Sermon Tone Analysis

Exegetical Point: Jesus is the new Moses who feeds with miraculous bread, but he is not slave to the people.

Homiletic Point: Jesus, the New Prophet, provides all our greatest needs

Intro

Christmas day.

It’s one of my favorite days of the year!

Unfortunately it’s not for very spiritual reasons...

You see Christmas is one of my favorite days because there’s usually a massive lunch.

Christmas lunch!

People go all out, and we get friends or family together and have a great meal.

I love the feasting together (you can probably tell by my figure!).

But when the meal is over we roll to the lounge in those moments of satisfaction.

We have eaten well.

I am full, stuffed.

Filled up to pushy’s bow.

I am satiated.

I am satisfied.

My hunger is so far away it feels like a distant memory.

I recline in that post-food bliss without a care in the world.

You know that feeling?

That feeling of fullness and satisfaction?

I want you to have that fullness this morning when you leave this place.

I want you to be full.

Not from food, from Jesus!

I am hoping to lead you face first into God’s word where you can meet Jesus.

We are going to spend some time walking through the text.

We’re just going to look at it bit by bit in the hope that God would speak to us through it.

We will look at it in 5 sections.

Within these 5 sections I hope we will also be to answer the question; What does Jesus offer to satisfy us?

Let’s situate ourselves in the story this morning.

Where are we up to?

We’’ve spent a few weeks going through John 5 which all revolves around Jesus amazing sign of healing a disabled man and contesting with the Jews who were not at-all happy with him.

Jesus showed how he is the Divine Son, and that he has plenty of evidence to show it!

Now, in the unfolding of John’s Gospel there is a little break.

Take a breath.

If it were a TV show you would go to an ad break.

People have Messed up Motives (v1-4)

v1-4

Then we return to the story in a different place and time, lets look:

Ok, so we’re back in the north of the country in Galilee… (map)

Sea of Galilee

Jesus is probably over here on the east (it doesn’t specifically say, but we can deduce it from the fact he later crosses to Capernaum on “the other side”.

But, Jesus is not alone!

Read v1-2.

Jesus has been traveling around preaching and teaching and performing signs that accompany his message.

He’s been healing people and casting out demons.

But along side that he has been teaching; instructing people about God.

But why are the crowds following Jesus?

“because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick” Jn 6:2.

They weren’t interested in the message of Jesus.

They wanted to see the miracles.

They wanted the healings.

They wanted the spectacular.

They wanted to see the celebrity.

They wanted entertainment.

They wanted to satiate their curiosity.

They weren’t there to receive Jesus on His terms.

Their motives were messed up.

Now we can’t be too hard on them because we’re just like that.

Our motives get a little turned around.

I’m sure many of them were appreciative of the message, and genuinely wanted to hear what Jesus had to say.

But among the crowd the motives were mixed.

It’s like when a guest preacher comes to town.

We partially go because we want to hear what they have to say, but partially because its new and exciting, partially because there’s a bit of celebrity culture, partially because you’re curious, partially because you think they might have something to offer you.

Often we do not hear a celebrity preacher with a ear to what God’s timeless truth is, but how the preacher is going to deliver it with style and pithy truths.

If our motives are messed up in the simple things of listening to a preacher, how much more will they be messed up in spiritual and broader life matters?

It’s worth considering “How are our motives skewed?”

Why are you here this morning?

What are you hoping to achieve?

There are both good and bad reasons to be here.

Just as I have mixed motives for being here myself.

There’s a whole bunch of motives that can drive our Christianity, and it is worth thinking about what under girds our faith.

Do you, like the crowd, seek Jesus for miracles sake?

Perhaps you think Jesus can help you live a comfortable life?

Is he your Life insurance so you can get a ticket to heaven?

Are you here to try and imbibe same kind of mere morality?

Are you here to avoid shame and embarrassment?

What Kind of hunger are you looking to Jesus to satisfy?

Well, let us follow the crowd, figuratively speaking, up the mountain, recognizing that we come with some messed up motives too.

Let us come to Jesus on that mountain and see what he will offer to satisfy us.

The next couple verses to finish setting the scene for this mountaintop experience.

Jesus had been up there to escape;

The other Gospels fill this out, specifically noting that Jesus had actually withdrawn to the mountain for rest and prayer.

He was trying to recuperate after some pretty heavy ministry work, but he wasn’t going to get any peace.

He had gone for a weekend getaway.

:) It’s kinda like when you’re trying to get a few moments peace from the kids and so you set them up with some activities and food and try to withdraw to another room for a few minutes peace and quiet.

But before you know it, they’re following you around with all the noise and complaints you were trying to escape from!

:)

Despite our best efforts, we would probably end up irritated and grumpy with the kids.

And you might expect the same from Jesus; but unlike us in our selfishness and frustration, Jesus will graciously accept the crowd that is following Him around.

Even as Jesus tries to model a devotional lifestyle of prayer and holy rest, he also models to us what it looks like to be selfless and forgiving.

Bearing with the shortcomings and the needs of those around him before his own personal preferences.

Instead of legging it, Jesus receives the crowd.

Just as he does now with us this morning, he receives us as messed up people with messed up motives.

We figuratively as a crowd approach Jesus on the mountaintop this morning in this place.

What does Jesus offer to satisfy us here today?

Be Prepared to Receive (v5-10)

v5-10

As we push on through the text we see that Jesus uses the approaching crowd as a teaching opportunity.

He will use the multitude as a chance to reveal more about himself to the disciples and to the crowd.

But, he has to prep the disciples first, to get them ready to receive.

Read with me vs5-10; and see if you can notice how Jesus prepares the disciples.