Jesus' Sovereign Power (John 6:1-21)

Lesson: 8

Passage: John 6:1-21

Attribute: Provider

Doctrine: Sovereign

Big Idea: Jesus’ Sovereign Power

Aim: Jesus Sovereign power can be trusted bringing rest.

I. Introduction

II. Sovereign Provision 6:1-15

In the 1st 15 verses we are going to see now the 4th of 7 signs recorded in the book of John.…which remember, are all meant to point people to Himself..

Now, this is the only sign, or miracle, recored in all 4 gospels. Now- it can be tempting and even beneficial at times to jump to read all other accounts of this miracle, however, John was incredibly intentional about every detail he chooses to include and he actually includes details NOT found in the other gospels, so for today we are going to focus ONLY on what we see in John here.

As we open up our scripture this week, we will see Jesus’ sovereign provision by first looking at the problem and then seeing his provision.

So first the problem.....then the provision...

a. The Problem 6:1-9

let’s start in vs. 1: Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near.

So…this is our setting…Jesus is on a boat- scholars believe He is going from North towards the Jordan River where it empties into the sea of Galilee. .

So he is on the boat and the crowd goes by foot to where he is going- this isn’t a little crowd…it’s a great crowd…which later we find out has about 5,000 men- NOT including women and children. And, it also means that they had walked potentially up to 10 miles to follow Jesus

Why? because they saw this signs and wanted to see more…just like in Chp. 2 when Jesus cleared the temple courts- people were more interested in WHAT he was going to do then in finding life and relationship IN and THROUGH Him.

So Jesus gets to his location and goes up and sits on a Mountainside with his disciples.

Now- the detail of a mountainside is interesting. Often in scripture, when divine revelation was about to happen- a mountain was involved.

For example..in Genesis chp. 22 Isaac was at mount Moriah, Moses was on Mount Siniah in Exodus 19…and Elijah was on Mount Carmel in 1 Kings

John then tells us…and he is the only gospel writer to do so.... in vs 4 that the Jewish Passover was near...

If you feel like passover keeps coming up in the book of John, well, you are right. This is INTENTIONAL…because Passover was so important to the Jewish people. Now- I want you to hold onto this detail of Passover because it is going to be really important as we move into next weeks scripture..

So, moving on....with Passover on their minds,

in vs. 5 Jesus sees the crowd coming so he looks at his disciple Philip and says: “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

Now…Philip seems like the logical person to ask here, I mean, he was from Bethsaida which was just down the way.

7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”…some translations say 200 denarii....

So…Jesus knew what he was going to do..but he also knew his disciples- who btw had SEEN all the signs and wonders 1st hand--->

but Jesus knew they STILL needed some help believing in his Sovereign Power to provide in EVERY situation.

So, Philip…starts doing the math!

Jesus says..Hey- how are we gonna feed 10,000 people???

Philip is like…ok…so a if a days wage is 1 denarious…

and there are 365 days, minus the Sabbaths of course cuz..you absolutely do not work on Shabot…then a loaf of a bread costs…soooo

and then..he does what I do…gives up and estimates...

well..MORE THAN 1/2 a years wages at least...

Philip here does the math…and then basically says…this is impossible.

Now- think about who he is saying that to.

So far, Jesus has turned water into wine.

Healed a boy who was about to die.

and Healed a paralyzed man.

and yet…when Jesus asks him how they are going to feed the people..instead of looking up…to Jesus for the provision…he looks to himself, to try to solve the impossible.

Jesus knew it was impossible..that was the whole point.

He wants Philip and all the disciples to stop looking to themselves and to look to Him..

But..Philip was apparently not the only one trying to come up with a solution to the problem Jesus proposed...

So, while Philip was doing the math...Andrew was off looking for a more hands on solution...

vs. 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

So…Andrew’s solution to the problem was to go gather food for the crows and then I guess hope there was enough to share...

but all he comes back with is 5 SMALL loaves of bread and 2 small fish..

Andrew’s like..whelp…I thought the crowd might have food..and they don’t…now what??

So when it comes to finding solutions to problems…are you more of a Philip or an Andrew?

Do you quickly jump to analyze the size of the problem and then when you determine it’s too big, you just throw your hands up at the impossibility?

or...

Do you go looking for solutions…only giving up after you have attempted to try whatever you could do solve it?

b. The Provision 6:10-15

So…the problem has been identified..and now we are going to see in vs’s 10-15, Jesus’ Sovereign Power as he once again, just like the wedding at Cana, PROVIDES ABUNDANTLY for the crowd.

vs. 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

Principle: Jesus’ sovereign power ensures His sufficient provisions.

Application:

What problem are you facing right now that seems impossible?

III. Sovereign Presence 6:16-21

a. The Problem 6:16-19

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles,[b] they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened.

The Presence 6:20-21

20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

b

Principle: Jesus’ sovereign power ensures His sustaining presence.

Application:

IV. Conclusion 2 minutes

Total: 30 minutes