John 6

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Lord, to whom shall we go?

Jesus is the True Lamb of of the Passover Feast

He broke the bread to feed the five thousand. But he is actually breaking up his own body to feed them. This is the true meaning of the communion. In Chapter two, Jesus turns the water into wine, and wine represents His blood that shed for us. Here he breaks up the bread which is His body. Jesus picks this day to perform the miracle, for He wants the people associate Himself with the lamb that was killed for thousands of years on Passover feast. It's the blood of lamb on the door post that saves them from being killed by the angel, as thousands of first borns in Egypt were slain the night of the Passover.

1. John 6:4 (NIV)

The Jewish Passover Festival was near.

Jesus shows Himself as "The Prophet"

This is what Moses prophesied in Deuteronomy 18, that God will raise up someone as "The Prophet" and people are demanded to listen to him.

2. John 6:14 (NIV)

After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

3. Deuteronomy 18:15 (NIV)

The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.

4. Deuteronomy 18:18-19 (NIV)

I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name.

Jesus do not receive glory from man. His kingdom is not of this world

Jesus said, if you receive glory from one another, how can you believe God? This is a hard saying, let's examine our heart right now. How much do I care about men's approval? Or how much am I fear of the criticism from man? Mike Bickle said: "how much you are happy when people praise you, that's also how much you will be hurt when people criticize you!" Your life will be miserable if you desire glory from man. Even worse, Jesus said, you can not believe in God if you desire glory from this world! When you are free from seeking glory from man, then you can truly believe in the eternal God, who loves to share His eternal glory with you. Also you will receive the true joy from within, not affected by the constant changing opinion and judgment from man of this world. Fashions come and go, praises and criticism come and go. But he who believes God receives affirmation from the eternal God. That is joy and life eternal (Psalm 16:11).

5. John 6:15 (NIV)

Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

6. John 5:41-44 (NIV)

“I do not accept glory from human beings, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

7. John 18:36 (NIV)

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

8. Psalm 16:11 (NIV)

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Jesus shows His divinity to walk on water, and to calm the storm and sea

9. John 6:19-20 (NIV)

When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.”

Jesus reveal people's heart. They only want food for the body, but not food for the eternal life

Just as in Chapter 4, he spoke to the woman by the well, to receive the water of eternal life. That woman believes and tell many people. But here, many people left Jesus because he said they need to eat His body and drink His blood. Their intelligence are insulted. The Torah teach explicitly that one can not drink blood! Jesus purposely offended them, even seems directly in contradiction with the Word of God!

10. John 6:26-27 (NIV)

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

11. John 6:29 (NIV)

Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

12. John 6:30 (NIV)

So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do?

13. Luke 2:34-35 (NIV)

Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

Seeing and still not believing

How much miracle do we need to see to believe? how much evidence do we need to have to change our heart? These are the people who saw Jesus performed the miracle and they ate the bread and fish, and still not willing to believe. They said: What miracle are you showing us so that we can believe?

How do you believe God? Is it because he healed your headache? or because you prayed and then you get admission to a good school or find a good job? So now you believe, but what if later you got fired, do you still believe God loves you and care for you? How many miracles do you need to see before you set your heart and say, God, I believe in you, no matter what. Even if you do not bless me with special favor from now on, I still choose to trust in you and believe in you, even at the cost of me losing everything. You are good, all the time. Will you say that to God?

Not too many people can make that kind of commitment. It's a covenant relationship, which is bilateral. Jesus broke his body for us, and he is also looking for people willing to break our own body for him, and for others. That is the true worship. That is the trust faith.

14. John 6:34-36 (NIV)

“Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.

Jesus offended them all, this time, 5000 men

15. John 6:49-52 (NIV)

Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

16. Leviticus 17:10-12 (NIV)

“‘I will set my face against any Israelite or any foreigner residing among them who eats blood, and I will cut them off from the people. For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life. Therefore I say to the Israelites, “None of you may eat blood, nor may any foreigner residing among you eat blood.”

Many people got offended, and choose to leave Jesus

This is the very first church split, five thousands people left, and only twelve people left. Jesus did not chase after them and try to explain himself to them. He simply just let them go. He knows that one day, when he got raised up on the cross, people will start to understand.

Being offended is not the end of the story, but wether you keep seeking the truth.

Many things could be offensive to the analytical minds. Many people oppose the bible by saying, how can dead be raised? How can virgin give birth? How can God make the world in seven days? How can water turn into wine? How can the sun go backward? Yet, when they humble themselves to admit that God is God, therefore he is capable to do anything beyond our logic and our understanding. I do not need to understand, I just choose to believe.

Misty Edward: I do not want to be offended (Baptize my heart)

17. John 6:60-61 (NIV)

On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?

Simon Peter sees beyond what others see. He desires the eternal life.

It's humility that position yourself to be fed. If you insist that you know it all, hear it all, see it all, then you will miss it. Only Jesus can satisfy! Lord, to whom shall we go! This is the heart cry from the true believers. Lord, nothing can satisfy my heart and my spirit. I need you Lord. I believe you, and I want to eat of your body and drink of your blood. I want to be part of you. You are in me, and I am in you. Forever and ever, Amen!

18. John 6:66-68 (NIV)

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

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