What Do You Want from Jesus?

Read

John 6:1–15 (ESV)

1 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”

15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

Opening Prayer

Setting the Stage

We are told the time was Passover.

Some people celebrated Passover in Jerusalem.

Some people celebrated Passover in their homes.

The Passover was a National Feast in which all the participants were dressed for travel, anticipating God’s deliverance.

People were heightened to the need of a Deliverer.

Jesus and the disciples have retreated to the East side, most likely the NE side of the Sea of Galilee.

Mark gives additional details of this miracle and the surrounding circumstances.

I’ll try to add them as we go.

But, first look with me in…

John 6:1–3 (ESV)

1 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples.

After this does nothing but put distance between the previous passage and this one.

It’s not to give chronological order and it is not saying this happened next.

It’s just saying that what we are about to read occured after what we just read.

Jesus was on the West side of the Sea, now they’ve traveled to the east side.

Mark tells us they were looking for some rest and a chance to eat.

v.2 tells us that Jesus was being followed by crowds of people because of the signs He was doing on the sick.

So, people were recognizing them and following them.

Even if they slipped away for a bit, they were found quickly due to the Jesus’ popularity.

And so, we notice that…

Crowds are Attracted to a Savior

Now, I’ll come back to this statement in more detail later.

Because I want to clarify what variations come with the term Savior.

But precursors to this scene in John’s gospel, include:

John the Baptist’s ministry

JB preaches about the salvation of the Lord through the Messiah, Jesus.

JB points him out to the crowds.

Jesus cleansing the Temple and claiming that He is the promised Temple of God.

Jesus has been teaching about Himself and the salvation of God.

Jesus reaps a harvest of souls in Samaria.

Jesus performs signs pointing to Him being the fulfillment of the OT.

Turning water into wine.

Healing the son of a royal official.

Healing a 38 yr paralytic.

Many more that John hasn’t recorded, that the other gospels have recorded.

So Jesus and the disciples withdrew for a little rest.

They moved to the east side of the Sea of Galilee, near Bethsaida.

But, the crowds have found Jesus.

John 6:5–6 (ESV)

5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.

Notice that Jesus posed the question, not from ignorance…

But for the testing of Philip and the disciples as a whole.

That’s important, and we’ll come back to it.

But, first, let’s look at how…

Jesus Presents the Dilemma

5 …Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?”

Mark tells us in his account that the leading up this…

The disciples had returned after being sent out two by two.

They’d been preaching the need for repentance in villages and towns.

And, they cast out demons and healed the sick because Jesus gave them the power to do so.

So, people were hearing about this and following them.

Jesus and the disciples were tired, hungry, and needed a break to eat and rest.

So, they got in the boat and went to a place they could rest.

John tells us this is the NE side of the Sea of Galilee, when he says “other side.”

—Other side was a way of saying the less Jewish side (east)—

When they landed on the other side of the Sea of Galilee they were immediately recognized…

And as word spread,

Large crowds started to form.

And, the crowds were coming out to where Jesus and the disciples had stopped to rest.

Mark tells us…

Mark 6:34 (ESV)

34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.

Notice, Mark is giving more focus on the teaching.

And, really the lack of teaching and lack of understanding that the people had…

And, Jesus’ compassion towards the people.

John is giving more focus on the lesson that Jesus is teaching the disciples.

And, the lesson that Jesus is teaching about Himself.

Different details of the same account.

All details being true.

Just not all details shared in each account.

—> Example

We’re told more about the dilemma in…

John 6:10 (ESV)

10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number.

So, Jesus sees the crowd of five thousand men, with women and children it could easily be as many as twenty thousand.

Imagine this scene.

Jesus has been teaching, and the crowds are following Him around.

The disciples are probably thinking this is wonderful.

Look at the number of potential disciples/converts.

And, then Jesus, having compassion on them because of their following Him around…

Says to the disciples, “we need to feed them.”

From Mark’s account, the disciples are like…

—> Just send them home.

—> Let them fend for themselves.

And, Philip being the local from the area is asked to test him and the disciples.

Philip, where can we buy bread to feed all of these people?

Philip responds with…

John 6:7 (ESV)

7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.”

One denarius was a days wage.

So, two hundred denarii would have been eight months wages.

And, food was most of what wages were used for then.

The crowds are so large that 2/3’s of an annual salary would not have been enough to give every person in the crowd a bite.

—> Philip is literally saying this is IMPOSSIBLE for us to do.

Andrew adds to the solution with a non-solution.

He says…

John 6:9 (ESV)

9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”

Andrew finds a boy that has a small amount of food.

Again, pointing to the desperate and seemingly impossible situation.

I mean, listen, humanly speaking they all need to go home and fend for themselves.

As much as the disciples may even want the ability to feed everyone…

The resources to do so are not available to them, humanly speaking.

But, this situation is not solely human.

They would know the story of Elish, by the power of God, feeding 100 men from 20 barley loaves…

Are the disciples remembering who is with them?

—> God is here.

—> God is in the midst.

So, look at what happens…

John 6:10–13 (ESV)

10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.

We always worry about everything.

We always see things as impossible.

We are no different than the disciples.

They’ve already forgotten about the water into wine.

The Official’s son.

The paralytic.

And, so much more.

They have so easily forgotten…we’re no different…

But, the result with God is always this…

Ephesians 3:20 (ESV)

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

What’s the Test?

The test is this…

Who do you think that I am?

The answer:

The greater than Moses.

The greater than Elisha.

God incarnate.

And, what am I worthy of?

The answer:

Our worship.

Our trust.

Our love.

Our affections.

Our loyalty.

The disciples struggled through this test.

What about the people?

Flocking to a Savior

Remember from earlier…

—> Crowds flock to a Savior <—

But, the important thing is how you define Savior.

Well, let’s first look at what the crowds ultimately wanted from Jesus…

Remember back in…

John 6:2 (ESV)

2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick.

Remember, the Passover was a National Feast in which all the participants were dressed for travel, anticipating God’s deliverance.

The people have heard of the signs of Jesus, the teachings of Jesus…

They would have easily perceived that this could be the One who would deliver them.

But, from what?

What do they perceive as their need for a Savior?

John 6:14–15 (ESV)

14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”

15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

They wanted Jesus to be their King as long as He delivered them from the bondage of Rome.

They were flocking to Jesus because they wanted:

Earthly comforts.

Earthly spoils.

Earthly power.

But, they failed to perceive their greatest need…

And, that is the bondage of sin.

They failed to see that being righteous before God was not only their ultimate earthly need…

But, it is their ultimate eternal need, as well.

They wanted an earthly King.

—> But, their real need was to have a spiritual King first.

So, here’s the reality…

If you do not first come to Jesus for your ultimate need.

You won’t get Jesus at all.

The difference between the people and the disciples?

The people didn’t come to Jesus for their ultimate need.

The disciples just needed reminding.

That’s what the testing of the disciples was doing.

Reminding them of who Jesus was and who their faith was in.

Let’s think about this...

Remember from earlier…

Notice that Jesus posed the question, not from ignorance…

But for the testing of Philip and the disciples as a whole.

(this happens to us daily in life…just not the audible voice of God)

We need to contemplate this question every day & in every circumstance…

What Do You Ultimately Want From Jesus?

IOW, what is the most important answer God can give you in any circumstance?

Is it…

“Yes, I will remove you from this difficult circumstance?”

Or is it…

“I am with you though everything because you are my adopted child, by faith in JC.”

Who do you believe Jesus is?

An earthly King meant to provide for you every comfort.

To remove your every displeasure.

Or a spiritual King who has already offered all that you need forevermore?!

Don’t get me wrong, Jesus lavishes His bride with an abundance of bountiful comforts…

But, first, He is our Savior from our sins.

He is, first, our Savior to reconcile us to God.

Then the other things get added.

If Jesus is not, first and foremost your Savior from your sins and condemnation…

You do not really know Jesus.

The Temptation of Jesus

John 6:15 (ESV)

15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king,

This would have been a similar temptation to the one Satan used when satan offered Jesus all the Kingdoms of the world.

Here the people were ready to crown Him King.

They were ready to force Him on the throne.

But, it was a lesser throne.

It’s the same temptation since the Garden of Eden.

You can have the world without God.

The reality is…the world is nothing without Him.

Life is nothing without Him.

And, although, we fall for that temptation all too often.

Jesus never did.

And, rather than let the people put him on a human throne.

Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

He went to be alone with His Father to be reminded of the true throne.

The Son of God at the right hand of the Father, forevermore…

Praise God Jesus never fell for the temptation of a lesser Kingdom.

And, that perfection is imputed to our account.

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Closing Prayer