You are what you Eat (2)

The Crowd He died For

John’s Gospel does not record all the events in the life of Jesus that do not help him fulfill his purpose on earth. Between healing and feeing the 5,000 there was a miracle that was recorded in all four Gospels.

A great crowd of people followed Jesus, this was known as a multitude. They were listening to him for several days, hearing his teaching and watching the miracles He performed.

Jesus needed to get time away to rest but the needs of the crowds pressed in on Him. Due to compassion He ministered to the multitude in 3 different ways:

Jesus fed the multitude

Jesus left the multitude

Jesus taught the multitude

Pray that the Word of God would speak to the hearts of those who listen.

Jesus feeds the Multitude John 6:1-14

Jesus met the needs of the vast crowd. Let’s take a look at four solutions:

The disciples said send the people away - Get rid of the problem.

But that was not the way Jesus wanted to care for them.

There was a lot of hungry people and they were there a long time and He knew that if He sent them away hungry there would be some that would faint due to hunger.

It was also late in the day, evening and it was not safe to travel at that time of day.

2. Raise money to buy food for everyone.

We often think that money solves everything.

But it does not. Despite the prices that have got out of control etc.

In order to feed the multitude it would cost 200 days wages.

This would have tested Philip’s faith here for sure because He was the treasurer.

3. Share food that people brought

Andrew found a boy who had a lunch of loaves and dish. ( 2 fish and 5 loaves)

Andrew did not know how this would work but he told Jesus trying to help find a solution.

That’s typical of us too isn’t it - to make due with what they had.

4. Came from Jesus - The True Solution

Jesus took the boys lunch - blessed it - broke it and shared it out to the disciples to disburse to the whole crowd.

Here is an important lesson for us - whenever there is a need give all you can to Jesus and let Him do the Rest!

Begin with what you have - but give it ALL to Him.

The gift from the boy = Pouring out expensive ointment

All he had = All she had

Jesus performed the miracle

John pointed out twice that Jesus blessed the food.

Matt, Mark, Luke - said He looked up to heaven and gave thanks.

God is the source of all things - good and needful.

Do not concentrate on what you don’t have. Give thanks for all you have and He will make it go further.

The people who Jesus fed with the loaves and fish they did not need physical food they needed life. Jesus gives eternal life.

The purpose of the sign was that He might preach the ministry of grace and truth.

John 1:17 NIV

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

The people wanted food.

In grace - the Lord fed the hungry people.

In truth - He gave them the Word of God.

The multitude of people wanted food but not truth.

In the end many abandonded Jesus and refused to walk with Him.

You see there two kinds of food here:

Food for the Body

Food for the Soul

Jesus leaves the multitude John 6:15-21

The next day mystery - Capernaum

How did Jesus get there?

The crowd saw the disciples embark to go across the sea of Galilee to Capernaum and then the mend were lost in the storm.

The crowd saw Jesus leave the place and go to a mountain.

The next morning Jesus and the disciples were in Capernaum.

It was far away.

Jesus did not come on another ship or walk around the lake. He walked on the water!

John 6:15–21 NIV

Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 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. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

Get into the boat is what Jesus encouraged the disciples to do. Jesus needed to get away. The crowd wanted to make Him king. Some of the disciples may have jumped at the opportunity to be famous and powerful. But that was not God’s plan & Jesus is all about His Father’s business.

A storm was coming - in our translation it says a strong wind - Jesus knew it but it was not the weather He was protecting them from.

There was danger of being swept away by a fanatical crowd who was more dangerous.

Jesus showed the need for balance here also otherwise pride would come in and they would fall.

The disciples needed to face this storm and trust Jesus more.

Sometimes we face storms due to disobedience and sometimes because we obeyed. Say what?

They saw Jesus feed the 5000 this was a miracle - a valuable lesson but the storm they were facing was the exam after the lesson.

Christ is in Heaven interceeding for us but we are in the midst of the storms of life trying to reach shore.

One day He will come for us and we shall reach our port safely - the storms all past.

During this time there were several miracles:

Jesus walked on the water and so did Peter

Jesus calmed the storm instantly

Jesus led them into green pastures

Jesus brought them into quiet waters

Jesus taught the multitude John 6:22-71

The crowds that followed Jesus wanted to be impressed, they wanted shock and awe. Some only wanted to see miracles but never submitted or yieled their lives to Christ.

Friends here this morning we are hearing about all Jesus did for the discples and all He did for us. Yet some will still walk away and reject Him.

Do not let that be you! Don’t miss out on all He has for your life.

No doubt some of the people who had been fed simply went away to their homes, while others stayed to see what Jesus would do next.

Our Lord’s sermon probably began outdoors, and then the discussion moved into the synagogue

John 6:59 NIV

He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

It would be impossible for a huge crowd to participate in the synagogue service, though the overflow could remain outside and hear what was being said. This sermon on “the bread of life” is actually a dialogue between Christ and the people, especially the religious leaders (“the Jews”).

There are 4 responses of the crowd to Jesus found in John 6:22-71.

seeking

murmuring

striving

departing

Seeking

The disciples may have been impressed that so many people stayed through a storm in order to seek their Master, but Jesus was not impressed. He knows the human heart. He knew that the people originally followed Him because of His miracles (John 6:2), but now their motive was to get fed!

Even if they were attracted only by the miracles, at least there was still a possibility they might be saved.

What the people needed was not food but life, and life is a gift.

Food only sustains life, but Jesus gives eternal life.

Isaiah 55:2 NASB95

“Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight yourself in abundance.

John 6:26–27 NIV

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

The people heard the word labor here and thought that you had to work for salvation. The missed the word “give”.

They thought due to their tradition that they would have to “do something” to have eternal life.

Jesus made it clear that the only act that was needed - to believe in the Savior.

When people believe in Christ, they are not performing a good work that earns them salvation. There is certainly no credit in believing, for it is what God does in response to our faith that is important.

Ephesians 2:8–10 NIV

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

The crowd began by seeking Christ, but then started to seek a sign from Him. “For the Jews require a sign” (1 Cor. 1:22).

The rabbis taught that, when Messiah came, He would duplicate the miracle of the manna (see Ex. 16).

If Jesus was truly sent by God (see John 6:29, 38, 57), then let Him prove it by causing manna to fall from heaven. They wanted to “see and believe.”

But faith that is based on signs alone, and not on the truth of the Word, can lead a person astray, for even Satan is able to perform “lying wonders” (2 Thess. 2:8–10).

2 Thessalonians 2:8–10 NIV

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

Jesus wanted to deepen the understanding of Truth. God gave the manna not Moses.

So take your eyes of Moses and focus on God.

God gave manna in the past.

Now the Father gives the true bread of life in the person if Jesus Christ.

The past event was done - finished - the present spiritual experience goes on!

Jesus is identified as the bread - He is the living bread that came down from Heaven.

Jesus came not only for Israel but for the WHOLE WORLD!

Jesus came not to sustain life but to GIVE LIFE!

7 times in his sermon Jesus referred to coming down from Heaven

This statement declared Him to be God.

OT manna is a type of true bread the Lord Jesus Christ.

Like the Samaritan Woman they were not ready for salvation. She wanted living water so that she did not need to keep going to the well.

The crowd wanted bread so they would not have to work to maintain a living.

People in our society today only want Jesus Christ for the benefits He can give and use Him like insurance or a Good luck Charm.

At the close of His message Jesus illustrated coming and believing by speaking about eating and drinking.

To come to Christ and believing in Him means to receive Him within just like food and drink.

John 6:35 isthe first of the 7 “I am” statements recorded in John. These statements are not found anywhere else in the gospels.

God revealed Himself to moses by using the name “I am Jehovah”

Exodus 3:14 NIV

God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ”

God is the self existent one who was, is and is to come.

Revelation 1:8 NIV

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

When Jesus uses the name “I AM’ he was definitely claiming to be God.

John 6:37-40 is where Jesus explains the process of Personal Savlation

Salvation = Divine sovereignity + Human Responsibility

2. Murmuring

When Jesus said He came down from heaven this caused a stir with the religious leaders.

They thought they knew Jesus and where He came from.

Jesus was the legal son of Joseph but not the natural son. (Born of a Virgin)

They though He was from Galilee of Nazareth not Bethlehem, Judea.

Had they investigated further they would have found out who He is.

Even in Moses day the Jews were known to murmur. The main issue was “Where did He come from?”

Jesus explained how a person can come to God. Which was basically the same message He gave after He healed the paralytic man.

When God gave the manna, He gave only a gift, but when Jesus came, He gave Himself. There was no cost to God in sending the manna each day, but He gave His Son at great cost. The Jews had to eat the manna every day, but the sinner who trusts Christ once is given eternal life. Jesus is the manna - the bread of life.

The manna was given to a rebellious people; it was the gracious gift of God. All they had to do was stoop and pick it up. If they failed to pick it up, they walked on it. The Lord is not far from any sinner. All the sinner has to do is humble himself or herself and take the gift that God offers.

Never limit the work that Jesus did on the cross.

He was the sacrifice not only for our sin but the sins of the world.

3. Striving

Striving means to “fight and quarrel”.

Here we have another example in John’s gospel of the people misunderstanding a spiritual truth by treating it literally (see John 2:19–21; 3:4; 4:11). All Jesus said was, “Just as you take food and drink within your body and it becomes a part of you, so you must receive Me within your innermost being so that I can give you life.”

This means receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

4. Departing

The Jews were offended by how Jesus spoke and misunderstood what He said.

The result of Jesus’s message caused many to stop following Jesus.

They took His message too literally. Where they thought they would literally eat his flesh and drink His blood.

But we do this though the WORD. But they took it out of context.

Many left Jesus and went back to their old life. Something we need to learn here no matter what misunderstandings Jesus is the only way.

John 14:6 NIV

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

But they would not walk with Him.

Which was no surprise to Jesus because He knows the hearts of people.

When Jesus asked the disciples if they would dissert Him too. Peter was quick to respond. And we know how that ended.

Why I am reminding you of these things is because we live in a time where it is not politically correct to serve Jesus and you won’t gain popularity for loving and serving Him.

I ask you today to be sure to examine where you are in serving Him.

Do you serve Him as insurance?

To see His signs and wonders?

Just to get into Heaven?

Or because you really truly love Him?

The preaching of the Word of God always leads to a sifting of the hearts of the listeners.

God draws people to HImself through the power of truth, His Word.

Those who reject the Word will reject the Savior.

Those who receive the Word will receive the Savior and experience the new birth, eternal life.

Do you feel your need because there is a spiritual hunger in you?

Are you willing to admit that need and come to the Savior?

If you will, He will save you and satisfy you forever!

Come to Him this morning and don’t waste another minute!