A Fan or a Follower?

It’s football season. I love to watch football. I’m pretty sure that I’m not the only one in here either.

I grew up playing ice hockey, and I still enjoy watching it, but since moving to the States in the early 90’s, I have learned about football and have become a fan.

Speaking of being a fan, part of the fun of watching football games is noticing the behavior of the fans.

One thing about fans is, they are fickle.

They can be the most hardcore fans imagineable. They show up with their team gear on, their faces painted, crazy outfits on. They’re the ones in the front row, pounding the wall, yelling.

These are the most devoted followers. They have all the statistics memorized, they have all the players numbers memorized. They have all the memorabilia on their walls at home.

And if you ask them, they would say that they are true followers of the team.

You can ask them, “What team do you follow?”

And they could tell you.

They’re the ones who you think will always stick with the team, no matter what happens.

You can ask them, “What team do you follow?”

And they could tell you.

And they do…for a while anyway.

But when they have a miserable first half, and the favored home team only manages to rack up about 70 yards of total offense. And it’s 3rd and long deep in their own territory, and the quarterback takes another sack,

Here come the boos raining down. Here come the calls of derision,

And in the closing minutes of the 4th quarter when the favored home team is down by 3 touchdowns and all chance of victory has slipped away, the TV camera pans across the stadium and most of the seats are empty, the “true and faithful followers” streaming out the exits.

And on Monday morning, here come the calls for a new quarterback, the calls for a different coach.

And you have to ask yourself, “Are these folks true followers, or are they fans?”

Are they followers or are they fans? It’s when things really get tough, that true followers start to separate themselves out from the fans

Because there is a big difference between the two. At least in my mind.

A fan. The term comes from the word “Fanatic”.

Merriam-Webster says that fans are...

marked by excessive enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion

These are people that are enthused about their team. They love the mascots, the band, the stadium atmosphere. They love the memorabilia and gear. They have their favorite players on the team.

They love the pride that comes from their team being the best.

One thing that often marks fans is their emotion—the enthusiasm that is displayed when things are good can just as easily become “boos” and derision and throwing things on the field.

But often when times get hard, these fans get exasperated and throw in the towel.

A follower: one in service to another; one who imitates another

a follower is in it for the long haul. When times get hard, the follower is still there. When the team really lays an egg one weekend, the follower still believes.

When the management makes a questionable decision, the follower still believes that one day their team is going to win the championship again.

Now to be fair, there are famously die hard fans. Like Chicago Cubs Fans whose team went 108 years without a championship, Cleveland Browns fans.

They call themselves fans, but maybe they are actually true followers

In our study of the Gospel of John we find ourselves in chapter 6.

It’s a very long chapter; 71 verses

And it’s been struggle for me to know how to approach it.

We did look at the beginning of the chapter, at the feeding of the multitude.

But now I would like to take a step back and look at more of an overview of this chapter and help us get an idea of what is going on in a larger sense.

Normally I like to take chapter or passages and use them as part of a narrative and make sure that we understand the context.

And I still think that’s important.

But chapter 6 seems to lend itself to being taken out and treated as a stand alone passage. It almost seems that John wanted it this way.

If you look at the beginning of chapter 6, it says “After This”, giving a time break between the events of chapter 5 and those in chapter 6.

And then in chapter 7, verse one, again it says “After this”.

So you have chapter 6 “bookended” by time breaks and I think that it’s possible to reach in and pluck this chapter out and examine it as a standalone narrative.

So that’s what I would like to do this morning and probably next Sunday as well.

And in chapter 6 you have something going on that I believe is crucial for us to understand.

The theme of chapter 6 is one that is a major theme of Jesus and one that the Gospel writers often emphasize.

In order for us to get an idea of what that is, perhaps we should skim down to the closing words of John chapter 6.

John 6:66

John 6:66–69 ESV

66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

“Do you want to go away as well?”

Such a sad question. If there is one question that demonstrates the humanity of the Lord Jesus, if there is one question that shows that He really did have emotions and felt what we felt, this might be it.

“Do you want to go away as well?”

I know that we have all felt the pain of rejection at one time or another in our lives. that time when someone who you thought was a friend, when it came down to the nitty gritty and things go tough, that person turned their back on you and went away.

You know that pain. You know how it makes you look at other relationships in your life differently. It makes you wonder, “are they going to go away too?”

You may remember a number of weeks ago after we looked at the feeding of the 5000, I said that there are dark clouds on the horizon. And this is it.

I believe that this chapter details one of, of not THE, defining moment of Jesus ministry on earth.

This is a significant turning point in the ministry of Jesus.

We know that great crowds followed Jesus around.

It’s at this point when these followers have to make a choice: am I a fan or am I a follower?

Am I going to still believe when things get hard? Am I going to still believe when my master says things that are hard to swallow?

Am I going to stay true when persecution comes?

When it’s not cool and exciting to be part of this movement any more, am I going to remain faithful?

It’s in this chapter that we John making a contrast between fans and followers. Between fans and true disciples.

Now you might notice that verse 66 says that many of His disciples turned back, and you think “Well, if the Bible calls someone a disciple, that means that they are a true follower, doesn’t it?”

Not necessarily. The word used here in chapter 6 is 3412 μαθητής (mathētēs),

DISCIPLE A student, pupil, or learner. In the New Testament it is used for Jesus’ followers. Often references “the Twelve” but also indicates a wider group of followers.

A student or learner could be someone who is following a person out of many different motives or reasons:

3412 μαθητής (mathētēs), οῦ (ou), ὁ (ho): n.masc.; ≡ Str 3101; TDNT 4.415—1. LN 36.38 follower, often a disciple who is a believer and close follower, though other less committed relationships are indicated (; ; ; ; ); 2. LN 27.16 pupil, student, one tutored, implying a closer relationship than mere information (, )

DBL Greek

disciples ESV, NIV, NRSV, LEB, RSV

of … disciples KJV 1900, NKJV, AV 1873

Text Comparison

τῶν tōn

ὁ hothe

ο o the

DGPM article, genitive, plural, masculine

G3588 Greek Strong’s

LN 92.24 Louw-Nida

μαθητῶν mathētōn

μαθητής mathētēsdisciple

μανθανω manthanō learn

NGPM noun, genitive, plural, masculine

G3101 Greek Strong’s

LN 36.38 Louw-Nida

disciple noun

Gospel

Narrative, Gospel 1:19–21:23

Johannine Dialogue/Discourse 6:22–70

Prepositional Phrase

Object Lemma: μαθητής

Preposition Lemma: ἐκ

Object Case: Genitive

Longacre Genre

Primary: Narrative: Story

Secondary: Expository: What things are or were like

curiosity

Semantic Feature

Category: Topic

“many of his” refers to:

Crowd hearing about the Bread of Life — People who heard Jesus declare he is the bread of life.

A Crowd — Any large group of people gathering together.

“disciples” refers to:

Disciples — People who followed Jesus and listened to his teachings.

Jesus’ ministry Event

Life of Jesus Event

The experience

Jesus’ Galilean ministry Event

Disciples desert Jesus Event

Jesus crosses from Bethsaida to Gennesaret Event

Apostasy, Complaining, Conversion, Doubt, Election, Faith, God: Knowledge, Holy Spirit, Jesus: Divinity, Jesus: Humanity

g ver. 70, 71

Because it’s the cool thing to do; it’s where all the popular people hang out

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.

h ; [ch. 12:50; 17:8]

“Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”

They have nothing better to do

And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”

For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.

i [ch. 11:27; ]

It’s on their bucket list

She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

j See ch. 1:49

Maybe it was expected of them

Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

k See

Or, they could be true, devoted followers, convinced that their teacher was worthy of their full attention and honor.

“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”

Scripture makes it clear to us, that just because someone calls themselves a disciple, doesn’t mean that they are a true disciple.

:

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Folks can claim to be true disciples of Jesus yet be in it for all of the wrong reasons.

Folks can claim to be doing what they do in the name of Jesus, yet really it’s because it makes them feel good, or because it promotes their image, or whatever the reason might be.

You may be tired of hearing this, but if it was a message worth emphasizing in Jesus’ time, it certainly is a message for us. And that is that there is a cost to being a true disciple of Jesus,

One of the greatest costs to us is, what we get out of being His disciple is the least of His concerns.

We have to put US on the alter and say, Jesus, it’s all about you and not at all about me.

(ESV)

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

6 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.

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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.

Jesus Walks on Water

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 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. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

I Am the Bread of Life

22 On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 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. 27 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.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” 32 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. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

35 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. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 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. 40 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.”

41 So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 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’?” 43 Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. 45 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— 46 not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 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.”

52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 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 you. 54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” 59 Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.

The Words of Eternal Life

60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 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. 64 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.) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.

Are you a fan or a true follower?

Next Sunday I would like for us to examine this chapter a little more closely and look at how fans and followers are different.