INTERNET BIBLE STUDIES 

John – Lesson 10 -  John Chapter 6:1-36

Memory verse for this week: Numbers 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

 Introduction:

I. The Feeding of the Five Thousand

We see that a great multitude were following Christ in the first two verses.

John 6:2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

Verse one says "After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee". This speaks of how he had left Jerusalem which we read about in Chapter 5 and journeyed up the east side of the Jordan River. We know that Jesus was continually being followed by a crowd. Some in the crowd were interested only in seeing taking part in His miracles. Some came who desired to be healed. Many today are following him for different reasons in this hour, but few are following Him because they love Him. Some come to receive a feeling of blessing from the church message, some come to truly worship the Lord. What is your reason for following Christ? Is it to keep your conscience soothed, or is it because you love God and desire to serve Him. God help us to be people who serve God with a true heart, and worship him with honesty and truth.

John 6:5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

Jesus was not asking advice of Philip, but rather testing to see what his answer would be. Most likely, they all knew that in the treasury, they had about 200 pennies. These were called denarius in Rome, and one denarius represented about one day’s wage for a common laborer.

John 6:7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

In another account of the Gospel, it says that the disciples advised the Lord to send the multitude away. Isn’t that sort of the way we tend to want to do things sometimes in the church. Instead of letting the Pastor seek the Lord's Will in a matter, we come up with recommendations based upon our worldly knowledge. And many times we don’t have the total picture and truly lack the spiritual discernment to make decisions like these. Jesus didn’t need to be told what to do by the disciples, what He needed was some men willing to believe and be waiters. Many desire positions of authority in the church. But we don’t need a board of directors in the church, but we need men and women who are willing to get to work and serve the multitude. And I think it is worthy to note that not all that followed here that were fed were saved people, but many that did not truly know Jesus as Lord and Savior. By our love, they will know we are Christians. Our lives should model the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 6:10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

It is so commendable that even after a full day of working with the people, Jesus cared enough for these two disciples to take them aside and teach them a great lesson. We should learn from this to take time away from the world and come aside and learn more about Jesus. Both in quiet times at home, and every opportunity when the doors of the church are open. Remember what Paul said to young Timothy in 2 Timothy Chapter 3:15.

2 Tim 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

2 Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2 Tim 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Philip and Andrew looked at the situation and said it was hopeless. What would 200 pennies do for buying food for upwards of 15,000 people. What would 2 small fishes and five barley loaves do for such a multitude. Philip saw a lack of money, and Andrew saw a lack of food. But what was not factored in was Jesus. Jesus plus our meager abilities provide great results. We don’t have to have much when we have Jesus, because He can supply our every need. What we need is faith to believe.

John 6:14 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.

2. Jesus Walks on the Sea

John 6:15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

Jesus’ hour was not yet come to be the king of this world. In this time period, Jesus never took the throne of David. But as we mentioned last week, the day is coming, and soon will be, when Jesus will be on that throne. King of Kings, and Lord of Lords will be written on his thigh.

Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

Rev 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

To see some of the verses about his time in the perfect timing of God. see John 5:24-28, 12:23-35, 17:1-3., and 18:36

John 6:17 And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.

Christ’s disciples went down to the sea and left without the Lord. I’m afraid that many times I get up in the morning and leave the Lord behind by my actions as I head off to work. I don’t always start my day with prayer, and we need to do that. As Daniel did every day as was his custom, we need to pray to the Lord. We need help to walk a circumspect life before others in this wicked world, and without God there every step of the way, we will fail. Daniel set an example of how to pray, and even when they threatened by the King’s decree to put him to death, Daniel kept on praying three times a day to the Lord. He didn’t look at the external, horizontal view. He had a vertical view. We need to get on that line and see God for who He is, and put our lives in His hand. What can man do to us. Sure, they can cause us trouble, like they did Daniel. But was Daniel not protected by God. God will never leave us nor forsake us, but by our lack of faith we many times act like he will pull up ship and leave us on the shore. He will not.

Dan 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

If there was a law passed that if we assembled to study the Bible, you would go to jail, would you still come to church? Daniel faced death, but still stayed true to the Lord. God help us for faith like this man.

John 6:21 Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.

It says that there was a great wind that blew and a storm came upon the ship. You can be certain in this life that one storm will not end before another comes along. This old life is full of trials and troubles. Job said that man born of woman is of few days and full of troubles.

Job 14:2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

Praise the Lord that when we face the storms of this life, we can rest assured that Jesus will see us through them all. As Jesus came walking out after midnight to the disciples, in our darkest hour, Jesus will be there for us.

Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Heb 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

John 6:36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

 

Jesus told the disciples to not fear, that it was He. What a blessing to hear the voice of the Savior in our hour of storm. And it says that after he entered the ship, that there was a great calm. When Jesus is on the scene, things take on a whole different perspective. Why in the world do we tend to go out on our own power, when Jesus is there to help us if we will but ask.

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

 

John 6:25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

We see that the people look out and can not find Jesus. There was no other ship, and Jesus was not there. And they load up into other boats and head across to Capernaum seeking for Jesus. I don’t know about you, but where Jesus is, is the place I want to be. I believe the people were astonished that Jesus was there, since no other ship had left to go to Capernaum after the disciples had left.

John 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

John 6:36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

Jesus rebuked those that came to him for the wrong reasons. The people still seek to see more signs and miracles. What more did they need to see. People were healed of diseases, the blind were made to see, the thousands were fed with a miracle like the manna from heaven. Jesus gives these a great command… "Believe on him whom he hath sent" If we could give good advice to anyone, it would be to believe on Jesus Christ for salvation. As Jesus promised in verse 35, we will never hunger from a spiritual thirst when we know Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Practice Random Acts of Kindness. Each act spreads, and many will be blessed.