his love and be secure in Him.

Study No.29 : The Best Food : John 6:22-29

A. Find Out:

         

1. What did the crowd do? v.22-25

2. Why, did Jesus say, they were looking for him? v.26

3. What did he say they should work for? v.27a

4. What 2 things does he say about himself? v.27b

5. What was their response to this? v.28

6. What was Jesus' reply? v.29

   

B. Think :

1. How would you summarise what was taking place in verses 22-25?

2. What fault is Jesus finding with the crowd?

3. How can that same fault be very prevalent today in western societies?

    

C. Comment :

 

      The day after the miraculous feeding of the five thousand the crowd wake up to the fact that Jesus is no longer there. The impression is given of confusion. When Jesus was there, there was disciplined order, and now he is gone they mill around aware they want something but not knowing where to find him.

  

     When they do eventually find Jesus he ignores their question because it is pointless. We often ask questions that can bear no fruit. Instead Jesus immediately challenges the very reason for them being there. They were not there to satisfy spiritual hunger but to satisfy physical cravings.

     Look, says Jesus, there is a food that is more satisfying than physical food, work for that. With that, they pick up on the word work and ask what work they should therefore be doing to obtain this sort of food. That's easy, says Jesus, just believe in the one who has come from God and was sent from God. Work implies activity and Jesus says work equals believing.

     

    To believe means we have to be active is putting away things that cause unbelief and fill our hearts and minds with the truth, that helps believing.

    

D. Application?

 

1. Have we got our priorities sorted out? Do we put most effort into

    ensuring we receive the food that produces eternal life?

2. Seek Jesus for eternal food.

Study No.30 : The True Bread : John 6:30-40

A. Find Out:

          

1. What did the Jews ask for & what example from the past did they give? v.30,31

2. How did Jesus correct them? v.32

3. Who is the true bread? v.33,35

4. What effect does he have? v.35

5. Why has he come? v.38

6. How is that done? v.39,40

    

B. Think :

 

1. How did the Jews show that they felt the miracle insufficient?

2. What does bread do?

3. How does Jesus describe his own purpose in coming?

    

C. Comment :

 

      The Jews reasoning is basically this: you want us to believe you? Well you have got to be better than Moses then. Yes, you took bread and spread it around but Moses got bread directly from heaven. Jesus' reply to this is to remind them that it was God who had actually provided the manna, and in the same way the bread they wanted had to come directly from God - as it was NOW being provided.

     Jesus now, perhaps more clearly than at any time before proclaims himself. He is the bread of life and any one who believes him will be completely and utterly satisfied, in every way. What a tremendous claim!

      He then declared he is there to do His Father's will, which very clearly is for him to be the basis for belief of many people who will come to God. Twice Jesus says here that this is only the beginning, for such people who come to God through him will receive eternal life and will be raised from the dead.

      In these verses, therefore, comes tremendous comfort: Jesus promises that he will not loose any who come to him. Here is assurance for the believer, that once they come to Jesus, there they will remain!

   

D. Application?

 

1. Jesus is the source of very life itself. He, and he alone, can satisfy.

2. Coming to Jesus means receiving eternal life and the security that goes

    with it. Thank Him.

Study No.31 : The Path for Salvation : John 6:41-47

A. Find Out:

        

1. What did the Jews begin to do? v.41

2. Why? v.42

3. What was the key to them coming to Jesus? v.44

4. How did the prophet Isaiah confirm this? v.45a

5. So how does it work in practise? v.45b

6. Who HAS seen God? v.46

    

B. Think :

 

1. Why was Jesus apparently not bothered by the Jews' difficulties in

     believing?

2. What activity of God and of men is shown to be necessary here?

3. What does this all show about salvation then?

    

C. Comment :

 

      In these few verses a clear and very important spiritual truth is revealed. It comes because Jesus has said something that was not easy to understand with the natural mind. He had said he came from heaven but the Jews knew he came from two human parents, and so they found these two things difficult to reconcile. Their attitude is seen to be hostile and negative and so Jesus simply says, don't bother to get upset if you don't understand, it is only those who seek God and listen to God who will understand what I say and will come to me, so if you want to understand, seek God first.

     The principle that Jesus reveals is that it is God Himself who draws people, and He does it by speaking to those with open hearts. When people turn to Christ it is because they have heard God speaking to them and, with their hearts being open to Him, they respond to the good news about Jesus and receive and accept Jesus as their Saviour and their Lord. Christians are therefore, first and foremost, people who have heard God, sought God, heard God some more and responded to Him. Jesus is the focus of their faith, but the Father is the speaker to their hearts.

    

D. Application?

  

1. People whose hearts are open, seek and listen, find and respond.

2. Will we seek and listen that much more?

  

Study No.32 : Bread of Life : John 6:48-59

A. Find Out:

        

1. What does Jesus declare himself to be? v.48

2. What happened to those who ate manna? v.49

3. What is the difference with this bread? 50,51

4. What was this bread? v.51c

5. What was the Jews' objection? v.52

6. What did Jesus insist? v.53

    

B. Think :

 

1. Why do we make bread?

2. Why did God the Father make this "bread"

3. What do you thinking "eating and drinking Jesus means?

  

C. Comment :

 

      In considering these matters we need first to remember that Jesus is speaking, at this point, to a group of grumbling, unbelieving Jews. He has said already "I am the bread of life" (v.35) and they have NOT responded, "Yes! Give us more of yourself!". The one who had met Jesus and found his heart knit to Jesus would have responded like that, but these Jews did not. Second note, we find Jesus NOT explaining what he meant. Again and again Jesus only gave explanations for those who sought him out, who were seeking honestly after God. Those who were just grumblers he left to wonder.

       Next, we need to consider just what he did mean. He compares himself with that other divinely supernatural provision of God from the past, the manna. Manna didn't keep people alive for ever, it just kept them from day to day. Jesus says he himself gives people life without end. How do we receive that? By taking Jesus into the very innermost part of our life. Reference to blood ought to have reminded the Jews that blood referred to life (see Leviticus 17:11) so Jesus was saying you must accept my death and crucifixion and my very life into your lives. Only then will you live.

 

D. Application?

  

1. Have we said, "Lord I receive your death and resurrection, your very

    life into my very innermost being"?

2. Jesus alone is the source of life

RECAP No.5  "The Bread of Life"  John 6

SUMMARY :  

      

In these last 6 studies we have seen:

- Jesus miraculously feeding the crowd of 5,000

- the people wanting to make Jesus king

- Jesus coming to his disciples on the lake

- Jesus teaching:

- that real food is to do God's will

- that He is the bread of life

- that we need to take Him into our lives

- many of his disciples leaving him

- Peter declaring Jesus only has eternal life.

 

  

COMMENT :

  

      Chapter six reveals Jesus fully as the miraculous Son of God, who is unlike any other who has walked the earth.

      First it shows Him as the one who has power over the natural world to change and use it as He wills.

      Second it shows Him as the one who claims to be the very source of daily life, without whom death must come.

     Yes, this chapter does not allow us to sit on the fence about Jesus, it portrays Him clearly as the one who we must follow or die!

   

 

LESSONS :

  

1. In the face of impossible circumstances Jesus can provide all we need

2. In the face of impossible circumstances Jesus is in complete control

3. Life requires more than physical food for survival, it requires the very presence of

     the Son of God

4. It is people whose hearts seek after God find the life that He alone can bring

   

PRAY :

 

1. Affirm again today that you will trust Jesus for provision and security in

     the face of whatever circumstances may bring.

2. Receive afresh today the life that is the very presence of the Son of God

     by His Spirit within you and thank Him for it.

SUMMARY

SUMMARY :  

 

In these first 6 chapters of John's Gospel we have seen Jesus:

 

a) Declared:

- by the writer John as the Word of God

- by John the Baptist as the Lamb of God

- by the earliest disciples as the Messiah (Christ)

- by Nicodemus as a teacher

- by the people as the coming prophet

- by believers as the Saviour of the world

- by Jesus himself as the Christ and Bread of Life

b) Performing Miracles:

- turning water into wine

- healing the official's son

- healing the sick man by the pool

- feeding the five thousand

- walking on water

c) Teaching about:

- his origins in heaven

- his relationship with his father in heaven

- his coming death and resurrection

- his right to judge

- his ability to bring life and resurrection

- the need to be born again

- the need to believe in him

- the need to really take him into your life.

d) Dealing with People:

- his earliest followers who he already knows

- his mother who tries to provoke him into action

- Jewish stall holders who provoke him to anger

- Nicodemus who appears obtuse

- a Samaritan woman who talks and understands

- a royal official who finds it hard to believe

- a helpless invalid who receives Jesus' compassion

- the Jewish crowd who are enthusiastic

- the disciples who are fearful

- the disciples who are loyal

CONCLUSIONS

      

     As we come to the end of these studies about Jesus in these first six chapters of John's Gospel, we should perhaps note the following:

 

 

1. The Revelation of Jesus

      John more than any other Gospel writer reveals Jesus as the glorious Son of God. Yes, the others show miracles and teaching but in this Gospel John highlights specific miracles that Jesus did as "signs" of who he was.

  

      If our hearts are open as we skim back over these chapters then worship must be our response, to this One who is God in the flesh. John's clear aim is that we, who are readers of his Gospel, will all end up believers in Jesus, and this is not to be an academic believing but a heart commitment with worship.

    

 

2. The Reactions of People to Jesus

 

       First there were the simple seekers who came looking and to whom Jesus then showed more of himself.

  

      Then there were the really religious who found Jesus a problem because he clashed with their preconceived human ideas.

  

     Then there were the thoughtless throngs, the crowds who just got carried along by what they saw with what they could get out of it uppermost in their minds.

  

     No doubt there are other groups here, but these three will suffice to challenge us. Are we thoughtless and self-centred, are we religiously ritualistic or are we those who are conscious of their own failings and weakness and who know they need a Saviour, Jesus?

 

3. Our Final Response to Jesus

 

      The danger of daily Bible Readings is that we loose sight of the overall picture as we gaze at small glimpses. Scan over these six chapters in your Bible again and grasp something of the wonder of the record before you. No where else in all history is there anything like you have been reading.

        Be amazed by it, be stirred by it, worship, and read again, and worship. If it hasn't touched you in this way, please pray again and read it again. This book of John is one of the most amazing pieces of literature that has ever been written. If we are not touched by it, it says more about us than about it. May that not be so!