Feeding the 5000

Feeding the Five Thousand: John 6: 1-15

Miracles so far - Recap

1. Changing water into wine: John 2: 1-11 – Jesus Power over physical matter and time
2. Healing the Nobleman’s Son: John 4: 43-54 - Power over physical illness and space (distance)
3. Healing the Man at the Pool of Bethesda: John 5: 1-15 Jesus revealed that He was the Son of God
4. Feeding the Five Thousand: John 6: 1-15 Ability to meet physical needs, Sustainer of life

  

Why did John record these miracles?

John 20:30-31  Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

This miracle is recorded in all 4 Gospels.

John 6:1-14 

Map http://gregoryblvdcoc.org/Bible%20Maps/129.jpg

Philip takes the spotlight in this event. Jesus was testing Phillip, and teaching him along with the other disciples. Phillip was from Philip was from Bethsaida, the nearest sizable town, and he was the most likely to know the area.

Jesus knew how Philip (and the others) would try to solve this problem because it is just like we would probably try to solve it.

• ·         How did Philip respond to Jesus question about buying food? (it would take a lot of money. 200 Denarii was about 8 months wages, and it wouldn’t be enough).
• ·         Matthew 14:15 records that the hour was getting late and the disciples had suggested that they solve the problem by sending the crowd away so that they could buy food in the surrounding villages.

·         Both of these ideas are perfect examples of how we might attempt to solve this or any problem.

o   First – Let’s see if we can solve it with money!

o   Next – Let’s see if we can make it just go away.

·         What are some other ways we attempt to solve problems without bringing Jesus into the equation? Work at the solution or try harder, blame someone else, get the government to solve the problem.

What did Andrew suggest? Loaves and fishes. Do you think Andrew suspected what Jesus might do?

Jesus had enough of whatever it took to meet the needs of those followers. 

How does that ability to meet physical needs translate to us today?

****************Miracle for next week *************

John 6:26-40 I am the Bread of Life

1^st of 7 I Am statements in John – the Bread of Life

Manna and Jesus: The bread of life

Manna	Jesus
Came and night	Came when men were in darkness
Met physical need	Meets spiritual needs
A gift from God	God’s gift to the world
Had to be picked up and eaten	Must be received and appropriated

Why did Jesus say that the crowds were following him? Because he was feeding them.

What did Jesus mean by not hungering and thirsting in V35?

Look down to V41 and 42. Why were the Jews questioning Jesus’ deity?

I think we sometimes fall into the trap of trying to make Christianity sound like an answer to problems that it is not intended to answer. Faith in Christ is a spiritual matter. It results in actions, lifestyle choices, and values (yes), but at its core it is a relationship with God, who may choose to feed and clothe us in style, or otherwise allow us to suffer for his glory or eternal purposes. The bread of life that Jesus is presenting offering will satisfy something much deeper than physical hunger. It satisfies our desire for forgiveness, righteousness, and fellowship with the creator.

The Sabbath Conroversy at Bethesda

Do any of you old folks remember the Ed Sullivan show? Favorite act?

1970 Flip Wilson - The devil made me do it!

Review:

Why did John record these signs?

John 20:30-31  Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

Miracles

1 Water to wine at Cana - Power over physical matter and time

2 healing of the Nobleman’s child at Cana - Power over physical illness and space (distance)

As we read through this passage, let’s look for the thing that shows more about who Jesus is.

Textual Criticism http://www.kjvtoday.com/home/should-john-54-angel-at-the-pool-be-in-the-bible

John 5:1-17

Why do you suppose that Jesus asked the man if he wanted to be healed?

Now the man who had been afflicted had been that way for 38 years. One day Jesus comes by and heals him. What an amazing miracle!

How did the Jewish leaders plan to celebrate the healing?

They were highly offended and wanted to bring someone to justice under their rabbinic law.

According to the prevailing Jewish interpretation of the law, it was not legitimate to carry anything from one place to another on the Sabbath (cf. Neh. 13:15; Jer. 17:21-27). Doing so constituted a capital offense that could result in stoning. (Constable, p. 105)

When the healed man was questioned about what he was doing, what was his explanation?

Jesus made me do it!  The healed man passed off the responsibility, for his disobeying the rabbis'

rule, by blaming Jesus.

In John 5:18-23 Jesus makes it very clear for the Jews.

What do these verses tell us about Jesus? He was God in the flesh.

What kind of reaction do you see today when people assert that Jesus is Lord, that he has saved us, and that He is the only way to Heaven?

Healing the Nobleman’s Son- John 4

Why did John record these signs?

John 20:30-31  Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

John recorded two miracles in Cana as bookmarks to Jesus early ministry. Between these recorded miracles John records Jesus cleansing the temple (an example of the Jew’s hostility toward Jesus, His interaction with Nicodemus, then the Samaritan woman (or the woman at the well) which led to many in Samaria accepting Him, then the second sign that we will talk about today.

Background Information

·         Capernaum was about 13 miles Cana

·         The Nobleman was probably a Jew

·         The "royal official" (Gr. basilikos) was, going by his title, a man who served a king, in either a civil or a military capacity.

John 4:43-54

What did the Royal Official evidently believe going in?

                That Jesus could heal his child

                That Jesus had to come to him to do it

                That if he didn’t hurry, it would be too late

In Jesus’ miracle of turning water into wine he demonstrated power over time and matter (the water didn’t need to be fermented over time, it was instantly changed). What kind of power did this miracle demonstrate? (power over space, sickness)

Bringing it home today. It is abundantly clear in scripture that Jesus has the power to heal. His spoken word healed this child 13 miles away. Restoring a sick body is amazing. We also know that Jesus loves us beyond what we can ever comprehend. But there is something that is hard to understand, given God's total power over sickness. Even though we all prayed for healing for Allen, God didn’t heal him from his brain cancer. 

How can we answer the question, “Why not?”

God is sovereign Psalm 115:3 and has our ultimate good and His glory in mind.

His purpose for us ends with a perfect blessing in heaven Revelation 21:4 

God does not always heal sickness, even when we (or even Paul) asks 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

His ways are different and higher than what we can understand Isaiah 55:8

We are nevertheless encouraged to pray, asking God for the desires of our heart.Psalm 37:4

Miracles Recorded in John - Water into Wine

Miracles in John - List

1. Changing water into wine: John 2: 1-11
2. Healing the Nobleman’s Son: John 4: 43-54
3. Healing the Man at the Pool of Bethesda: John 5: 1-15
4. Feeding the Five Thousand: John 6: 1-15
5. Walking on the Water: John 6: 16-21
6. Healing the Man Born Blind: John 9: 1-12
7. Raising Lazarus from the Dead: John 11: 1-46

8^th – Christ rising from the dead

http://soniclight.org/constable/notes/htm/NT/John/John.htm

Summary of Gospel Introductions
Gospel	Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
Date	40-70 probably 40s	63-70 probably 60s	57-59 probably 50s	65-95 probably 90s
Origin	Palestine	Rome	Caesarea	Ephesus
Audience	Jews	Romans	Greeks	Gentiles
Emphasis	King	Servant	Man	God

John is different than the synoptic gospels. Different events, different purpose, different audience.

John 1:1-5  

Thomas Constable (see reference above)

Obviously the word "Word" (Greek - logos; Aramaic - memra, used to describe God in the Targums), to which John referred, was a title for God. The Targums are Aramaic translations of the Old Testament. Later in this verse he identified the Word as "God." John evidently chose this title because it communicates the fact that the Word was not only God, but also the expression of God. A spoken or written word expresses what is in the mind of its speaker or writer. The Greeks used the world logos to describe the reason or mind of God. Likewise Jesus, the Word (v. 14), was not only God, but He was the expression of God to humankind. Jesus' life and ministry expressed to humankind what God wanted us to know. The word "word" had this metaphorical meaning in Jewish and Greek literature when John wrote his Gospel.

Why This Gospel Was Written

John 20:30-31  

Water into wine – Early in Jesus “Public” ministry

John 2:1-11 

Wise is that couple who invite Jesus to their wedding! Wiersbe

What does this event tell us about Jesus social life? He was involved in regular human affairs.

What does this exchange show about Jesus relationship with his mother?

What do you think Mary expected Jesus to do?

6 Waterpots – The waterpots were used for the jewish ritual of purification. The number 6 is just short of the number that represented completion or perfection. 1 more thing was needed and the wine later came to symbolize the blood of Christ, that thing that perfectly replaced the jewish ceremontial system of sacrifice for sin. (Shepherd’s Notes, Holeman Reference, John, p.18)

What is the meaning of the Headwaiter’s comments about the sorry wine first then the good wine?

"The world (and Satan also) gives its best first, and keeps the worst for the last. First the pleasures of sin—for a season—and then the wages of sin. But with God it is the very opposite. He brings His people into the wilderness before He brings them into the promised inheritance. First the Cross then the crown." – Pink

How did this sign affect His disciples? They believed in Him.

How does this (and other miracles/signs that Jesus did) affect your faith in Jesus?

As we study the miracles that Jesus did in the book of John I hope our faith will grow stronger and we can become even more confident in his power over everything in heaven and on earth.