John 6:1-71
Observations
- While there is a chapter break in our Bible for 5 and 6 they flow into one another.
- The miracles that Jesus had thus performed were drawing the attention of the people.
- Jesus' disciples were His closest companions, He desired specific time set aside with them, just as we do with our closest of friends
- Immediately upon seeing the crowd of people Jesus is concerned with them and their well being.
- Jesus feeds thousands of people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.
- Jesus has performed another miracle. The food more than feed the people, not only feed them but satisfied them.
- Knowing what was to come, Jesus desired time set aside to spend in the presence of God the Father
- Jesus meets them in the midst of rough waters, walking on water.
- The people pondered in Jesus' arrival as they knew that only the disciples left in the boat and only one boat arrived to shore.
- Jesus questions the desires of the hearts. The people sought Him out but why? It would seem based on Jesus' comments that it was to obtain physical food, not spiritual food. While they understood there was something different about Him, they didn't understand fully.
- Again Jesus meets the people were they are and delivers the gospel in a way they understand. Not changing the gospel or changing the truths of the gospel but meeting the needs of the people where they are.
- The people still do not understand. It is all about God. Not Moses or others, but all the work they did in the OT is to reflect towards God or is the working of God through that person.
- Verse 44 would seem to elude to predestination "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him"
- Jesus is the Bread of Life.
- Jesus knows your heart, he knew the unbelief of those closest to Him that would lead to betrayal.
- The disciples turned back, discontinuing to walk with Jesus
- Judas will betray Jesus, one of His own disciples, one of His chosen ones.
Questions
I. Did He feed 5,000 people or 5,000 men plus the women and children?
II. When I know a trial is coming or a tough is ahead do I first seek specific time with God?
III. Scripture says the disciples started across and that Jesus had not yet come to them. How did they expect Him to come? Did they anticipate Him walking on water? Why did they leave without Him? Did they not know where He had went?
IV. How would I have responded to seeing only one boat and Jesus? Knowing that the disciples are the only ones who left in the boat.
V. Is my faith the faith that sees because I believe or do I need to see to believe?
VI. What implications does it have in Jesus saying He is the bread of life?
VII. Why did Jesus choose Judas if He knew he would not believe? What purpose should be sought out of the involvement of Judas?
Applicational Thoughts
God uses the unbelief of some to bring belief in others. We have seen very clearly that Jesus knows the hearts of all men. We know He chose His own disciples. We also know that Judas will betray Jesus. Obviously the ultimate unbelief of Judas lead to the belief of others as well as the ministry of Jesus. My last question listed (VII) has me pondering more to this and really pondering the use of Judas in Jesus' ministry while on earth.
Resources
The Message of John; John Stott
John: St Helen's
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