Two Signs

Intro:

AG:

TS: It is possible that some time has passed between ch 5 and 6. If the feast of ch 5 was the Feast of Tabernacles, then 6 months passed. If Passover it has been a year.

Jesus’ ministry had grown and His fame had spread.

Ch 6 is similar to ch 6

Both occur around a feast

Both involve miracles

Both end in a discussion of Jesus’ deity (John’s main point!)

Both end in a rejection of Jesus

ch 5 was in the south

Ch 6 takes place in the northern part of Israel

Both miracles in ch 6 demonstrate Jesus’ power over natural laws

RS:

First miracle (6:1–15)

Jesus feeds the 5,000.

Feeding the 5000 The feeding of the 5,000 intends to reveal Jesus as the Bread of Life as John 6:26–65 show in extenso; the feeding of the 4,000 does not go beyond showing the care of Jesus for our bodily needs.

Richard C. H. Lenski

1. Events preceding this miracle (6:1–9)

a. The place (6:1–4):

John 6:1–4 NKJV

After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased. And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.

It occurs on the banks of the Galilean Sea.

The crowd gathered due to the “His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.”

They wanted healing

They wanted to see healing

Nothing wrong with desiring a miracle, but if we are only following Christ for the next big sensation, that is wrong.

They were a crowd, not disciples.

b. The problem (6:5–6):

John 6:5–6 NKJV

Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.

Jesus asks his disciples how they propose to feed the multitudes that surround him.

Jesus saw the crowd who admittedly had come for a show, but had compassion upon them.

c. The pessimism (6:7–9)

John 6:7–9 NKJV

Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.” One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”

(1) As demonstrated by Philip (6:7):

He says it would take a small fortune to feed them.

1 denarius was a days wage: 200 would be about 8 months of labor.

Philip raised the financial problem

We don’t have the resources

We can’t afford it

(2) As demonstrated by Andrew (6:8–9):

He brings a boy with five barley loaves and two fish but doesn’t believe that’s enough for the crowd.

He focused on human effort

1 meal among 5,000 men plus their family.

The total could very well have been near 20,000 if women and children were included in the count

2. Events during this miracle (6:10–13)

John 6:10–13 NKJV

Then 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. And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.

a. The scarcity of food (6:10):

Jesus takes the only available food—five barley loaves and two fish—gives thanks, and orders its distribution.

Thus begins the miracle.

The food kept multiplying!

Science says that this is impossible

Matter can rearrange (the literal atoms) but you can’t make new ones materialize

They are 100% correct..... if all you see is with the eyes of flesh

BUT GOD isn’t limited!

He made the universe from nothing! Ex nihilo

Hebrews 11:3 NKJV

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Making food was a walk in the park!

b. The surplus of food (6:11–13):

After all have eaten their fill, there are twelve baskets of leftover food!

3. Events following this miracle (6:14–15)

John 6:14–15 NKJV

Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

a. The determination of the people (6:14):

Concluding that he is the Messiah, they plan to crown him as their king!

They believed in Him due to healing and food

They wanted a Messiah who met all physical needs

They didn’t even consider their greatest needs which were spiritual

They were ready to make Him King in a purely political sense.

Many today want a “christ” who grants their every wish and makes no demands of them.

That is why they pick and choose which verses they want to follow!

b. The departure of the Savior (6:15):

He quickly withdraws from them into the hills.

It wasn’t yet His time and this was not the path God had ordained for Him.

Second miracle (6:16–24)

Jesus walks on water.

1. The stormy sea (6:16–18):

John 6:16–18 NKJV

Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing.

The disciples’ boat is threatened by a sudden squall.

The sea was known for sudden storms

sitting 700 feet below sea level, Cool air from the northern mountains and southeastern tablelands rush down to the lake and displaces the warm moist air. This is a perfect set up for severe storms and violent waves

2. The sovereign Savior (6:19–21):

John 6:19–21 NKJV

So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

Will it float

Dave Letterman segment where he plays the game, “Will it Float”

The gist is that he takes common items and they guess whether or not it would float. Then, they throw it in a pool.

Things like a bag of ice, a George Foreman Grill, a fire extinguisher, etc.

Pres. George W. Bush 1 out of 1 100 %

David Letterman 124 / 195 63.6 %

Paul Shaffer 111 / 191 58.1 %

Late Show Audience 1 / 2 50 %

When I taught physics, I did my own version but made the students predict based on measured science.

See, floating is essential about density. If it is more dense than water, it will sink, otherwise, it floats.

The shape can create buoyancy and make something float that wouldn’t otherwise (like a battle ship: Metal sinks, the shape creates lift)

Humans will most definitely sink if we try to walk on water.

A twofold miracle now occurs.

a. He walks on the water (6:19–20).

Jesus alters either the water, or his own density to allow walking!

They fear: Mark 6:49

Mark 6:49 NKJV

And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out;

Matthew 14:28–33 NKJV

And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

Jesus extends this miracle to Peter!!!

When He gets in the boat 2 things happened:

The wind ceased

2. He brings the boat to land immediately (6:21).

Now He “transports” the boat through space in an instant!

Surely He is GOD!

His disciples worshipped Him as such in Matthew 14: 33

Matthew 14:33 NKJV

Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

3. The seeking sinners (6:22–24):

John 6:22–24 NKJV

On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone— however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks— when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

A large crowd assembles to meet him.

Those who had been fed and healed looked for Him and other people heard rumor of Him and came out to see Him.

This sets up His great “bread of Life discourse which we will examine next week Lord willing.

Conclusion:

H. L. Willmington, The Outline Bible (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1999), Jn 6.