The Greater Moses

Exodus 15:1-3 “1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord. They said: I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted; he has thrown the horse and its rider into the sea. 2 The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. 3 The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name.”

Exodus 15:11-13 “11 Lord, who is like you among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders? 12 You stretched out your right hand, and the earth swallowed them. 13 With your faithful love, you will lead the people you have redeemed; you will guide them to your holy dwelling with your strength.”

Intro

The more and more I study the book of John the more and more I am astonished by what John does through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

The story that he tells is a master piece.

Especially when we look at how he builds his story layer upon layer.

And like last week when I told you that we need to know the OT to truly understand what God is doing and who Jesus is gets put on full display in today’s text.

Today we are going to look at Sign 4 and 5 of Jesus in the Gospel of John.

The forth sign is the feeding of the 5,000.

For a little bit of bible trivia this is the only miracle or sign outside of the resurrection that is in all four gospel accounts.

In Matthew, Mark, and John the feeding of the 5,000 is followed by Jesus walking on the water.

However, Luke omits this miracle in his account.

Now what do Matthew, Mark, and John have in common that Luke doesn’t.

They are Jewish.

The audience they are writing to is primarily Jewish in nature.

And why does that matter?

Because the feeding of the 5,000 and the walking on water are direct call backs to the Exodus narrative.

And specifically to Moses as the hero in the story.

Now here’s the connection.

For the Israelites or Jewish People they had 2 unforgettable events that around food and water.

The water event was when the Red Sea was parted and they passed through escaping Egypt.

The Food was as they wondered the wilderness and God provided them manna and quail from heaven.

And what we are going to learn is that those events in the wilderness were simply a shadow of what was to come.

That Jesus is the fulfillment of those events.

And the brilliance of John is put on full display as he records this account.

Remember how he had just ended chapter 5.

He had pointed out that the Jewish leaders didn’t really believe Moses.

John 5:45–47 CSB

45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. 47 But if you don’t believe what he wrote, how will you believe my words?”

He had pointed out that the Jewish leaders didn’t really believe Moses.

B/c if they did they would have believed him.

So what John does is use the feeding of the 5000 and walking on water to show them that they should believe who Jesus is b/c he is the greater Moses.

Let’s Pray before we get into the text this morning.

John 6:1–4 CSB

1 After this, Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). 2 A huge crowd was following him because they saw the signs that he was performing by healing the sick. 3 Jesus went up a mountain and sat down there with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, a Jewish festival, was near.

The Setting

We learn here that this is some time after the healing of the lame man.

It’s about a year after Jesus had cleared out the temple of the money changers.

We’re not sure how far after his encounter with the lame man.

But this is the second Passover that John tells us about.

Why is the mention of Passover important in this instance?

B/c Passover was a celebration of God saving the Israelites.

And it wasn’t just a celebration of God saving them but also a celebration of God sustaining them until they entered into the promised land as they wondered in the wilderness.

Now get this the setting of this miracle also takes place in the “wilderness”

Jesus is up on a mountain in the middle of nowhere.

The people following him are wondering around and looking for him.

And he sits down on a mountain.

Mountains also have significance in Jewish history.

When God meets with his people it is on a mountain.

Mountains are symbolically where heaven meets earth.

And here is God in flesh meeting the needs of the people on a mountain.

Notice why this crowd was following him.

B/c they had saw the signs.

They had seen him healing the sick.

He was doing miraculous things.

So they figure if he works miracles maybe he can do something for us too.

Again another crowd of people intrigued by what Jesus could do not by who he was.

So here in these opening verses it may not seem like much but we already have 4 instances where Jesus is being likened to Moses.

Jesus is leading a crowd around in the wilderness like Moses did after leaving Egypt

The crowd is following Jesus b/c of the signs he did. The Israelites followed Moses b/c of the signs he performed or prophesied the 10 plagues.

Jesus and his disciples go up on a mountain just like Moses did to meet with God.

This event happened around Passover a feast established by God through Moses.

So what happens on the mountain?

John 6:5–9 CSB

5 So when Jesus looked up and noticed a huge crowd coming toward him, he asked Philip, “Where will we buy bread so that these people can eat?” 6 He asked this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread wouldn’t be enough for each of them to have a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There’s a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish—but what are they for so many?”

The Problem

Jesus sees all these people and knows that they are gonna get hungry if they aren’t hungry already.

So Jesus looks at Philip and asks him “Where are we going to buy enough bread so that these people can eat?”

And Philip being practical and a problem solver calculates in his mind that they ain’t got enough.

In fact, 200 denarii wouldn’t be enough.

1 denareus was a days wage.

So Philip said 8 month’s worth of wages wouldn’t be enough to feed all these people.

Obviously, Jesus knew that by human logic and physical circumstances there was no way that they could feed all these people.

But Jesus had a plan. Jesus asked to test Philip.

Does Philip really know and believe that Jesus could do something amazing.

“He himself knew what he was going to do.”

Then Andrew shows up and tells Jesus that he has found a boy with five barley loaves and two fish.

Now the word loaves here is a bit generous.

They would have been closer akin to small rolls or cakes.

The note of barley was important as well have been.

This area was a very poor and barley loaves were a staple food for these people.

One of the things we need to realize is that for these people following Jesus around, being fed was a daily battle.

They lived in an agricultural setting and what they ate was what they grew.

They didn’t have the opportunity to go down to the store to buy food.

And even if Jesus did have all the money they needed to buy the bread to feed the people where would they get it?

They were in the middle of nowhere.

There aren’t stores that can feed a crowd this large.

Jesus knew that he was going to do something supernatural.

And he was going to do it with what seemed to be not enough.

You see Jesus sees the world through eyes of compassion.

He sees the needs of the world and at times he abundantly provides for those needs.

We do not love or serve a God who is far off.

Rather we love and serve a God who came to live with us.

Who does not divorce himself from his creation but rather present with us.

He sees our needs.

He hears our cries.

He knows our hearts.

And he provides for us.

And that’s exactly what he is about to do.

John 6:10–15 CSB

10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place; so they sat down. The men numbered about five thousand. 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, and after giving thanks he distributed them to those who were seated—so also with the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 When they were full, he told his disciples, “Collect the leftovers so that nothing is wasted.” 13 So they collected them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces from the five barley loaves that were left over by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This truly is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Therefore, when Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

The Feast

Jesus had everyone sit down in the green grass.

The Shepherd providing for those who are following him.

And here we learn of the number of men present on the mountainside.

5,000 men. This count did not include women and children.

Meaning that there were probably closer to 15,000 to 20,000 people that were hungry.

And Jesus takes the bread and gives thanks.

Notice that even knowing what he is going to do. Knowing what is about to occur Jesus still gives thanks to the Father for his provision.

He probably would have even used a common Jewish blessing to give thanks. Something like

““Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who bringest forth bread from the earth.”

Like the Father at the head of the dinner table prays before a meal is served.

He distributes the bread and fish to all those seated.

And when they were all full.

After they had been satisfied.

Jesus did not provide just enough.

He provided more than enough.

12 baskets were full right after the crowd had their fill.

From 5 loaves and two pickled fish came 20,000 full bellies and 12 basket fulls.

Our God is astonishing.

He is amazing that he can take what is insignificant and make it more than enough.

The crowd had nothing to complain about their bellies were full.

This runs in contrast to the Israelites in the Wilderness.

God provided them manna from heaven but all they did was complain about it.

Not only that but they could not even keep the leftovers.

Because they would spoil.

But here Jesus provides the bread and has stuff left over.

He is the bread bringer.

Those who were there were always concerned about where their next meal would come from.

And for a moment they were satisfied.

Each and every one of them.

This is pure conjecture and speculation b/c this isn’t in the text, but b/c of where and how they lived I wouldn’t find it impossible to believe that there were many in that crowd that hadn’t been satisfied with food in a long while.

And here Jesus meets that need.

Again it demonstrates his compassion and empathy with people who are suffering.

And the crowd somewhat gets it.

They say that Jn 6:14 “...“This truly is the Prophet who is to come into the world.””

The prophet is the one Moses promised in Deut 18:15 “15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him.”

And they are right that Jesus is that prophet, but he is much more.

So they are so intrigued with Jesus’ sign that they wanted to force him to be king.

They wanted to use Jesus as their figurehead to start a revolt against Rome.

But that isn’t why Jesus came.

So he slips off from the crowd to be alone.

But John isn’t through showing us that Jesus is the greater Moses.

John 6:16–21 CSB

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. Darkness had already set in, but Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 A high wind arose, and the sea began to churn. 19 After they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea. He was coming near the boat, and they were afraid. 20 But he said to them, “It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take him on board, and at once the boat was at the shore where they were heading.

Walking on Water

After Jesus goes to be alone the disciples get in a boat and cross the sea.

But they don’t make it too far before a storm comes upon them.

It was dark and stormy on the sea and even for these experienced fishermen they hadn’t been able to get very far.

Mark in his record of the event tells us Mk 6:48 “48 He saw them straining at the oars, because the wind was against them."

And 3-4 miles from shore they see Jesus approaching them.

And they were afraid.

They didn’t know what to think.

A man was walking on the the water.

Here’s the thing Jesus, the creator of the world, has dominance over all his creation.

Including the water.

And this is also demonstrated in the Exodus account when God tells Moses that he is going to split the sea for them to walk across it.

All of creation is subject to the creator.

And if we believe that Jesus is creator of all this walking on water shouldn’t really surprise us.

He can do what he wants how he wants.

Many scholars also see Jesus walking on water as an allusion to the creation narrative too.

Where the Spirit of the God is hovering over the surface of the waters.

So the disciples were afraid.

As I am sure all of us would be if we saw a figure walking on the water.

Approaching our boat that is 3-4 miles out in the middle of the sea.

And Jesus tells them “It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Sometimes our English translations try to help us out, but at times it lose the thrust of what’s being said here.

The phrase “It is I” is the Greek Phrase ego eimi.

I don’t like to talk about the Greek or Hebrew words often b/c it’s a lot to take in, but this phrase is used often in John’s Gospel.

Ego Eimi is the Greek Translation of “I am” from the OT.

Mean that Jesus is repeating to his Disciples what was revealed to Moses at the Burning Bush.

Remember the Scene in Exodus 3?

Ex 3:13-14 “13 Then Moses asked God, “If I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what should I tell them?” 14 God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.””

Jesus here doesn’t say “It is I.”

He says “I am. Don’t Be afraid.”

The God of the universe is standing right in front of them.

Revealing himself to them in a similar way with how he revealed himself to Moses.

They don’t need to be afraid b/c God is with them.

God is on their side.

“I am” is with them.

And as soon as Jesus steps in the boat they are at the shore line.

Across the sea.

John 6:22–25 CSB

22 The next day, the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw there had been only one boat. They also saw that Jesus had not boarded the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone off alone. 23 Some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

Confused Crowd

The crowd is seeking Jesus.

They are confused b/c they saw Jesus leave the disciples yesterday.

And at the time there was only one boat where they were and yet here Jesus is on the other side of the sea.

Now some boats had arrived to move the crowd from one side of the sea to the other, but Jesus hadn’t been on those boats either.

They sought after Jesus and when they God to him they questioned him

“Rabbi, when did you get here?

I can imagine the disciples seeing and hearing the crowd ask this question thinking “If you only knew, you probably wouldn’t believe it.”

And Jesus responds to the crowd.

John 6:26–34 CSB

26 Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled. 27 Don’t work for the food that perishes but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal of approval on him.” 28 “What can we do to perform the works of God?” they asked. 29 Jesus replied, “This is the work of God—that you believe in the one he has sent.” 30 “What sign, then, are you going to do so that we may see and believe you?” they asked. “What are you going to perform? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” 32 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, Moses didn’t give you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 Then they said, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

More than A Miracle

Jesus is pushing back against the crowd.

He knows the hearts of man and he knows that it isn’t him that they want its what he can do for them.

Like the woman at the well, like Nicodemus, like Philip and Andrew, they cannot see what is truly going on here.

They want temporary satisfation.

They want to avoid the minutiae of life.

They want the bread, but they don’t want the bread giver.

They want what will perish.

They seek what is satisfies for only a moment.

But Jesus wants them to pursue what will endure.

What will last.

What is eternal.

Stop focusing on your belly and start focusing on your soul.

Work for the food that lasts the food of eternal life.

Now this can be confusing and confounding for us if we stop there.

Wait, We have to work for eternal life?

We have to earn eternal life.

No, b/c they ask him that.

v.28 they ask what work must be done for eternal life.

And Jesus’ answer is beautiful.

And it’s the crux of the passage today.

John 6:29 “29 Jesus replied, “This is the work of God—that you believe in the one he has sent.””

How do we receive eternal life?

We believe in Jesus.

And Yet these people still didn’t believe.

They want another sign.

They want more proof.

They want more evidence.

They want more of everything except Jesus.

And just like they missed the point with Moses they missed the point with Jesus.

It wasn’t about the manna.

It wasn’t about the bread.

It wasn’t about the splitting of the Red Sea.

It was always about Jesus.

John 6:32-33 “32 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, Moses didn’t give you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.””

Jesus is the bread of heaven that gives life.

He is the bread that sustains.

He is the bread that transforms.

He is the bread that satisfies.

Listen you may be sitting here and asking what does this all matter.

Why does Jesus keep talking about bread.

Why does Josh keep talking about bread.

What does all this have to do with me?

Well here’s the thing, it isn’t about bread.

It’s about that longing in your soul.

It’s about the emptiness you feel.

It’s about all that you chase day in and day out that will never truly satisfy you.

Jesus talks to this crowd about bread because bread was a daily struggle for them.

They didn’t know where their next meal would come from.

They would fret and worry about their stomachs being full.

What’s your thing?

What are you chasing after?

What are you searching for?

What aches are you trying to soothe?

Because just like this crowd you will never find rest.

You will never find solace.

You will never find sustenance outside of Jesus.

You can chase after the things that will perish.

Or you can turn to Jesus.

You can believe him.

You can trust him.

We were talking at Bible Study on Wednesday night about how arrogant we have to be to demand things from God.

Like he owes us anything.

Like in some way he is indebted to us.

He doesn’t owe us anything.

And yet he gave everything.

He gave us Jesus.

Jesus came to save us.

Jesus came to rescue us.

Jesus came to sustain us.

And If God never does another thing for us, that’s enough.

So do you believe?

Do you trust in Jesus?

Or are you going to continue on in this rat race?

Are you going to continue to chase your tail?

Are you going to continue to eat the bread of this world and never be satisfied?