John 6:1-70
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Last week Jesus made a case for His deity. He said that God the Father honors Him, and He is obedient to everything the father tells Him to say and do. Jesus points to the John the Baptist testifying to this claim. He says that the miracles He performs proves He is God, God the Father testifies to Christ’s deity, even Moses and the Law declare Jesus as the Promised Messiah. Today we are going to see a couple more miracles that prove Christ’s deity, but we are primarily going to focus on one of Jesus’ I AM statements.
We said last week the book of John is almost split in half with the 7 miracles of Jesus taking place primarily in the first half and the I AM statements of Jesus being in the second half.
This week we are starting off with two miracles right off the bat. If you’re keeping track, Jesus has turned water into wine, healed the officials son, and healed the man beside the pool of Bethesda.
Tonight we are going to talk about a meal.
What is your favorite Thanksgiving food?
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 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?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 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. 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. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” 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.
Jesus’ ministry has grown considerably over these last few weeks. Here we see at least 5000 men are following Him because of the miracles He has been doing. The miracles of Jesus drew people in close to hear the words and teachings of Jesus. The goal wasn’t to just impress people or make people feel better, the goal of Jesus’ miracles were to demonstrate God’s authority in Jesus’ ministry and open a door for Jesus to teach the world about Himself. Here we see the crowd is drawn to Jesus by His miracles and because there is a great number of people a need arises.
Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?
Jesus asks His disciple Philip this question as a teaching moment for Philip. Jesus knew how he would feed these people, but He is teaching us something about Himself. Philip says it would cost two hundred days worth of paychecks to pay for the food required to feed these people and even then they would only get a little. Another disciple of Jesus named Andrew points out a little boys sack lunch. I almost feel like it was said as a joke. We’re looking for food to feed five thousand and Andrew says, “What about that kids lunchable?” Jesus has the crowd sit down in the grass and He does the unimaginable. Jesus takes this little boys lunch and multiplies it to feed 5000 men. That isn’t counting the women and children also in attendance. He not only fed the people, it says the people ate til they were full and there were twelve baskets of leftovers.
The number 12 is a recurring number in the Bible. There were 12 tribes of Israel that God fed in the wilderness while they wandered in waiting under Moses. There are here 12 doubting Disciples and now 12 baskets of proof that Jesus can provide for His people.
How do people respond to this miracle? They are beyond thrilled. It says that they recognized Jesus as the promised Prophet and wanted to force Him into being their king. Jesus, having no desire to play to these earthly exhalations withdrew again to a mountain by Himself.
We said it last week. Jesus isn’t chasing clout or human flattery. Jesus isn’t trying to win a popularity contest. Jesus is here to do all that the Father calls Him to do and the only crown that road leads to is a crown of thorns and a crucifixion. Jesus withdraws at the peak in His ministries popularity.
This is something that I believe is incredible to think through. From the time we are babies and even when we are fully grown we are conditioned to seek approval from people around us. We want to not only be accepted by others but we want to be celebrated and loved. We try really hard to fit in, but we can’t look like we are trying too hard so we have to pretend we don’t really care but we are always searching. We want our parents to be proud. We want our friends to think we are funny and cool. We want our crush to think we’re cute. We want approval. This desire isn’t necessarily a bad desire. The problems come when we look for approval in places that either promote poor behavior or can’t sustain us. In a broken world full of broken people this desire within us often goes unnurtured or even abused and misguided by the people in our lives. It is weaponized by culture to sell us things. It is manipulated and pressured into gossiping, lying, degrading others to cover up our insecurities. Even in the best of situations it can leave people wanting and hurt.
Where do we look for approval?
For Jesus, He wasn’t concerned with the affections of the people. Feelings change. One day they might love Him the next day they might hate Him. Human feelings are not something firm enough to build our lives on. It is a fickle and fragile thing. The only person’s approval that sustains and fulfills is God’s approval. That is Jesus’ concern and it should be ours too. God’s approval isn’t something we have to chase or beg God to show us. God’s approval of us is purchased by Christ on the cross and lived out in obedience to His Spirit living inside of us. I know God loves me and He cares and provides for me. I don’t have to doubt that because He has proven it to be so time and time again. Every time I look at the cross I am reminded of God’s love and care for me. I live in obedience to God not because I need His approval. I live in obedience to God because I have His approval and I want to honor Him in all that I do.
Jesus withdrew from the people to spend time with the one who’s opinion really mattered. His life was anchored on God who never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Sometimes we need to get away from all the voices in our life telling us how we should live and we need to sit in the quiet with God and here what He thinks about us.
Jesus Walks on Water
Jesus Walks on Water
When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
Here we see another miracle of Jesus. While Jesus was alone His disciples begin to sail across to Capernaum. While they were three or four miles out Jesus meets them at the boat and they arrive instantly on the shore. Jesus walks three or four miles over the surface of the water and then makes the boat appear on the shore.
In Matthew’s account of this story the waves and wind were working against the disciples and although they had only gone a few miles it had taken them all night to do it. The disciples were exhausted and here they see what looks like a ghost walking towards them. Peter calls out to Jesus and even gets out of the boat and walks on water for a few moments with Jesus until he gets scared of the waves and begins to sink.
Each of these miracles demonstrate a little bit more about who Jesus is. Jesus has power over the winds and the waves and over our fears and worries. Jesus is a calming peace for both the waves and the disciples.
I AM the Bread of Life
I AM the Bread of Life
What is an I AM statement?
When God was first revealing Himself to Moses through the burning bush all the way back in Exodus, the name God gives to Moses was YHWH. This name means the I AM. It was a name of God that could only be spoken in the Holy of Holies within the Temple. It was considered so holy that since it was never to be spoken except in a specific context and when we see it written throughout the Old Testament, sometimes it is replaced with the word Adonai or when the name YHWH is used the letters for another name of God are written in-between the letters for YHWH which is how we get the name of God Jehovah like in Jehovah Jireh or Jehovah Nissi.
God reveals Himself to Moses as the I AM. In the Gospel of John, 7 times, Jesus refers to Himself as the I AM. This is significant because it is showing us that not only is Jesus claiming to be the I AM, a claim that would be the highest form of blasphemy if untrue, but God the Father also affirms this claim by performing miracles through Jesus.
The crowd realizes Jesus has crossed over to the other side of the sea and they go to find Him there.
When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”
Jesus reveals what the people’s hearts desire. They want free food. They aren’t following Jesus for who He is, they just want a free meal and to see cool stuff. But Jesus contests. “Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has set His seal”. Just as Jesus offered living water to the woman at the well, here He offers food that endures to eternal life. Eat of this food and you will never grow hungry again.
Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
What must we do to receive this food? Believe. Do you see a pattern here? God offers grace, forgiveness, healing, restoration, all of heaven’s blessings, all through one person: Jesus Christ. How we receive that amazing gift is through simple belief. Do we believe Jesus is who He says He is? Do we believe that He did what He says He did? Do we believe we need salvation for our souls? Do we believe that salvation only comes through the work of Jesus in our lives? Do we believe?
So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
The people questioning Jesus demand proof. Less than 24 hours earlier Jesus had turn a kids lunchable into a hearty meal for over 5000 people, but that wasn’t enough. They demanded more and even claimed Moses had provided every meal for them in the wilderness not just one meal. They weren’t looking to have a spiritual need met. In there eyes they didn’t need salvation. They just wanted Jesus to give them food everyday so they didn’t have to work for it. That isn’t what Jesus offers. Jesus corrects their assumptions. It wasn’t Moses who provided bread it was God and here before them was something far greater than anything Moses had ever seen. This bread leads to life.
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
Jesus isn’t offering the people a magical loaf of bread. He is offering them Himself. He is the I Am. He is the Bread of Life who satisfies God’s wrath against sin. Jesus offers eternal life to all who believe in Him. This is something that nobody can take away. It is God’s will that all who believe in Jesus will have eternal life forever. This is far greater than anything Moses offered the people in the wilderness. The Manna from Heaven would go bad. If you remember back to Exodus, the Manna given from Heaven only lasted for the day that it fell with the Sabbath being the exception. If a person tried to collect Manna and preserve it the Manna would spoil by the next day. This is the hope the people had. They were looking for instant gratification. Something that could fill their pockets for that day. Jesus’ offer is for eternity. It is a gift that never spoils.
The people grumble. Just like the people who walked with Moses.
So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”
These people are stubborn and stiff necked. They ignore and reject all that Jesus says. Jesus doubles down.
Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
Jesus is the only means for salvation. He alone can resurrect our dead hearts. These people claimed to know God, but they had never seen Him. These people had been taught to trust in a God whom they had never seen and now that He is standing right in front of them they are rejecting His testimony. Jesus knows God intimately. He has community with the Father and with the Holy Spirit. He is one in being with them. Jesus is God. He isn’t just a prophet telling the people what God is like. He is God incarnate. The Word of God made flesh dwelling among them, yet they reject Him.
Jesus repeats what He has been saying throughout this entire book. Believe in me and you will have eternal life.
Jesus is the Bread of Life. Everyone who ate Manna in the wilderness is dead. But through Jesus they can have life. This bread Jesus offers is His flesh. It is Himself.
Again the crowd waivers and again Jesus doubles down.
Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. “For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. “As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. “This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever.” These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.
Jesus’ flesh, His blood. He is is the Bread of Life. Jesus uses this gruesome and exaggerated language to drive the point home. For Jesus the cost of this bread was not as simple as going out to collect a few pieces of bread and going back to your tent. Jesus left His throne in heaven to be born in human flesh. Human flesh that would be torn apart. Beaten, scarred, and pierced for our sins. Salvation would cost Jesus His life in one of if not the most violent ways a person could die. This gory language was a foretaste of the hope we have in Christ. It is a sacred communion that Jesus invites us to. Jesus isn’t promoting cannibalism. Jesus isn’t saying that if we have to literally eat His flesh to be saved. Jesus offers His body broken for us. His blood poured out as a new covenant. Jesus is telling us that the hope of the world has walked in human flesh yet this hope is not just for physical needs, He is the answer for our spiritual security and eternal hope.
The Words of Eternal Life
The Words of Eternal Life
When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.
Jesus’ disciples were talking among themselves about this teaching. This isn’t Jesus’ most popular sermon. Many who were there that day walked away from following Jesus. The disciples were thinking from a perspective of flesh, but Jesus was calling them to think spiritually. The power and wisdom of God is not from human understanding but is revealed by the Father.
There were many that stopped following Jesus that day. Jesus asks the disciples if they would do the same.
So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”
Look at Peter’s response.
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
Every now and then Peter says something deeply profound. Where would we go? Who else has the words that lead to eternal life? Peter draws a line in the sand. I believe the words of Jesus. Can you say the same? Have you come to a place where you trust in the Lord the way Peter does here? Jesus is the Bread of Life. In Jesus we find satisfaction for our souls longing. Do you believe the words of Jesus?
Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.
We close on a somber note. The multitudes have walked away from Jesus and even though Peter makes his faith known Jesus knows what will happen. He knows of Judas’ betrayal and where this road leads.