John 6: 1-14 Jesus feeds the five thousand
Vs. 1-4 How much time
has passes since chapter 5?
Almost a year has passed.
The feast of the Jews was mentioned in chapter 5 and now in chapter 6 is
drawing near again.
What was the purpose of Jesus asking Phillip where they
would buy bread?
Jesus was testing Phillip and the other disciples as well.
What was the desired outcome of this kind of test?
That the apostle’s faith in Jesus would be strengthened.
When God tests us today, what is His purpose?
God tests us to make us better, stronger, more faithful. The
word is used in the same way as purifying a precious metal. The testing makes
the metal more pure, more valuable.
Vs. 7 A pennyworth of bread (denarii) was an average day’s
pay. In today’s money, if an average
day’s pay is $50, what is the value of the bread Phillip is worried about?
200 x 50 = $1000.00
Quite a potluck!
Vs. 8 Andrew finds a lad with 5 loaves and two fishes. Where do you think this lad come from?
He may have been traveling with the pilgrims for the
Passover. He could have been a helper in
Peter and Andrew’s fishing boat who would have kept up with their own
provisions.
Vs. 11 Are there other times when we see Jesus saying the
blessing before eating? What is
significant about Jesus blessing the loaves and fishes before eating them?
Yes, Luke 24:30 with the two disciples on the Emmaus
Road. Jesus giving the blessing is a
strong object lesson, if Jesus gave thanks for the food, how much more should
we.
The traditional Jewish blessing for food was, “Blessed art
thou, Jehovah our God, King of the world, Who causes to come forth bread from
the earth.”
Vs 12-13. What was the purpose of gathering up the leftovers
in twelve baskets?
By gathering up the fragments the apostles would truly and
personally see the power of God. Each
one of them would carry their own lesson in the sufficiency of God.
Application of the Loaves and the Lad
No matter how little I may have, if it is given in to God in
His service it will be used to carry out God’s will. It may not be
supernaturally multiplied but it will be supernaturally used.
Following Jesus example what can I learn about turning a
problem into an opportunity?
Step 1. Is there a
genuine need that can be an opportunity for God to work? (When Jesus then
lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him,)
Step 2. Share the
need with others. (he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread)
Step 3. Is this a
test from God? (this he said to prove him)
Step 4. What are our
resources? (There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small
fishes)
Step 5. Use what you
have and trust God to make it sufficient. (Jesus took the loaves; and … he
distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and
likewise of the fishes)
Step 6. Pray for
God’s blessing and give Him the glory. (and when he had given thanks)
Step 7. Look for the
lesson God wants you to learn from this crisis/ opportunity. (Gather up the fragments that remain, that
nothing be lost. Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did,
said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.)
John 6:15-21 Jesus comes to His Disciples
Read the parallel passage in Mark 6:45-50
There are three miracles in this passage what are they?
1. Jesus
knows his disciples are in trouble in the sea.
2. Jesus
walks on the water to the disciples.
3. The ship
is immediately at land once Jesus enters the ship.
What does this passage tell me about trying to do what God’s
will despite opposition.
God will be with us to provide what is needed to accomplish
that which He has sent us to do. We must
not give up but keep rowing.
John 6:22-70 Jesus feeds souls
The next day the crowd which had been fed and had tried to
make Jesus king found Him again and ask how He got there. What was Jesus answer to the question and
what did it reveal about Him and these people?
Jesus tells them they are seeking Him just to provide more
food. They are looking for physical comfort
and ease.
His answer reveals He knows their hearts and will not be
their king on their terms. They must
accept Him on His terms.
Jesus then tells the crowd to labor for food that is
everlasting. They ask Him what to do to work the works of God. What is Jesus
answer?
They must believe on him (Jesus) whom he (God) hath sent.
What does this answer reveal about salvation and about
serving God after we are saved?
Salvation is not our work it is God’s through His Son Jesus
Christ. All we can do is believe in His
work on the cross and accept what He has done on our behalf. This does not change after salvation we must
still believe in Him.
Vs. 30-34 The people then ask for a sign from Jesus. Why do you think they asked about manna?
They were probably hungry again as Jesus had said and
because Moses had given a prophecy about a prophet who would follow him as the
leader of Israel. Vs. 14.
These people are doing what the woman at the well did in her
encounter with Jesus, what is it?
Looking for the physical instead of the spiritual. The woman wanted eternal physical water these
people wanted eternal physical bread.
How is this same problem with us today?
People cannot accept the supernatural. They will not believe in a Creator. They do not believe anything they cannot see,
hear or touch. They follow Jesus for a miracle, a better life, or physical
needs rather than spiritual salvation.
Vs. 35-40 Jesus
declares Himself as much more than just a miracle worker. What does Jesus say he is?
The bread of life
Read the following passages and identify the “I Am’s” of
Christ.
John 4:26 The Messiah
John
6:35 The Bread of Life
John 8:23 From Above
John
8:58 The Eternal One
John 9:5 The Light of
the World
John 10:7 The Door
John 10:36 The Son of God
John
11:25 The Resurrection and Life
John 13:13 The Lord and Master
John 15:1 The True Vine
John 14:6 The Way, Truth, and Life
Revelation 1:8 Alpha and Omega
Revelation 1:17 The First and the Last
According to Jesus what is the will of the Father?
That everyone that sees the Son and believes on him may have
everlasting life and Jesus will raise him from the dead.
Vs. 41-51 What hurdle are the Jews stumbling over?
How can Jesus say He came down from heaven when they knew
his father and mother.
What does Jesus say their problem is?
They cannot come to Him, cannot believe who He really is
until God the Father draws them.
When does Jesus say this draw takes place?
When they are taught of God. Every man that has heard and
learned of the Father comes to Christ as well.
When Jesus says in vs. 51 that a man must eat of this bread,
His flesh which he will give for the life of the world, what is he talking
about?
He is speaking of His death on the cross and our partaking
of that death by believing in Him as our substitute.
Vs 52-59 The Jews
move from murmuring to outright shock.
What do they think Jesus is telling them to do?
To become cannibals and literally eat his body.
Does Jesus try to fix their misconception?
No, He seems to make it worse.
Vs 60-71 Many of his disciples (not the apostles) are also
upset at this hard teaching. Jesus tries
to explain to them what he is saying.
What does Jesus say to get the truth across to his followers?
That the truth he is teaching is a spiritual one not a
physical one. Vs. 63
Many of the other disciples leave Jesus at this time and
Jesus even asks the twelve if they will leave.
What do the words of Peter tell us about his being able to see the
spiritual instead of the physical?
He says they cannot go anywhere else for Jesus is the only
one who had words of eternal life and that they believe and are sure Jesus is
the Messiah and the Son of God.
What does Jesus comment to Peter’s strong statement of faith
tell us about His human emotions?
The desertion of the nominal disciples hurt him deeply and
that hurt is just the beginning, for one of those closest to Him will betray
Him.
Conclusion
John 6 is a chapter for the true followers of Jesus, not
just the hanger-ons, or the nominal Christians. It is a chapter that deals with
problems, opportunities, blessings, desertions and even broken heartedness. It
teaches us that following Jesus will be filled with difficulties but that Jesus
will be with us and that if we will allow it, He will not only bring us through
but will also bless in ways that could only be experienced in the midst of the
difficulties and challenges.
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