Bible Study - Miracle - Satisfaction Found - John 6 -October 30, 2011
Bible Study – Miracle – Satisfaction Found – October 30, 2011
This is our final lesson in our series entitled “It’s a Miracle.”
Our scripture is John 6:5-13, 35-40.
We have examined the authority of JESUS over the physical and spiritual worlds. That was then but what about today? JESUS is still the authority upon earth. So many people search for truth through various religions, even the Christian religion. One must keep in mind that true Christianity is not a religion but CHRIST in you and not you being a member of a certain church.
How does CHRIST indwell you? You ask HIM to forgive you for your sins, believing that HE died upon the cross for your sins. Ask HIM to come into your life. The instant you ask HIM to forgive you of your sins and to come into your life, HE does and you experience the miracle of salvation, which is the rebirth of your spirit. You are born anew into GOD’S family with all the rights, privileges and eternal benefits GOD provides as HIS Son or Daughter. The Holy Spirit indwells your life to confirm the fact that CHRIST has come into your life and that you are GOD’S child. Romans 8:16 - 16 The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Christians are GOD’S Sons and Daughters through the miracle of rebirth and they are being made into the image of CHRIST through the process of sanctification. Just because a person becomes a Christian, he/she still maintains the freedom to choose who he/she will serve, the flesh or GOD. Choosing to serve GOD through his/her relationship with CHRIST equals the abundant life that JESUS promises. A Christian no longer has to wonder where he/she will go when he/she dies. A Christian’s eternal destiny is secured. At the instant the Christian dies he/she is present with the LORD. This abundant life upon earth is not necessarily a life of ease but a life of assurance. More often it is a life of difficulty with the indwelling Holy Spirit providing the power, wisdom, leadership, enlightenment, assurance and strength to live each moment secure in CHRIST.
In this final lesson in this series, we will study the sufficiency of CHRIST and HIS understanding of the physical as it relates to the Spiritual needs of humans. Let’s explore.
For the setting of our scripture let’s read John 6:1-4:
The Fourth Sign: Feeding 5,000
1 After this, Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). 2 And a huge crowd was following Him because they saw the signs that He was performing on the sick. 3 So Jesus went up a mountain and sat down there with His disciples. 4 Now the • Passover, a Jewish festival, was near.
JESUS had healed the man who had been waiting near the pool of Bethsaida or Bethesda. The people had been watching JESUS. The Jewish religious leaders had been questioning JESUS.
Sometime after HIS discourse with the Jewish religious leaders, JESUS and HIS disciples got into a boat and crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. (The Romans referred to the Sea of Galilee as the Sea of Tiberias and after 70 A. D. the Roman name became more prominent.)
The mention of the fact that it was near Passover was important because as GOD delivered the Israelites from the bondage of Egyptian slavery, JESUS would deliver all who would believe in HIM from the bondage of sin and death.
When you look at the deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery and their journey to the Promised Land, compare it to your journey as a Christian. Salvation delivers you from the bondage of sin and death, as you flee from your old life and you face many challenges, even the desire to return to your old life. Often Christians wander in the wilderness and then they continue their journey to the Promised Land after they yield their lives to CHRIST completely. They face giants along the way but with the confidence and assurance that HE will lead them safely to their destination.
Let’s read John 6:5-13:
The Fourth Sign: Feeding 5,000
5 Therefore, when Jesus looked up and noticed a huge crowd coming toward Him, He asked Philip, “Where will we buy bread so these people can eat?” 6 He asked this to test him, for He Himself knew what He was going to do. 7 Philip answered, “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?” 10 Then Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, so they sat down. The men numbered about 5,000. 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 12 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[1] Other mss read signs He had done, they said, “This really is the Prophet[2] Dt 18:15 who was to come into the world!” 15 Therefore, when Jesus knew that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He withdrew again[3] A previous withdrawal is mentioned in Mk 6:31–32, an event that occurred just before the feeding of the 5,000. to the mountain by Himself.
JESUS had a huge following because of the miracles HE had been performing. HE escaped to the other side of the sea for a time with HIS disciples but the crowd followed HIM. The Apostle John revealed that Passover was near, which was a special time in the life of the Jews. They celebrated their ancestors’ deliverance from slavery in Egypt. JESUS looked up and saw a vast number of people coming toward HIM.
The gospel writers tell us that there were 5,000 men. This did not include the women and children. Bible scholars estimate the crowd to about 20,000 people. JESUS was on a mountain and had a perfect vantage point to see the vast numbers coming toward HIM.
It seems that since Passover was near the FATHER revealed to JESUS this was a perfect moment to make the connection between the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt and the deliverance from sin and death JESUS offered.
When JESUS saw the crowd it immediately prompted the need to feed them physically. This would deliver a powerful Spiritual message, especially for HIS disciples. It would be a sign which, again, would confirm that JESUS was the promised Messiah.
We have to keep in mind that JESUS did not do anything unless the FATHER either told HIM or showed HIM. Consider John 5:19 and 30 - 19 Then Jesus replied, “• I assure you: The Son is not able to do anything on His own, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father[6] Lit whatever that One does, the Son also does these things in the same way. 30 “I can do nothing on My own. I judge only as I hear, and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
Dr. Henry Blackaby states in his book “Experiencing God” published by LifeWay Press, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0175 that when we see GOD at work around us, that is our invitation to join HIM. This is the example JESUS followed in HIS earthly ministry. Christians need to ask GOD to open the eyes of their hearts to see what HIS is doing around them. In this scripture, JESUS saw that the FATHER would use this moment as a teaching opportunity for the crowd and HIS disciples as they approached Passover. GOD sustained the Israelites as they journeyed to the physical Promised Land and JESUS, the living water and the bread of life will sustain Christians as they journey through life on their way to the Spiritual Promised Land.
Keep in mind that the Apostle John wrote this between A. D. 85-90. Therefore, in retrospect, he had a more complete understanding of what was taking place during the earthly ministry of JESUS. John tells us that JESUS looked up, saw the crowd and asked Philip, “Where will we buy bread so these people can eat?” John tells us that JESUS was testing Philip.
Does GOD test us by revealing a huge opportunity and asks us, “What are you going to do about this situation?” If so, where do we turn or to whom do we turn? Philip immediately went to the resource available, money. Most of us would do the same thing. If only we had more money we could do great things. Philip reported that they had two hundred (200) denarii. One (1) denarii was one day’s wage but this was only enough to feed this crowd a bite. Oh my, what shall we do? The money they had would not do the job. So what else was available?
Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother reported that a boy had five (5) barley loves and two (2) fish. Gee, what was this for such a large crowd? That was less than the money would provide. The money could provide a bite but what the boy had was not a drop in the bucket. This was just what JESUS wanted. GOD likes the impossible because when it is accomplished, we cannot think we did it. HE wants us to know that GOD did it.
JESUS instructed the disciples to have the people to sit down on the nice grassy area. They all sat down. Little did the mother who packed the boy’s snack know that so little would feed so many. When GOD is involved a little becomes sufficient.
JESUS gave thanks and HE broke the bread and distributed it to the people and did the same with the fish. The food was multiplied when placed in the hands of JESUS. Can we trust JESUS with the little we have or do we horde it?
When they were full, HE instructed HIS disciples to collect the leftovers. They collected twelve (12) baskets full of the bread so that nothing would be wasted. Apparently all of the fish was eaten. When GOD fed the Israelites in the wilderness, HE instructed them not to collect more than they needed. There were twelve (12) baskets leftover. There are twelve (12) tribes of Israel and twelve (12) disciples.
If they had not collected the leftover bread would some of the people want to collect it in hopes that it would continue to multiply? We know human nature and we see that this may have been the attitude of some later in our scripture.
When the people saw the miracle, they connected it to Old Testament scripture. They immediately tied JESUS to the prophet Moses mentioned in Deuteronomy 18:15 - Deuteronomy 18:15 - 15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me (Moses) from among your own brothers. You must listen to him.[10] We will address this deeper in our next scripture.
When it registered with them what JESUS had done, they were ready to declare HIM king because they were looking for a provider of peace and food. This must have broken JESUS’ heart because of their Spiritual shallowness. HE retreated to the mountains. The disciples left in the boat.
Let’s read John 6:35-36:
The Bread of Life
22 The next day, the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea knew there had been only one boat.[6] Other mss add into which His disciples had entered [They also knew]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. 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 ate the bread after the Lord gave 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?” 26 Jesus answered, “• I assure 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 we may see and believe You?” they asked. “What are You going to perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”[7] Bread miraculously provided by God for the Israelites [8] Ex 16:4; Ps 78:24 32 Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Moses didn’t give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the real 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!” 35 “I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again. 36 But as I told you, you’ve seen Me,[9] Other mss omit Me and yet you do not believe.
The crowd searched for JESUS. Little did they know about the events that had happened during the night. JESUS walked on water and got into the boat with the disciples.
The crowd searched for JESUS and found HIM in Capernaum. Those who search for JESUS will find HIM but the question is what will you do when you find HIM? What are your expectations? Are your expectations built upon truth or fantasy?
They addressed HIM as Rabbi and asked HIM how HE got there. HE knew that their hearts were focused upon their physical well-being more than their Spiritual need. They addressed HIM as Rabbi. They had missed the point and were Spiritually shallow because only the true SON of GOD, the promised Messiah could heal the sick and feed the huge crowd with so little. JESUS went to the heart of the matter.
In essence, HE told them that physical food for them took precedence over all the signs which pointed to HIM as the promised Messiah. They were interested in HIM because of the physical food HE could provide for them. They were not interested in the Spiritual food although they had recognized HIM as a prophet on the mountain.
JESUS made HIS point clearer by telling them to focus on the Spiritual food that would sustain them on earth, as well as, for eternity. But they were focused on the physical bread that would only sustain them for a short period of time. They had witnessed miracles and they should have known that was GOD’S seal of approval/endorsement that HE was the promised Messiah. Yet, it went over their heads when they viewed JESUS as the provider of physical food.
They wanted to know how they could do miracles like HIM. If they could make food multiply like HE did, they would not have to work or follow HIM around.
Notice they addressed JESUS as a prophet on the mountain in verse 14, Rabbi in verse 25. In verse 32, JESUS told them HE was not Moses and then in verse 34 they address HIM as “sir”. The crowd was moving from seeing JESUS as the promised Messiah to a mere person. They were searching for a way to identify HIM.
Let’s take a deeper look at verse 32 - 32 Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Moses didn’t give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the real bread from heaven. Let’s review Deuteronomy 18:15 - 15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me (Moses) from among your own brothers. You must listen to him.[10] Moses was writing what GOD was saying. This language is repeated in Acts 3:22 – 22 Moses said:[7] Other mss add to the fathers The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to Him in everything He will say to you. and Acts 7:37 - 37 “This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, God[13] Other mss read ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your brothers.[14] Dt 18:15
JESUS was making it clear that HE was not Moses, HE was greater than Moses. Moses did not provide manna from heaven; it was GOD Who provided the manna from heaven. Since, it was GOD Who provided the manna (food) from heaven to feed the multitude of Israelites while they were wandering in the wilderness, GOD, in the presence of HIS ONLY SON, JESUS, just provided food from a meager source to feed such a large crowd. GOD had performed a miracle in their presence just the day before. Didn’t they make the connection? The answer was, no.
So many of us witness miracles everyday and refuse to acknowledge the presence of GOD. HIS handiwork is all around us 24/7. Ac 3:22; 7:37
JESUS told them to believe in the ONE GOD Who sent HIM. There HE was standing in front of them, yet they could not see truth. Their physical desire had blinded them to the reality of HIS presence and blocked their Spiritual eyes from seeing truth.
To show their ignorance, they asked HIM to show them a sign. JESUS must have groaned in HIS Spirit. HE must have thought, where have you people been for the last few days?
JESUS tried to reach them by bringing the conversation back to the miracle of feeding them. Moses was not the promised Messiah. GOD fed the Israelites with manna from heaven but that was for physical sustenance as they journeyed to the Promised Land. JESUS, Who came down from heaven, is the Spiritual bread sent by GOD. HE alone gives life to the world. JESUS made it plain and very clear, “I am the bread of life.”
HE attempted to get it through their heads that HE was the true bread of life and the living water, the sustainer of Spiritual life. Those who believe in HIM will never be Spiritually hungry or Spiritually thirsty any more. They had witnessed the miracles HE performed, which could only be done by GOD but they still did not believe that HE was the promised Messiah, GOD’S SON incarnate, which the scriptures foretold.
Have you been face to face with JESUS and did not acknowledge HIM as your Savior? HE gave HIS life for you because HE loved you. Accept HIM now as your Savior by asking HIM to forgive you of your sins and to come into your life. If you did, then thank HIM for coming into your life. This makes you a Christian.
Ponder our next scripture.
Let’s read John 6:37-42:
37 Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of Him who sent Me: that I should lose none of those He has given Me but should raise them up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of My Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
JESUS made it very clear that HE came from heaven to do the will of GOD, HIS FATHER. GOD’S will is for all who believe in JESUS as their Savior to be saved from sin and its consequences, death. As the result of salvation, HE will give them eternal life. All who believe in HIM will be raised on the last day to live eternally in their new glorified bodies that will be like HIS resurrected body. But since JESUS had not been crucified and resurrected from the dead as proof that HE had paid the price for sin and conquered the consequences of sin, which is death, HE did not go into that detail. The word “believe” is more than intellectual belief, but to trust and rely upon with complete confidence that HE is the true SON of GOD. When we accept CHRIST as our Savior, the indwelling Holy Spirit confirms the reality of our belief in HIM and seals us for the day of redemption.
CHRIST knew the hearts of those seeking HIM as we will see in our next scripture.
Remember the crowd went from seeing JESUS as a prophet to Rabbi, to Sir. They were trying to figure out who JESUS was and they were approaching a conclusion.
Let’s read John 6:41-42:
41 Therefore the Jews started complaining about Him, because He said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They were saying, “Isn’t this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can He now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”
JESUS was giving them truth but they rejected HIM as coming from heaven because they knew HIS parents and where HE lived. They did not consider the miracles that were performed were proof that HE was WHO HE said HE was and where HE came from.
Don’t we try to figure it all out? True miracles are difficult because we have been exposed to so much trickery and illusions. But GOD is still in the miracle business every day. HE watches over all of HIS children, even those who are to receive salvation.
The world, Satan, wants to humanize JESUS. JESUS is the true SON of GOD, the Messiah. You cannot figure HIM out intellectually. It requires a step of faith. Take that step of faith right now and experience the truth of HIS presence in your life now and for eternity. Blessings!